PIREP: Potomac TRACON Tour

Actually, it was part of Operation Raincheck. It happens 4 times a year
apparently. It also qualified as part of the Wings Program because they
did a 1/2 hour explaination on getting in an out of the ADIZ around the
Washington DC area.

I don't recall the initial email, but I think this one was just for
Potomac - it came out in the AOPA newsletter that I get via email once a
week or so.

Charlie

bdl wrote:
I second that Jack. I took a tour (part of Operation Raincheck?) here
at the STL TRACON. Excellent experience.

One thing I found interesting, was most of the group that was there for
the tour was VFR pilots, and didn't seem interested in instrument
procedures, etc. Mostly questions about VFR flight following, etc.

Still it was nice to look at the scopes and watch the traffic come in.
It's pretty light traffic these days in STL with the loss of hub status
by American, but it was still interesting.

They echo'd similar pet peeves. Getting a pilot's life story on
initial contact. Seems there's a certain flight school (affiliated
with a college) who's instructors are teaching their students that way.

Jack, Charlie were your tours part of an official program like
Operation Raincheck? Or just an ad hoc tour?

I'd like to do another one again, seems I had a bunch more questions
after I left than before I was there. Oh and I'd kill for more time on
their simulator (only had about 5 minutes due to a scheduling foulup).

Brian

bdl wrote:

Still it was nice to look at the scopes and watch the traffic come in.
It's pretty light traffic these days in STL with the loss of hub status
by American, but it was still interesting.
Yes, it is fun, isn't it? I could sit there for hours
watching/listening to traffic.

Jack, Charlie were your tours part of an official program like
Operation Raincheck? Or just an ad hoc tour?

Mine was an unofficial tour as I know a controller and a supervisor that
work at the facility. They're my two partners in the Arrow.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

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In rec.aviation.piloting Jack Allison wrote:
Good for you taking the tour Charlie. I had a chance to visit our local
TRACON (Norcal) a few months back and it was awesome. As it turned out,
I'm now partners with two guys that work in the facility so I'll be able
to go back sometime.

It's a great experience to see things from the controller's side of
things. If anyone ever gets an opportunity for something like this, by
all means, do it.

What steps did you take for getting the visit? I tried for a
group of us, and was turned down. 4 in my group were CFIs, and one a
controller in the LFPG FIR in France. Did you just call and arrange for
a tour? Did you mention Operation Raincheck? What was it you did to get
in?

BL.
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Brad Littlejohn | Email:
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It was part of Operation Raincheck. Not sure if all the TRACONS do it.
Potomac is the 3rd busiest on the country - I think SOCAL was #1,
NORCAL maybe 4th... I'm sure its possible at any one of them. Luckily
the Potomac TRACON has someone there who does this pretty regularly.
There were representatives there from AOPA as well.

Randy Horner is the contact @ Potomac.

Charlie

A Guy Called Tyketto wrote:
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In rec.aviation.piloting Jack Allison wrote:

Good for you taking the tour Charlie. I had a chance to visit our local
TRACON (Norcal) a few months back and it was awesome. As it turned out,
I'm now partners with two guys that work in the facility so I'll be able
to go back sometime.

It's a great experience to see things from the controller's side of
things. If anyone ever gets an opportunity for something like this, by
all means, do it.


What steps did you take for getting the visit? I tried for a
group of us, and was turned down. 4 in my group were CFIs, and one a
controller in the LFPG FIR in France. Did you just call and arrange for
a tour? Did you mention Operation Raincheck? What was it you did to get
in?

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

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Mine was part of Operation Raincheck as well. There was a specific
discussion of the e-STMP program that was going to be in place for the
Final Four in STL. The e-STMP program was kind of glossed over since
most of the pilots in the room were VFR-only.

Yes, it is fun, isn't it? I could sit there for hours
watching/listening to traffic.

Me too! Hell, I do that now with my handheld scanner anytime I'm in the
office (about 2 miles from Lambert)

The controllers all seemed pretty laid back. Looked like it would be a
fun place to work, although I could see how it could be extremely
stressful at times.

I'm a systems guy, so being able to see another aspect of a system that
I knew from the pilot side is nice.

I'd really like to do one with Chicago Approach Control (or Center too
for that matter). Hmm.. need to research who to call on that one.....

Brian

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In rec.aviation.piloting Charlie Derk wrote:
It was part of Operation Raincheck. Not sure if all the TRACONS do it.
Potomac is the 3rd busiest on the country - I think SOCAL was #1,
NORCAL maybe 4th... I'm sure its possible at any one of them. Luckily
the Potomac TRACON has someone there who does this pretty regularly.
There were representatives there from AOPA as well.

Randy Horner is the contact @ Potomac.

VERY interesting. I called Las Vegas Tracon pre 9/11 about
getting a tour there, mentioned Operation Raincheck, that we had some
students wanting to have a tour of the local facility, and even was
accompanied by the senior controller at O'Hare TRACON, and was not only
told emphatically NO, but that there was no such thing as Operation
Raincheck.

I wish they could be consistent across the board at the
facilities. Friends of mine could get into LA Center for a tour, but
not into LAS TRACON. They could get into Columbus FSS, but not Omaha
TRACON.. It's frustrating. and you're right. You really have to wonder
why pilots are afraid to/don't want to talk to them.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
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A Guy Called Tyketto wrote:

What steps did you take for getting the visit?
Slightly unorthodox (and lucky)...I met one of the controllers at the
facility during an IFR ground school. Turns out he was looking for an
airplane partner and in the process of buying a plane, I got a tour.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)