Class D Sucks

I have flown in different "D" airspaces. The ones that I'm most
comfortable with are ones that have their own radar and approach
control (MFD is one). Youngstown is a TRSA. I also don't have a problem
with OSU since they lie under a "C".

"D" airports that do not have their own radar and are trying to control
things are scary to me. The FAA set up the "D" environment for some
reason. And if there is a lot of traffic, they need RADAR (my opinion).

For any one who has been in MD, I find it very interesting that HGR has
a tower and FDK doesn't (Hagerstown v. Frederick) yet it has more
traffic.

I've had more near misses at HGR than any other airport. Is this a
controller problem or is this a lack of equipment problem. One example
was a controller turned an airplane into me rather than telling them to
follow me as #2 for landing. Another example was an IFR biz jet that
was doing a VOR 9 approach while I was cleared for landing (RWY 9) and
about to turn final (I had to firewall the throttle and climb hard to
keep from becoming a hood ornament). In the latter case, HGR tower
didn't know the biz jet was doing the approach (seems someone forgot to
tell them).

So I can appreciate your comments. And as I've said to others, an ASRS
needs to be filed when things like this happen. Wheels that don't
squeak don't get greased.

Later,
Steve.T

wrote in news:1103251889.160802.229680
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

snip
I've had more near misses at HGR than any other airport. Is this a
controller problem or is this a lack of equipment problem. One example
was a controller turned an airplane into me rather than telling them to
follow me as #2 for landing. Another example was an IFR biz jet that
was doing a VOR 9 approach while I was cleared for landing (RWY 9) and
about to turn final (I had to firewall the throttle and climb hard to
keep from becoming a hood ornament). In the latter case, HGR tower
didn't know the biz jet was doing the approach (seems someone forgot to
tell them).

If the biz Jet was not talking to tower, he couldn't have been cleared to
land on the runway... If he wasn't talking to approach either, he was not
maintaining two-way radio communication with ATC while in the Class D
Airspace, which is illegal.

So the example, I suspect, is one of someone who didn't follow the rules for
some reason. In that scenario, the competence of the controller or the
equipment is barely relevant. The same situation could have happened (and is
more likely) at a non-towered airport - someone shooting IFR practice
approachs pops up on final and never announces his position on the radio. If
you happen to see him, great. If you don't, at least at a towered airport you
have a guy with a pair of binoculars helping to watch your back.

Here is a good one: If you are cleared for an approach, are you also
cleared for landing? You see, the biz jet was apparently flying the HGR
VOR 9 approach, that starts well outside the "D" airspace. When he
called up HGR tower, he appologised for a late hand-off (must mean he
was talking with ATC). HGR tower told him they didn't have a strip on
him. Meanwhile, I didn't see him until he lit up over the VOR, just as
he called in (which means he was either vectored or did the PT
inbound). At that point I would guess he was over 180Knots because the
closing rate was rather rapid.

To be fair, I have been IFR in the clouds and told to expect visual 27
(at HGR). I have dropped out of the clouds, 5 miles out looking down
RWY 9 before being handed off to HGR tower.

Today I fly a PA28-180, back then I was flying either a C150/2.
Later,
Steve.T

wrote in message
oups.com...

Here is a good one: If you are cleared for an approach, are you also
cleared for landing?


No.