Worst GA Field?
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 333
Likes: 3
From: By the big Teapot
Hi Cahliban.
Re Skeggy. I think you must have been using 29/11 cos I remember those obstacles. However this is why they have laid a brand new 29/11 which is to the South of the old one and has clear approach and climbouts. The 'old' runway also had a footpath across it at the half way point complete with crossing holidaymakers which certainly worried me! Surface on all runways was beautiful though. I believe they intend to licence the 'new' runway so they can restart the pleasure flights. I found the airfield very friendly which is more than I can say for Elstree!
Spiney
Re Skeggy. I think you must have been using 29/11 cos I remember those obstacles. However this is why they have laid a brand new 29/11 which is to the South of the old one and has clear approach and climbouts. The 'old' runway also had a footpath across it at the half way point complete with crossing holidaymakers which certainly worried me! Surface on all runways was beautiful though. I believe they intend to licence the 'new' runway so they can restart the pleasure flights. I found the airfield very friendly which is more than I can say for Elstree!
Spiney
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 37
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From: venice italy
THE FRIENDLY GUY AT ELSTREE TOWER ASKED ME & MY FRIEND ON SEPERATE OCCASIONS IF WE HAD IMC RATINGS,WE BOTH REPLIED NO.HE THEN TOLD US THAT WE COULDN,T FLY THEN!WE DIDN,T HAVE IMC RATINGS WE BOTH HAD IR,S!!!THE ONLY TIME HE IS FRIENDLY IS WHEN YOU HAVE A WOMAN WITH YOU.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 381
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From: No longer on Pprune
ROLLER STAMP
Please don't SHOUT. ATC like you describe is far from unheard of, and one of the things if you fly regularily in the UK you need to develop, is a thick skin towards certain individuals. Sadly, I've gone beyond judging an airfield on ATC alone.
Redhill still has my vote. Shame as it's my closest field, but I won't use it.
PS
Please don't SHOUT. ATC like you describe is far from unheard of, and one of the things if you fly regularily in the UK you need to develop, is a thick skin towards certain individuals. Sadly, I've gone beyond judging an airfield on ATC alone.
Redhill still has my vote. Shame as it's my closest field, but I won't use it.
PS
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 34
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From: Shoreham
I've got to admit, I enjoyed flying at Redhill up until recently, but what with the amount of $hit that i've had to put up with recently with the new draining system being installed ( which, IMHO, is doomed to failure anyway ), i'm rapidly losing patience with the place.
I agree wholeheartedly with the comments about ATC being a bit abrupt with pilots. I think that fixed wing aviation is considered to be something of an annoyance at Redhill, as most of the major players there are rotorheads.
A prime example occoured while I was on one of my first solo circuits. Every thing was going fine until ATC allowed a bloody great helo ( I think it was a S69 ) to land right across the active runway just as I turned onto base. The ensuing rotor wash made it unsafe for me to land for 3-4 mins, and I had to circle on base before I could land. Needless to say, this was completely unexpected, and more than a bit frightening for a novice pilot to have to deal with, and my subsequent landing was abysmal.
Anyone else have any EGKR horror stories?
WO
I agree wholeheartedly with the comments about ATC being a bit abrupt with pilots. I think that fixed wing aviation is considered to be something of an annoyance at Redhill, as most of the major players there are rotorheads.
A prime example occoured while I was on one of my first solo circuits. Every thing was going fine until ATC allowed a bloody great helo ( I think it was a S69 ) to land right across the active runway just as I turned onto base. The ensuing rotor wash made it unsafe for me to land for 3-4 mins, and I had to circle on base before I could land. Needless to say, this was completely unexpected, and more than a bit frightening for a novice pilot to have to deal with, and my subsequent landing was abysmal.
Anyone else have any EGKR horror stories?
WO
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: London UK
526, I try to fly out of Stapleford as little as possible now and I agree totally with your comments, however, AFIS service has now gone! It's all much better - still far from wonderful but I can honestly say that a few individals have worked really hard to pull the standards up there.
Cheers and a happy New Year!!!
Cheers and a happy New Year!!!
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 510
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From: Gone.........for good this time.
Whiskey Oscar, I have loads of horror stories about those delightful ATC chaps at Redhill, only time prevents me from telling all tonight!
Ferried an aeroplane into Redhill once, only for the (battery powered) radio to give up when almost in the circuit. Rather than fly back to where i had come, i thought I'd join the circuit, keep my eyes open and fit in with other traffic. Wrong! Most 'normal' aerodromes would have not worried too much, but anyone would have thought i'd have shagged the ATCO's boyfriend! He went ballistic and started the Pupil/teacher routine threatening all sorts of punishment. Didnt care really, as i was going home by train!
Other times i have landed 6 inches short of the threshold and got a severe talking to. Redhill for me isnt like it used to be, too many ATCO's who want to work at big airports me thinx. What the hell is a "Standard Reigate departure" anyway?? Guys, its a small grass aerodrome, not Heathrow!
I agree, a definate bias towards the heli chaps. Shame, as it used to be so nice on a sunday afternoon in the summer..
Ferried an aeroplane into Redhill once, only for the (battery powered) radio to give up when almost in the circuit. Rather than fly back to where i had come, i thought I'd join the circuit, keep my eyes open and fit in with other traffic. Wrong! Most 'normal' aerodromes would have not worried too much, but anyone would have thought i'd have shagged the ATCO's boyfriend! He went ballistic and started the Pupil/teacher routine threatening all sorts of punishment. Didnt care really, as i was going home by train!
Other times i have landed 6 inches short of the threshold and got a severe talking to. Redhill for me isnt like it used to be, too many ATCO's who want to work at big airports me thinx. What the hell is a "Standard Reigate departure" anyway?? Guys, its a small grass aerodrome, not Heathrow!
I agree, a definate bias towards the heli chaps. Shame, as it used to be so nice on a sunday afternoon in the summer..
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 222
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From: UK
Hmm, again in defence of Elstree, pretty challenging environment to fly in. Short field, busy airspace, "inventive" circuit patterns (hmm ok, not great but challenging certainly), but I believe if you can fly around there safely, your airmanship has to be spot on and general awareness of airspace and other traffic makes flying anywhere else in the country seem less hectic. And a very handy field for N London.
And yes, generally ATC are pretty good in fairness, however anyone who's been in contact with Smiler will invariably know he ain't the most cheerful soul around. ATC should never have an attitude like his, particularly to the student/low time guys. Makes you wonder why he does the job actually. Give as good as you get, but politely. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
[ 03 January 2002: Message edited by: GonvilleBromhead ]</p>
And yes, generally ATC are pretty good in fairness, however anyone who's been in contact with Smiler will invariably know he ain't the most cheerful soul around. ATC should never have an attitude like his, particularly to the student/low time guys. Makes you wonder why he does the job actually. Give as good as you get, but politely. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
[ 03 January 2002: Message edited by: GonvilleBromhead ]</p>
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Gone.........for good this time.
Gonville,
""Hmm, again in defence of Elstree, pretty challenging environment to fly in. Short field....""
You think this is short??? You should try Netherthorpe, or some of the Shetland/Orkney strips! Thats short......
Shortest i ever landed on was a private strip @ 147m. But it was in the best all rounder ever.....Piper Super Cub.
""Hmm, again in defence of Elstree, pretty challenging environment to fly in. Short field....""
You think this is short??? You should try Netherthorpe, or some of the Shetland/Orkney strips! Thats short......
Shortest i ever landed on was a private strip @ 147m. But it was in the best all rounder ever.....Piper Super Cub.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Edinburgh, Scotland
Re: Cumbernauld
I flew in there from Fife in early Nov 01 as a newcomer to CBN; luckily, I had Mrs CB with me, as she spotted the field right on the nose (where I usually look off to one side, as I'm not usually that accurate!!). Had a reasonable overhead join and lumpy approach, but only one arrival!
Taxied in and paid the fee; departed 10 mins later after a coffee. No great problems, but wouldn't say I was excited enough to go out of my way to go there specially. Bit strange to race with the choo choos as you're climbing out, but I won in the end!!
:-)))
I flew in there from Fife in early Nov 01 as a newcomer to CBN; luckily, I had Mrs CB with me, as she spotted the field right on the nose (where I usually look off to one side, as I'm not usually that accurate!!). Had a reasonable overhead join and lumpy approach, but only one arrival!
Taxied in and paid the fee; departed 10 mins later after a coffee. No great problems, but wouldn't say I was excited enough to go out of my way to go there specially. Bit strange to race with the choo choos as you're climbing out, but I won in the end!!
:-)))
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Has to be Elstree. Best described as a dump. I can't believe so many people put up with such a third rate airfield.
WHy does everyone refer to the bolshy voice as ATC. ATC he is definately not. It's A/G. The more people refer to the likes of him as ATC the more it will go to his head. People who work in ATC are professionals at their job.
WHy does everyone refer to the bolshy voice as ATC. ATC he is definately not. It's A/G. The more people refer to the likes of him as ATC the more it will go to his head. People who work in ATC are professionals at their job.
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,212
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From: Anywhere
Not only that - REAL ATC'ers (like me) get pissed off with the GA community (of which I am a part) thinking that these jumped up cretins are the same as the likes of me. My training cost around £50K - theirs cost ****** all apart from maybe the price of a CAP413 or a CAP410 <img src="mad.gif" border="0">
CM
[ 07 January 2002: Message edited by: Chilli Monster ]</p>
CM
[ 07 January 2002: Message edited by: Chilli Monster ]</p>
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Among the clouds
From what i've seen of A/G (I won't say where) it is a farse. Utterly pointless and totally useless.
In this instance the A/G was being operated while the phone was being answered and customers being served...by the same person.
I, for one, think at airfields without ATC a unicom system as in the US is far safer allowing pilots to warn each other where they are rather than have to do it through a complicating middle-man.
In this instance the A/G was being operated while the phone was being answered and customers being served...by the same person.
I, for one, think at airfields without ATC a unicom system as in the US is far safer allowing pilots to warn each other where they are rather than have to do it through a complicating middle-man.
"Trust Me"
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Egham, UK
"In this instance the A/G was being operated while the phone was being answered and customers being served...by the same person"
So? What's new? A/G is a "radio station through which aircraft and the aerodrome authority can communicate". They pass information only. The times I've been stuck behind somebody awaiting clearance at A/G -everything is 'at your discretion'.
So? What's new? A/G is a "radio station through which aircraft and the aerodrome authority can communicate". They pass information only. The times I've been stuck behind somebody awaiting clearance at A/G -everything is 'at your discretion'.
PPruNaholic!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,615
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From: Buckinghamshire
I agree with bow5 - I was able to fly once in one of Australia's mandatory broadcast zones (MBZ) while on a visit last year. This was at Port Macquarie, a busy airfield with no controller or a/g operator, a mixture of commercial/IFR and VFR traffic, both in the circuit and transiting the (large) area. Works really well - everyone has very good situational awareness, you can call air-to-air to gain clarification if need be. I wish we had some equivalent to this system here.
Andy
[ 07 January 2002: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]</p>
Andy
[ 07 January 2002: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]</p>