Chicago area from the southwest - advice?

"bdl" writes:
Yeah I heard you. It was more of the "heck, why do they have me on a
270 vector STILL?" I wanna go south! I'm /G pick a point on the map,
I'll go there. It's nice and flat around here, I'm high enough to not
be an issue with any towers, but low enough that I shouldn't be in
anybody's approach path.

If you pass by some high rocks and start seeing an
endless stretch of water ahead of you, you have
probably been sent a bit too far west.

Even requested a more southerly vector from Chicago Center (I had been
on a 270 vector for that long) and it was at least another 15 minutes
before I could be turned south.

On an airline flight departing LAX, we were vectored west
over the ocean. After quite some time, the pilot told
the passengers that ATC had promised we could turn
east some time before getting to Hawaii.

Not complaining, was just curious as to the "box" ATC was working in.

I think the next time, I'll be departing VFR (weather permitting) with
a filed IFR clearance originating further down the road. When doing
cross countries I like to be in the system. It lets my family track me
on flightaware.com, I know I'll get flight following, and as you said,
I can always cancel.

Everett M. Greene wrote:
If you pass by some high rocks and start seeing an
endless stretch of water ahead of you, you have
probably been sent a bit too far west.

I figured by the time I saw the Alexis Park Inn, I'd land and stay the
night. That's at least way before the rocks. :-)

wrote in message
.com...
Rick wrote:
Actually, a 20 minute drive from Schaumburg to the Loop is very, very,
very
quick, dangerously so, and probably impossible...unless you're the Blues
Brothers. Mere mortals should plan on an hour, more or less, depending on
just where in Chicago you're going.

The loop? I didn't say loop,

Ok, you said downtown.

I used to work on School Street in Chicago
and lived in Schaumburg, I was thinking Schaumburg to School street in
light traffic.

Although the idea of getting to the loop in 20 minutes sounds tempting,
maybe if someone put an airport on the lakefront that could cater to
charter and private flights to benefit the attractiveness of the city
for the business community would make that possible.

Ideas, ideas.

Maybe you should write to Mayor Daley and make the suggestion.

- Rick

Well, the weather was severe clear for the trip up, so we went into
Midway VFR. I called Midway Tower (frequency on the Chicago TAC says
Midway Approach) over BOJAK, which is published on the I-55 VISUAL
APPROACH RWY 13C. It was on my way and easy for them to find. They
assigned me a code and put me straight to the field entering Class C at
or below 2000.

I eventually got a right downwind to 22R, while the big kids played on
22L (actually ILS 31C circle to 22L). I kept it in close and landed
long (probably unnecessary, since I didn't hear anyone else assigned to
that runway while taxiing in). Two hours and ten minutes on the clock
with a groundspeed most of the way of 165 knots. Too much for an
Archer, should be a long trip back. ;-)

Atlantic Aviation exceeded my expectations. Check my remarks on
AirNav. Great experience.

Left early last night because the weather looked like it could hold
some icing potential today (now it looks okay). We filed IFR, departed
in the dark VFR on course, ran into a ragged layer at 4000, picked up
our IFR with Chicago Center and took it up to 10000 looking for some
relief from the headwind. No luck. Groundspeed was 100 knots no
matter where we cruised. We stayed up high and with time spent below
2000 with Midway and below 4000 waiting for a clearance (and making 85
knots across the ground), we made Kansas City in just under 4 hours,
including a GPS18 back home at LXT.

Thanks again for all of your advice. This was a fun trip for my wife
and me.


Chad Speer
PP-ASEL, IA
ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC

I forgot to post a link to a nice photo we took while taxiing in to
Atlantic Aviation.

http://www.stickywebz.com/flying/midway.jpg


Chad Speer
PP-ASEL, IA
ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC

Excellent, Chad. Glad it worked out.

Can you tally your expenses at Midway for us?

--
-------------------------------
Travis
Lake N3094P
PWK

"Chad Speer" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, the weather was severe clear for the trip up, so we went into
Midway VFR. I called Midway Tower (frequency on the Chicago TAC says
Midway Approach) over BOJAK, which is published on the I-55 VISUAL
APPROACH RWY 13C. It was on my way and easy for them to find. They
assigned me a code and put me straight to the field entering Class C at
or below 2000.

I eventually got a right downwind to 22R, while the big kids played on
22L (actually ILS 31C circle to 22L). I kept it in close and landed
long (probably unnecessary, since I didn't hear anyone else assigned to
that runway while taxiing in). Two hours and ten minutes on the clock
with a groundspeed most of the way of 165 knots. Too much for an
Archer, should be a long trip back. ;-)

Atlantic Aviation exceeded my expectations. Check my remarks on
AirNav. Great experience.

Left early last night because the weather looked like it could hold
some icing potential today (now it looks okay). We filed IFR, departed
in the dark VFR on course, ran into a ragged layer at 4000, picked up
our IFR with Chicago Center and took it up to 10000 looking for some
relief from the headwind. No luck. Groundspeed was 100 knots no
matter where we cruised. We stayed up high and with time spent below
2000 with Midway and below 4000 waiting for a clearance (and making 85
knots across the ground), we made Kansas City in just under 4 hours,
including a GPS18 back home at LXT.

Thanks again for all of your advice. This was a fun trip for my wife
and me.


Chad Speer
PP-ASEL, IA
ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC

Travis Marlatte wrote:

*****
Excellent, Chad. Glad it worked out.

Can you tally your expenses at Midway for us?
*****


Sure - easily done.

$7.50 Landing Fee

$15/night ramp fee - first night waived with minimum fuel purchase. My
22 gallons were enough, but I don't remember the minimum. I only
stayed one night, so no ramp fees.

Fuel was $4.83/gal for 100LL. Airnav is showing $5.23 as of Dec. 1. I
don't know if that's a price change or a weekend discount. I had heard
of a flowage fee, but no such creature showed up on my bill.

They plugged my Tanis heater in at no cost.

Total cost? $7.50 plus fuel.


Chad Speer
PP-ASEL, IA
ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC

: Fuel was $4.83/gal for 100LL. Airnav is showing $5.23 as of Dec. 1. I
: don't know if that's a price change or a weekend discount. I had heard
: of a flowage fee, but no such creature showed up on my bill.

: They plugged my Tanis heater in at no cost.

: Total cost? $7.50 plus fuel.

That's a pretty big "plus."

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

wrote:

*****
: Total cost? $7.50 plus fuel.

That's a pretty big "plus."
*****


It's also a variable. Saying my cost was $113.50 would be less useful
to someone burning more or less fuel for such a trip, so I put the fuel
price in the post.

No airport or FBO recommended in this thread was more than $1 per
gallon cheaper, so I figure I paid up to $22 total for the convenience
of Midway. I consider that to be a bargain.


Chad Speer
PP-ASEL, IA
ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC

Chad Speer wrote:
Travis Marlatte wrote:

*****
Excellent, Chad. Glad it worked out.

Can you tally your expenses at Midway for us?
*****


Sure - easily done.

$7.50 Landing Fee

$15/night ramp fee - first night waived with minimum fuel purchase. My
22 gallons were enough, but I don't remember the minimum. I only
stayed one night, so no ramp fees.

Fuel was $4.83/gal for 100LL. Airnav is showing $5.23 as of Dec. 1. I
don't know if that's a price change or a weekend discount. I had heard
of a flowage fee, but no such creature showed up on my bill.

They plugged my Tanis heater in at no cost.

Total cost? $7.50 plus fuel.

Wow, a positive experience at MDW, its a Festivus Miracle ...... JG