Byron Miller wrote:
I have been learning to fly and hanging out at KLNS (Lancaster PA) for
years, and it has been a privatized airport tower ever since i've known
about it.

Nicest controllers, safe airport and friendly skies. They're not any more
incompetant than a "guvenment" controller and most certainly they enjoy
aviation and the lifestyle just as much as anyone else could!

Heck they even volunteer to the ground schools and give tours when the FAA
allows!

Just thought i'd throw that in

Byron,

Have to admit years ago I went there on a couple student cross countries
and they couldn't have been friendlier. Very helpful. They honestly
seemed to enjoy their job and helping us "little guys". That perception
stuck with me for years...that's how good I thought they were.

The last two times I went there at night this past spring surprised me,
however. Both times I had to deal with a TOTALLY CLUELESS guy who,
IMHO, should NOT be in that cab. I won't go into details why, but it
came down to the fact he caused two separation issues, one of which
involved me, and just didn't seem to have sufficient grasp of what was
going on around him. He seemed to be (for lack of a better word) senile.

Of course, I responded to this message not to bash on one LNS
controller, but to point out that based on my experience, I agree with
you...there is no apparent difference in quality of service between FAA
vs. Contract towers. If anything, I think the contract guys are
friendlier overall.

That was certainly the case at KASH (Nashua NH) where I did a lot of
flying several years ago. Great guys (and gals). ASH handles more
traffic than MHT (Manchester, the air carrier airport to the north), and
they did it professionally, day in and out.

They were also great because they never used to mind me hanging out in
the cab with them on crummy weather days, while they played board games,
we watched brave souls ride the ILS, only to go missed in WOXOF
conditions, and I asked dumb pilot questions about ATC operations. Wish
I had those controllers at my home field.

-Doug

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Doug Vetter, CFIMEIA

http://www.dvcfi.com
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