Marco Leon wrote:
So if I read ya right, every VFR practice approach actually counts as two
operations and looks like two IFR flights coming in for a full stop?

Only if you don't land. That's because you get radar service on the
missed. If an airliner comes in and goes missed or has to go around for
any reason and then lands on his next attempt he is a three count. All
traffic is counted the same.


Therefore the muckity mucks will see an airport busy with practice
approaches as having high-volume IFR operations and plan accordingly.

There are differences between airline airports and the approach controls
at class C and D airports. You'll never get an opposite direction
approach at DFW unless it's the middle of the night. We do it all the
time here with all traffic. Many times the jets will be given a takeoff
clearance with a requirement to start a turn prior to the end of the
runway because there is a spamcan practicing an opposite direction
approach or another jet on final nose to nose. If you've got props
you'll be turning no later than midfield. That's our normal. We make
our tower guys work here, you don't just stand there and say cleared to
land. And when it gets busy with departures you don't call down to
approach and tell them to "give me 5 miles between arrivals."


Interesting. No wonder those out-of-the-way airports thank the pilot for
practicing there!

Yes, the pay raises in the last 5 or so years has been nice.