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07-23-2014, 01:57 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sedona Arizona
Posts: 349
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This situation has always been one of the most challenging situations for me as a pilot:
Approaching an unfamiliar airport, especially one with several runways, and getting set up properly for pattern entry, and landing on the correct runway taking wind direction into account. (referring to non towered airports in this case)
I would love to hear more simple tricks and tips to help with this situation.
The way Foreflight displays wind directions for the runways has been a great help to me lately. Also, the display of extended runway center lines is a great help too.
Randall
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07-23-2014, 04:05 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
Posts: 2,416
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no-one is immune....
Tom thanks for sharing, lots of good feedback here.
In my area, 2 airports withing 35 miles with the same runway headings.
north-south valley (lake) and you hear a fair bit of errors...including me....lots of pilots with many hours make the same east west switch ( no idea why)
I've called over a reporting point;
".....I-N-T over the west side of Okanagan lake at 3500', approaching the yacht club....will join downwind right for 34....."
TWR; "...ah, ok but the yacht club is on the east side, unless they moved it......"
__________________
Perry Y.
RV-9a - SOLD!....
Lake Country, BC
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07-23-2014, 05:08 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Woodinville, WA
Posts: 1,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Dickens
failed to turn transponder to "on" on the ground per that airport's requirement
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FYI, the AIM now recommends your transponder be on at all times, at all airports. So you can get in the habit of doing that everywhere, not just at large airports:
AIM 4-1-20:
3. Civil and military transponders should be turned to the “on" or normal altitude reporting position prior to moving on the airport surface to ensure the aircraft is visible to ATC surveillance systems.
7. Aircraft equipped with ADS-B (1090 ES or UAT) must operate the equipment in the transmit mode (on position) at all times while on any airport surface.
Note that with Mode-S transponders, GROUND mode counts as "ON" for these purposes.
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07-23-2014, 05:44 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 2,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Martin
On the weekend, as I cleared runway 26 I heard the dreaded, "when you are able please phone the tower" In my mind I replayed my pattern, speeds, taxi, etc but could not for the life of me figure out what I had done wrong.
I was on an IFR flight plan, dense haze, one to two mile vis, and was cleared to a visual for runway 26.
When I eventually cleared customs and got to a phone the controller asked me if I was aware that I had landed on runway 31 and not 26?! No I was not, and at that point I was more then a little embarrassed, flustered etc. He was really good about it as there was little traffic, no conflicts etc and he even acknowledged that every one makes a mistake once in a while; but to me this was a big one. I have been flying for 30 years and this is a first for me.
Unfortunately the flying for 30 years is part, or likely, most of the problem. My mind does not work as quick as it once did but I still fly like it does. I have Foreflight, with runway extensions visible, two other gps maps, etc etc and I wonder if all that stuff is making me complacent.
Clearly I was disorientated and I can come up with lots of excuses, or reasons why it happened but what I am hoping for from this group are some hints, tricks, etc that you use to confirm your position relative to the runways when you approach an unfamiliar airport.
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At least you landed at the right airport  And you didn't make the news 
Which airport did this occur at? At an unfamiliar airport, in visibility less than 6 miles, even if I'm cleared for a visual approach, I like to have an instrument approach loaded for the planned landing runway (if such an approach exists). Putting yourself on the approach track on short final goes a long way towards getting you to the right runway.
If you are planning a circling approach, or flying to a runway with no approach available, I study the airport diagram very closely, looking for traps like parallel taxiways that could be mistaken for a runway, or two runways that diverge from the threshold of the planned landing runway.
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07-23-2014, 06:34 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 96
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I agree with Kevin Horton, you landed at the right airport and you didn't make the news. Bottom line, there are cowboys who we all know and eventually who kills themselves, and then there are the rest of us who occasionally make boo boos that are understood and overlooked by the folks in ATC. If there is a take away lesson you'll figure out what it is and be better for it.
Don't sweat the small stuff and keep flying!
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07-23-2014, 07:22 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 269
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One of the things I do so I don't make that mistake is about 6 miles out or so I use the OBS feature on the 430, hit the button and spin the OBS to the RWY heading and it draws out the intercept ,,use it all the time.
__________________
Adam Silverstein
Technical Counselor Chapter 643
Flying RV-8 10/30/07
PAID 2021
Pittstown, New Jersey
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07-23-2014, 09:24 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Clarksboro, NJ
Posts: 829
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I usually have my flight guide opened to the airport several miles out, and orented on my lap in the direction I am flying. Once I get a good visual on the runway I look for things like hangers, VOR's, tower, wind sock ect. and make sure the picture out the window matches the one in my lap.
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07-23-2014, 09:41 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Taylor Texas
Posts: 811
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Lighten up, Francis!
Hey - you found the right airport. Atta boy!
With 3 of us watching, we sometimes end up in a 'discussion' about the runway in the B25. I'm gonna learn that 430 trick! Generally, we are at the correct airport....
Carry on!
Mark
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07-23-2014, 10:33 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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I admit to nothing, but 36L and 36R are pretty close to each other at the Napa CA airport. I can report that the guys in the tower are much nicer than the Citation pilot that had to do a go around when someone in a 182 didn't notice the L or R until it was too late.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Na...96370164329ac5
__________________
rockwoodrv9a
Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
Awaiting DAR Inspection
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07-23-2014, 10:41 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: lake charles, La.
Posts: 699
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Well this is to encourage the original poster, don't feel bad about this learn and move on. Here at home we had a well known airline land their airplane at the WRONG airport. It is about 8 miles from the one they were supposed to, just so happens both airports have a 15/33 runway. It was after hours and the tower was closed they just lined up on the wrong airport. I am pretty sure both pilot and copilot lost their jobs. Of course it was a big deal in the news, they had to bus out the passengers, runway was to short for their airplane, hmmmmm
Bird
__________________
Bird
rv8 entire airframe at airport now, painting done, intersection and gear upper and lower fairings done, maybe order engine around first of year or before the next rate increase.
"to fly is a privilege that I am so thankful to God for"
http://www.mykitlog.com/tcb328/
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