On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 22:03:06 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:


We are much more comfortable flying into busy uncontrolled airports than we
are flying into Class D "partially" controlled airspace -- which is just an
absurd situation, when you think about it. It needn't be this way.

Sorry I'm late to the party, but here are two incidents I've had in
the last WEEK....

1. I was in the pattern for Santa Rosa (KSTS), class D. The tower told
me I was number two for landing, and to follow a Cherokee. I told him
I had a Cherokee off my left wing at 9:00 on final. The tower didn't
say anything. I turned base behind him, and the controller snapped at
me that "I was following the wrong Cherokee". If it was the wrong one,
why didn't he correct me when I identified which Cherokee I reported
seeing?

My passenger was a commercial pilot and former flight instructor. He
told me that I did the right thing, and the controller was wrong.

2. I was returning to Hayward (KHWD, home airport) class D. I was
approaching from the south, and was told to fly inbound on a "modified
straight in" (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean). So I angled
to the east slightly to join a long downwing for 28L. A twin was
approaching from the east, and was told to report at "Cal State" (a
big building in the hills to the east, sticks out like a sore thumb).
Then he was told to do a 360 there, since I was on about a 1.5 mile
final.

I looked to my right, and there was a twin, about a 1/4 mile from me,
angling toward the runway. It was uncomfortably close. The controller
barked at him about not doing the 360 at the right spot, etc.

I'm sure Hayward has radar, because they asked me to squak ident. In
this case, radar didn't help much, the guy flying the twin messed up.


John Szpara
Affordable Satellite
Fiero Owner 2-84 Indy Pace cars, 86 Coupe, 88 Formula 3.4, 88 Coupe, 88GT