Vegas goes uncontrolled

[Sailvi767]

https://youtu.be/jdiVpGPI_pI

[Pelican]

It must be the American ‘can do’ attitude that kept movements going. I have a lot of respect for that mindset, and I suppose approach control was still working, but it still strikes me as perhaps not such a good idea. There is a reason we have tower controllers.

By the way, what’s the reason for the closure? Corona related, would be my guess.

[visibility3miles]

A controller tested positive.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/las-vegas-airport-tower-closes-after-controller-tests-positive/

The controller was found to have the virus Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement on Thursday. As of 9:08 a.m., airlines had canceled 463 flights to and from the airport, or more than 35%, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.The FAA is transferring partial control of flights to a nearby facility that oversees traffic in that region. While most airports with commercial service have towers, airliners are allowed to land without the assistance of tower controllers by following special procedures.

[JRK]

"Las Vegas traffic"

now that's a call you probably haven't heard in a while...:)

[Rarife]

That is awesome:D

[golfyankeesierra]

Seems to run rather smooth.
I guess there will be others then pilots on the radio worrying for their jobs now ;)

[Alpine Flyer]

While this is impressive aeronautically (and certainly helped by CAVU weather) from a Corona propagation point of view it might make more sense to close most of Las Vegas.

[TriStar_drvr]

While this is impressive aeronautically (and certainly helped by CAVU weather) from a Corona propagation point of view it might make more sense to close most of Las Vegas.

The casinos and shows are all closed.

[West Coast]

While this is impressive aeronautically (and certainly helped by CAVU weather) from a Corona propagation point of view it might make more sense to close most of Las Vegas.

largely it has.

[West Coast]

It must be the American ‘can do’ attitude that kept movements going. I have a lot of respect for that mindset, and I suppose approach control was still working, but it still strikes me as perhaps not such a good idea. There is a reason we have tower controllers.

By the way, what’s the reason for the closure? Corona related, would be my guess.

FAA traffic management initiatives limited arrivals rates severely. 10/12 of my companies flights were cancelled, mine being among them. Listening to live ATC, the traffic load sounded no heavier than other full time uncontrolled airports. I believe a temporary flight restriction was put in place to keep GA aircraft simply wanting to do traffic pattern work out.

[Airbubba]

"Las Vegas traffic"

now that's a call you probably haven't heard in a while...:)

It does seem to be working pretty well with the reduced traffic flow.

You can listen to LiveATC.net here: https://www.liveatc.net/hlisten.php?mount=klas4_twr&icao=klas

If that feed doesn't work on some platforms, other feeds are on this page: https://www.liveatc.net/search/?icao=las

And you can watch the traffic here: https://www.flightradar24.com/36.07,-115.12/12

Janet Airlines doesn't seem to have cut back its schedule much so far.

[cessnapete]

What a ‘can do’ attitude from the FAA ! The CAA here would have no such common sense.

[Lake1952]

As difficult as airborne traffic management must have been, I have trouble imagining the lack of ground control, with aircraft taxiing and vehicles moving about, some needing to be cleared to cross active areas.

[FakePilot]

Oh. Oh. The automated airliner needs a firmware update. How do you program "Don't do something stupid?" This news cheers me up.

[Retired DC9 driver]

Flying the DC-9, later A-320, in the Canadian Maritimes, we often flew into airports, which were uncontrolled at night. After advising Halifax Radio, of your ETA, You would switch over to the Mandatory Frequency, say 20 miles out; to advise local traffic with ETA. Next call on the MF, call Final Approach Fix outbound, then FAF inbound, and I couldn't resist a call, "XX434 short finals for runway 32, Halifax". After landing, call clear of the active runway.
Seemed to work ok.
Same thing in Kenya, when I called "Monastery Final" , flying into Wilson Airport in Nairobi during a controller strike.

[FullWings]

You’re not going to move as much traffic as LGW ATC do but apart from that, what’s the problem? Look left and right, announce your intentions on the radio, sort out the order of play between you. Quite refreshing, really, and what goes on at 1,000s of airfields around the world every day that don’t have a tower controller...

[Saintsman]

I wonder if they do three clicks on the radio to turn the runway lights on and off?

[ATC Watcher]

I wonder if they do three clicks on the radio to turn the runway lights on and off?
you do not need a qualified controller to put the lights on at a specific time ....:E
That said , kuddos to the Americans , I flew in Henderson and crossing Mc Carran airspace a few times , and it is quite busy .. Cannot imagine anyone in Europe doing this at a major international airport .

[moosepileit]

New York Center just closed this hour. Per NEWS not NOTAM, so unsure of veracity-


https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/all-flights-to-new-york-area-airports-halted/2337853/
"DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES AT ZNY, PLEASE STOP ALL DEPARTURES TO
AIRPORTS WITHIN ZNY. THIS INCLUDES KJFK, KEWR, KLGA, KTEB, KHPN,
KPHL, KMMU, KCDW, KMDT, KABE, KISP, KFRG AND SEVERAL SMALLER
AIRPORTS.
FURTHER UPDATES TO FOLLOW."

Odd, does not match FAA airport status, which just has JFK as orange/delays.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

[moosepileit]

PHKO/Kona, HI is uncontrolled when I fly in at night. Make sure the ASOS is complete and current, report wx and NOTAMs complete to HCF center, get cleared the approach, self announce and run lights on CTAF, land, clear, close IFR flight plan to HCF same freq. Reverse on departure, sometimes an immediate and sometimes a hold for release.

Makes the MD-11 seem the same as my Van's RV.

What the video does NOT make clear, other than ATIS directing approaches and departues to services on 125.9- whether the NORM of IFR clearances were being issued prior to departure. Part 121 does not typically operate VFR, even in VMC.

[theFirstDave]

New York Center just closed this hour. Per NEWS not NOTAM, so unsure of veracity-

...
Revised: "Roughly 30 minutes later, the FAA issued a second statement saying the restrictions were mostly lifted, aside from some flights destined for JFK."

[Cough]

moosepileit - Your linked article has obviously been edited since and additionally now says....

Roughly 30 minutes later, the FAA issued a second statement saying the restrictions were mostly lifted, aside from some flights destined for JFK.

[moosepileit]

Yes, thanks- also in another fresh thread by others.

[Pugilistic Animus]

Try it from ORD or JFK :red face: