Flying into Houston's Ellington Field

Hello,

I'm a fairly low time instrument pilot, and I plan to fly my
family from Omaha to Houston's Ellington Field in early September. I
have never flown in the Houston area. What routing can I expect in a
Piper Arrow for the trip, assuming good weather. I'll have an
overnight stop in Palestine, Texas before making the last leg into
Houston, so fuel shouldn't be an issue. I'd like to file what is
likely to get approved to minimize delays, so if there are any
recommendations from experienced Houston area pilots, I'd be glad to
hear them.

Thanks,

Martin

"Whit" wrote:

I'm a fairly low time instrument pilot, and I plan to fly my
family from Omaha to Houston's Ellington Field in early September. I
have never flown in the Houston area. What routing can I expect in a
Piper Arrow for the trip, assuming good weather. I'll have an
overnight stop in Palestine, Texas before making the last leg into
Houston, so fuel shouldn't be an issue. I'd like to file what is
likely to get approved to minimize delays, so if there are any
recommendations from experienced Houston area pilots, I'd be glad to
hear them.

If you are filing IFR, be sure you have the STARs for Houston handy--you may
be given one. Even if ATC doesn't give you a STAR, expect a lot of vectors
to get to Ellington. Execute heading and altitude instructions promptly.

Other than that, it should really be no big deal coming down the east side
of the Bravo to Ellington. You will probably talk on 3 different approach
freqencies. Listen up and be sharp and brief on the radio; avoid useless
verbiage such as "with you" and "checking in."

Have a nice trip and tell us how it went!

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

I'm in a similar situation and flew into Hobby a few months ago. Fwiw, I
set up the nav radios for the particular runway even though it was vfr.
That helped identify the right runway.

I suggest telling the final controller you are new to the area. They are
very nice but in a big hurry and expect you to be quick. If they know you
are unfamiliar I suspect they will be a bit more patient.

"Whit" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm a fairly low time instrument pilot, and I plan to fly my
family from Omaha to Houston's Ellington Field in early September. I
have never flown in the Houston area. What routing can I expect in a
Piper Arrow for the trip, assuming good weather. I'll have an
overnight stop in Palestine, Texas before making the last leg into
Houston, so fuel shouldn't be an issue. I'd like to file what is
likely to get approved to minimize delays, so if there are any
recommendations from experienced Houston area pilots, I'd be glad to
hear them.

Thanks,

Martin

I am based at Ellington now... and having been based out of the Houston
area for all of my flying "career", I can honestly say that what the
others said about STARS is a good idea.


Have the plates out for 17R/35L (4/22 is likely to still be undergoing
rehab/rebuild in Sept..) and have the STARS out for the area. You WILL
be vectored around.. no if..ands.. or buts... probably to the east and
below the arrivals to IAH. With 3 parralel E-W runways operating at
Bush, all the playbooks appear to have EFD traffic either way OVER or
way UNDER the IAH traffic... Once upon a time, before the third runway
was opened, VFR's could request routing through the Class B at 4500 feet
, but that appears to be no longer the case.

If you actually end up needing fuel, the cheapest around is in Baytown
at Humphrey Field or at Anahuac (T00).

Be alert for small fast movers. EFD's FBO caters to the military
transient crowd and its not uncommon for lots of Navy or AF jet traffic
to be mixing it up with the spam cans. NASA's T38's are hard to spot as
well, but if you are IFR then separation is a little more certain.

If the weather is good, and you find yourself getting vectored way the
hell out into the next county, just cancel and go VFR direct, contacting
EFD direct. Approach wont care either way.. they will practically vector
you AROUND/Below the class B rather than through.


Good Luck and hope you enjoy your trip
Dave


Whit wrote:
Hello,

I'm a fairly low time instrument pilot, and I plan to fly my
family from Omaha to Houston's Ellington Field in early September. I
have never flown in the Houston area. What routing can I expect in a
Piper Arrow for the trip, assuming good weather. I'll have an
overnight stop in Palestine, Texas before making the last leg into
Houston, so fuel shouldn't be an issue. I'd like to file what is
likely to get approved to minimize delays, so if there are any
recommendations from experienced Houston area pilots, I'd be glad to
hear them.

Thanks,

Martin

Call Elington Tower and ask to have the Watch Desk call you back when it
is convenient to discuss arrivals and departures with you.

john smith wrote:
Call Elington Tower and ask to have the Watch Desk call you back when it
is convenient to discuss arrivals and departures with you.

Watch Desk?

Grin 2 person, non-fed contract tower...3 during peak...

(btw, I emailed the tower number to the original poster..)

Dave

Dave S wrote:
john smith wrote:
Call Elington Tower and ask to have the Watch Desk call you back when it
is convenient to discuss arrivals and departures with you.

Watch Desk?

Grin 2 person, non-fed contract tower...3 during peak...

(btw, I emailed the tower number to the original poster..)

Dave


Thanks for the replies.

Martin