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11-16-2015, 11:24 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Sausalito, CA
Posts: 325
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I don't have a preference, although I'm based at one of the busiest towered airports around and often wish I could be based at a nice, rural, uncontrolled strip like I see throughout the Midwest. We don't have anything like that near Denver.
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Joe Zuffoletto
RV-8 (flying)
Fullerton, CA (KFUL)
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11-16-2015, 12:21 PM
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been here awhile
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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I am based underneath Class C but all the airports within 75 NM are untowered. A pilot who is uncomfortable with untowered airports will miss all the cool events such as breakfasts and fly-ins in our area.
Joining a scrum of 50-60 aircraft ranging from ultralights to Bonanzas arriving within an hour at one of our local, untowered breakfasts can be interesting! Most pilots are well-versed in standard procedures at these events, but occasionally there is a pilot who is overwhelmed by the swarm. We see this when someone flies across midfield to cut into a line of six aircraft on downwind. An individual who isn't accustomed to being their own ATC and blending with other "non-controlled" aircraft will struggle in such a situation.
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11-16-2015, 01:33 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Largo, FL
Posts: 1,029
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This has not been addressed (I don't think?)
Many, many towers do NOT have radar capability. I have heard some pilots that prefer towered airports because everyone is under "positive control". Of course, this is a false sense of security. Many towers only know where aircraft are located by what the pilots report. As we know, position reporting is sometimes very inaccurate.
When I lived in Albuquerque, based at Double Eagle, we did the Santa Fe breakfast run, frequently. Santa Fe was towered, but no radar, and reasonably busy, at times. What a cluster! The terrain kept everything pretty tight and aircraft would appear from the weirdest places!
Best advice, tower or non-towered, keep everyone in the airplane looking for other traffic.
R.
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RV-10 Co-built, maintained, flown (sold)
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Comm, SMEL, CFII, A&P
Based at KCLW (Clearwater, FL)
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11-16-2015, 02:31 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 2,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colojo
I don't have a preference, although I'm based at one of the busiest towered airports around and often wish I could be based at a nice, rural, uncontrolled strip like I see throughout the Midwest. We don't have anything like that near Denver.
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I visited Denver this past spring and used Erie as my base. I didn't have to talk to anyone and it was a nice airport and the traffic was manageable. Not much on your side of town though.
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Randy Pflanzer
Greenwood, IN
www.pflanzer-aviation.com
Paid through 2043!
Lund fishing Boat, 2017, GONE FISHING
RV-12 - Completed 2014, Sold
427 Shelby Cobra - Completed 2012, Sold
F1 EVO - partially completed, Sold
F1 Rocket - Completed 2005, Sold
RV-7A - Partially completed, Sold
RV-6 - Completed 2000, Sold
Long-EZ - Completed 1987, Sold
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11-16-2015, 04:52 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
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Class C for training
I'm really glad to have trained at class C KBTR (Baton Rouge) because radio communications was the most intimidating part of flying to me, and it helped me get over the fear of talking and to learn the vocabulary and shorthand controllers use. There are usually lots of non-tower airports around to learn to fly in that environment.
I'm sure I'd have had a much harder time getting the IFR rating had I not trained for the private at a Class C airport. That said, I would happily base my plane at a non-tower airport now, and I really enjoy landing at those little aerodromes on cross countries. The GPS data bases are sooo nice for airport info in flight when you want or need to make an unscheduled stop. John
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11-16-2015, 05:57 PM
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 81
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When did it become "towered" and "non-towered?" What happened to "controlled" and "uncontrolled?" What did I miss?
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Ross Burgess
DFW area
Bought flying RV-6
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11-16-2015, 06:09 PM
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 41
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I am a relatively new pilot (got my PP in June) and have 70ish hours and learned to fly at a towered field in close proximity to a Class C (airspace starts 2 miles NW) and I am glad I did my primary training with the tower. It isn't because I feel anymore comfortable with or without the tower and I agree with the other posts on here in the fact that I like to fly whatever is feasibly closest to my destination. My experience with my local field did allow me to get a lot more comfortable talking with ATC and not just the local controllers but the approach controllers as well.
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11-16-2015, 06:47 PM
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been here awhile
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scorch
When did it become "towered" and "non-towered?" What happened to "controlled" and "uncontrolled?" What did I miss?
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The FAA changed their terminology several years ago...seems they didn't like the implications of "uncontrolled" airports in the news media.
Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 11-16-2015 at 06:50 PM.
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11-16-2015, 07:25 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 37
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I finished my PPL in August with approximately 50 hours. Of that I would say half was at a towered and the other half at non-towered airports. I guess I am lucky learning where I did: the planes and aero club were at KHMN (Holloman AFB) and Alamogordo-White Sands Regional (KALM) is 10 miles away; which is where we did most of our practice manoeuvres as to stay away from the military operations. Aside from a Class-B I am equally comfortable at either towered or non-towered airports.
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Jim Anderson
RV-7: #74811
N54WW
Way I remember it, albatross was a ship's good luck, 'til some idiot killed it.
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11-16-2015, 08:26 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: WV22
Posts: 849
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scorch
When did it become "towered" and "non-towered?" What happened to "controlled" and "uncontrolled?" What did I miss?
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It is like "Pilot License/Pilot Certificate" corrections. We know what is implied.
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RV-4 0320\D3G 160, Whirlwind 200GA 70".
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