Gary IN to CVG?

Everett M. Greene wrote:
I thought the FAA's job is to properly handle /all/ aircraft.

Well, presumably they will. Just with a bad attitude.

I think it's pretty funny how certain ATC locations have noticeably
negative personalities. But on second thought, it's not surprising.
It's a job, offices have 'cultures', and management quality varies.
Fortunately they have a pretty well defined set of operating procedures
to follow and plenty of controls so as long as they get it done, what's
the problem?

Charlotte used to be kind of funky in this pilot's book but that's long
gone. Maybe a little hub downsizing gets everyone's attention. Great
place now. Savannah usually managed to seem nasty for no apparent
reason. Probably an a--h--- manager or 2, who knows.

Maule Driver wrote:

Everett M. Greene wrote:
I thought the FAA's job is to properly handle /all/ aircraft.

Well, presumably they will. Just with a bad attitude.

I think it's pretty funny how certain ATC locations have noticeably
negative personalities. But on second thought, it's not surprising.
It's a job, offices have 'cultures', and management quality varies.
Fortunately they have a pretty well defined set of operating procedures
to follow and plenty of controls so as long as they get it done, what's
the problem?

Charlotte used to be kind of funky in this pilot's book but that's long
gone. Maybe a little hub downsizing gets everyone's attention. Great
place now.

When RDU was an AA hub, they didn't want local pilots coming in to do
practice stuff. After AA pulled out, RDU controllers came to local
flying club meetings and invited them come on over and practice as much
as they want.

The above happened before I started flying. My only experience with RDU
is in the post-AA era and they have been nothing but friendly and
helpful IMO.

RDU is close to my home airport and I go in there a lot. They are very
friendly. Of course one of my airpark neighbors is a controller there too.

I've attended various meetings where RDU issues have been covered and
here's how I understand it:

When an AA hub, RDU was on track for a Class B. More ATC pay, perhaps
prestige, and no need to solicit more traffic (or friends?). When the
hub collapsed, they slipped below the traffic threshold required for
Class B.

Apparently they've been very close over the years because Class B
hearings and planning sessions and such have been held repeatedly, but
they seem to keep coming up short of whatever the criteria is.

I remember an ATC rep in one of the meetings half joking about how they
welcome every operation in order to help them make the numbers.

So RDU remains a Class C and can't seem to make the big time from an ATC
perspective. But there are new facilities all over the place. New
parking, new ramps, new hangars,the FBOs seem successful and flush, big
iron GA floods the ramp, and *visiting* spam can flyers benefit from it
all. A GREAT place to fly into for whatever. Yaaay!

xyzzy wrote:
When RDU was an AA hub, they didn't want local pilots coming in to do
practice stuff. After AA pulled out, RDU controllers came to local
flying club meetings and invited them come on over and practice as much
as they want.

The above happened before I started flying. My only experience with RDU
is in the post-AA era and they have been nothing but friendly and
helpful IMO.

Apparently they've been very close over the years because Class B hearings and planning sessions and such have been held repeatedly, but they seem to keep coming up short of whatever the criteria is.

I remember an ATC rep in one of the meetings half joking about how they welcome every operation in order to help them make the numbers.

So RDU remains a Class C and can't seem to make the big time from an ATC perspective.

So, maybe us spam cans ought to avoid the airport, lest we get more
Bravo airspace.

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Maule Driver wrote:

So RDU remains a Class C and can't seem to make the big time from an ATC
perspective. But there are new facilities all over the place. New
parking, new ramps, new hangars,the FBOs seem successful and flush, big
iron GA floods the ramp, and *visiting* spam can flyers benefit from it
all. A GREAT place to fly into for whatever. Yaaay!

Yeah. I landed there just before the spamcan FBO closed one night. Both landing
lights were out, and I bought bulbs there just as they were shutting the
register up. When I landed, the dew point and temperature were about 4 degrees
apart, so I was interested in staying over.

My sister lives in the area, but she was on the road and nobody answered the
phone. A big hurricane (Hugo?) had blown through a few weeks before. The guy at
Piedmont called every hotel in Raleigh. They were all full, including the
$150/night places. He got off the phone just as I finished up with the landing
lights and just tossed me the keys to one of their pilot "emergency" rooms. No
charge.

OK, the gas is a bit pricey, but the people are great!

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

Well George, you would barely recognize the place now. All new
buildings and ramps and taxiways in the FBO area.

I know people considered Southern Jet the spam can FBO and Piedmont for
big iron. Before the last set of renovations, I always went to Piedmont
when I couldn't get home due to weather. I'm ashamed to say I never
spent a dime there but they never charged one either. Parked on their
ramp overnight many times, several days on occassion. Charging me never
seemed worth the effort. I just made myself at home and did whatever I
needed to do.

I've since used SJ and like them too. Always willing to drive a
passenger to the terminals or whatever.

Little known secret of RDU - the new GA 'terminal building' situated
between Piedmont and SC is empty but has a little grill upstairs with a
glassed in balcony to watch the traffic from. During normal daylight
hours you can eat in peace and splendor while watching your plane and
traffic. You'll usually be alone with the grill man.

George Patterson wrote:

Yeah. I landed there just before the spamcan FBO closed one night. Both
landing lights were out, and I bought bulbs there just as they were
shutting the register up. When I landed, the dew point and temperature
were about 4 degrees apart, so I was interested in staying over.

My sister lives in the area, but she was on the road and nobody answered
the phone. A big hurricane (Hugo?) had blown through a few weeks before.
The guy at Piedmont called every hotel in Raleigh. They were all full,
including the $150/night places. He got off the phone just as I finished
up with the landing lights and just tossed me the keys to one of their
pilot "emergency" rooms. No charge.

OK, the gas is a bit pricey, but the people are great!

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

Maule Driver wrote:

So RDU remains a Class C and can't seem to make the big time from an ATC
perspective. But there are new facilities all over the place. New
parking, new ramps, new hangars,

Take a look at the Airport Authority membership at

http://www.rdu.com/aboutrdu/meet.htm

Notice some of the same names that you see on the construction vehicles for the
companies that are pouring all that new concrete?

Cynicism aside, I'm based there and I like the facilities. Y'all come on down.

Dave