On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 02:47:44 GMT, George Patterson
wrote:



Joe Johnson wrote:

Should I report this to the FAA? If so, how? When in the course of an
aviation career does someone become so complacent that they don't say "boo"
before taking an active runway?

I don't know how to report it, but if a pilot has that sort of attitude, he does
not deserve to hold a commercial certificate. It's possible that he/she was on
the wrong frequency, but I think a chat with the Feds is in order.

Although we should put out a call on UNICOM or CTAF when you have a
void time, have your departure frequency and center dialed in on one
radio and are talking to a control tower some where else via 121.275
and the person in the right seat says "all clear" I can see where
switching back to UNICOM could be missed.

Here with training, tail draggers, a preferred runway for the bigger
stuff due to a noise sensitive area and the runways cross it is not
uncommon to find both in use at the same time with some NORDO traffic.
Admittedly not a Citation. Still running 18/24 or 06/36 at the same
time with students, NORDO, and transient traffic is not at all
uncommon. Add to that, The VOR-A approach comes in on a heading of
137 degrees at 500 feet AGL while the GPS 06 and 24 approaches come
straight in from 5 miles out can make for an interesting day.
Particularly when the ceiling is about 1500 to 2000 and approach wants
you with them until it's "airport in sight". OTOH I have broken out
at close to minimums to find a windshield full of a scud runner that
ATC did not see.

We had a Falcon 900 come in a while back and he started making
announcements 12 miles out for a straight in on 06 as that was what
ATC gave them. If they missed it was going to be a hard left as we
were well inside a TFR and just over a mile from the 10 mile "no fly"
zone.

We still had a lot of traffic as we were the closest in airport that
was outside the 10 mile ring. With the TFR we didn't have any NORDO
traffic, but imagine that 900 on a 12 mile final with a couple of
NORDOs in the pattern for the intersecting runway.

As it's a safety item I'd just fill out a NASA form.
In reality whether good sense or not, they were not required to make a
transmission, and with a 1/4 to 1/2 mile they had plenty of time to
get out of your way.

Were it me I'd have just continued on in to land with an eye out for
jet wash.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.