Questions pondered at 6500 feet

We enjoyed a 45 knot tailwind all the way to our favorite fly-in restaurant
today (The CAVU Cafe, in Janesville, WI [KJVL]).

This blessing naturally switched to a 45 knot curse on the way home.

Droning along has its advantages. The headwind gave my kids ample time for
a nap, and gave Mary and me plenty of time to ponder the following questions
for the group:

1. Airports were originally huge grass fields that allowed arrivals and
departures in any direction, on any heading. Are there any airports left
that provide 360 degrees of access?

2. We often hear commercial airliners "cleared for the visual approach" into
thus-and-such an airport. However, we *also* often hear commercial
airliners "cleared for the ILS Rwy 14 approach" (for example) -- even though
conditions in the area are perfectly CAVU.

Since we haven't heard the airliner SAY they wanted an instrument approach,
how/why does the controller know to clear them for anything other than the
visual approach?

Inquiring minds, doncha know?

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

1. Airports were originally huge grass fields that allowed arrivals and
departures in any direction, on any heading. Are there any airports left
that provide 360 degrees of access?

There are a few in southern Indiana, I think. I couldn't remember the
names to save my life, but I remember flying over one.

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:03:05 -0600, Rachel wrote:

There are a few in southern Indiana, I think. I couldn't remember the
names to save my life, but I remember flying over one.

Do they have a windsock in the center?

-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
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On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 05:32:41 -0500, Cub Driver usenet AT danford DOT
net wrote:

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:03:05 -0600, Rachel wrote:

There are a few in southern Indiana, I think. I couldn't remember the
names to save my life, but I remember flying over one.

Do they have a windsock in the center?

I would hope the windsock is on the side or corner!

I would hope the windsock is on the side or corner!

Which corner of the circle Nathan? :^)

Bryan "The Monk" Chaisone

"Nathan Young" wrote in message
...

I would hope the windsock is on the side or corner!


A circle with corners?

Yep. A boxing ring.

Jim




"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
nk.net...



A circle with corners?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:nZDyf.708499$_o.552810@attbi_s71...

2. We often hear commercial airliners "cleared for the visual approach"
into thus-and-such an airport. However, we *also* often hear commercial
airliners "cleared for the ILS Rwy 14 approach" (for example) -- even
though conditions in the area are perfectly CAVU.

Since we haven't heard the airliner SAY they wanted an instrument
approach, how/why does the controller know to clear them for anything
other than the visual approach?

Inquiring minds, doncha know?


Use of an instrument approach simplifies establishing an arrival sequence.

Since we haven't heard the airliner SAY they wanted an instrument
approach, how/why does the controller know to clear them for anything
other than the visual approach?

Use of an instrument approach simplifies establishing an arrival sequence.

So this choice is entirely up to the controller?

Seems like a giant pain for the flight crew, to have to keep all the various
approach plates, etc., at hand. (I'm assuming the commuter airlines we
usually hear don't have the sophisticated flight controllers on-board, with
all the pre-loaded approaches ready to be punched in at a moment's notice?)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newslEyf.701287$x96.296658@attbi_s72...

So this choice is entirely up to the controller?


Probably not. Understand that there are many airports where it generally
isn't necessary for the controller to establish an arrival sequence. The
need to do that implies a fair amount of traffic.



Seems like a giant pain for the flight crew, to have to keep all the
various approach plates, etc., at hand. (I'm assuming the commuter
airlines we usually hear don't have the sophisticated flight controllers
on-board, with all the pre-loaded approaches ready to be punched in at a
moment's notice?)


Where's the pain? The approach in use will be on the ATIS, crews generally
have that information before they ever talk to approach control. And it is
a crew, it ain't one guy thumbing through a Jepp binder while trying to
hand-fly the airplane.