f1rocket
Well Known Member
Yesterday I made a flight from Indy to Dallas to attend a Rotax training class over the weekend. Most of the flight was your typical cross country cruising. However when I made my approach to the Denton airport, my ADS/B sure proved its worth. In fact it may have saved my life.
On this sunny afternoon, the airport was very busy. There was a mix of jets and small airplanes, along with students and helicopters. Denton sits just under the outer ring of class B airspace so if you follow the VFR cardinal heading rule, it forces everyone down to 2500 MSL as you approach from the north. I was showing multiple targets as i called the tower about 7 miles out. As I started my descent to pattern altitude, I received a traffic warning. There was traffic at my 11 o'clock less than a mile only 100 feet below me heading right towards me. I heard the controller asking the helo it's current position. I immediately stopped my descent and altered course slightly. The helo passed just under my tail. I estimate that we cleared each other by about 25 yards.
Why the helo was flying against the traffic lining up for the downwind is anyone's guess. He was clear of the class C airspace so he had a right to be there. With everything going on with my initial call up to the tower, I doubt I would have ever seen him without ADS/B.
I don't know if we would have hit without my corrective action. I also don't know if he saw me. I'm just very thankful for having this device in my cockpit. I look forward to the future when more and more traffic will be displayed.
Have I mentioned how much I lovely -12? I do. It's a great airplane and a good cross country performer. Fly safe out there!
On this sunny afternoon, the airport was very busy. There was a mix of jets and small airplanes, along with students and helicopters. Denton sits just under the outer ring of class B airspace so if you follow the VFR cardinal heading rule, it forces everyone down to 2500 MSL as you approach from the north. I was showing multiple targets as i called the tower about 7 miles out. As I started my descent to pattern altitude, I received a traffic warning. There was traffic at my 11 o'clock less than a mile only 100 feet below me heading right towards me. I heard the controller asking the helo it's current position. I immediately stopped my descent and altered course slightly. The helo passed just under my tail. I estimate that we cleared each other by about 25 yards.
Why the helo was flying against the traffic lining up for the downwind is anyone's guess. He was clear of the class C airspace so he had a right to be there. With everything going on with my initial call up to the tower, I doubt I would have ever seen him without ADS/B.
I don't know if we would have hit without my corrective action. I also don't know if he saw me. I'm just very thankful for having this device in my cockpit. I look forward to the future when more and more traffic will be displayed.
Have I mentioned how much I lovely -12? I do. It's a great airplane and a good cross country performer. Fly safe out there!