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Old July 23rd 08, 01:55 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Rich Ahrens[_2_]
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Default Busy airports and small GA

on 7/22/2008 11:55 AM xyzzy said the following:
On Jul 20, 12:28 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
What is the largest/busiest airport you've flown into or out of in a small GA
aircraft as a private pilot, and was it IFR or VFR? What was the attitude of
the ATC in the area towards pilots like yourself moving about in an area
normally dominated by airliners and commercial flights?


Dulles, VFR in a Warrior.

They vectored me all over the place to keep me out of the way of the
airliners and IFR traffic (it was CAVU day), I was definitely their
lowest priority and for about 1/2 hour I got a tour of the ADIZ while
they kept pushing me out of the way. Then let me land on 19L (with a
13 mile final during a break in airliner traffic and asked if I
could make the first high-speed turnoff (ummm, yes).

Their attitude was fine, but they clearly were rusty on dealing with
VFR traffic


Chicago Midway VFR in a 172, coming in from the northwest. Other than
approach keeping me low for last 15 miles or so, no issues at all. They
clearly were used to spamcans in the wake of the shutdown of Meigs.
Departure was really interesting as I was the only prop plane in sight,
taxiing with Southwest 737s and bizjets.

Also did VFR into Calgary in a 182. They put me on a looong straight-in
to 34, but had me do a wide 360 to one side to let an Airbus in past me.
Best part was asking me if I could accept LAHSO in the 8600 feet
available before 10-28 crossed.