Oops... Airliner lands at the wrong airport...

"Richard Russell" wrote in message
...


I'm amazed that in today's paranoid environment that the airliner
wan't intercepted prior to landing. Surely, the base radar could see
where they were going.

Especially since Ellsworth provides Approach Control for Rapid City's
airport.

I'm surprised that they were allowed to land,
especially seeing that they were told to pull the shades and don't
peek. I don't know what it is they weren't supposed to see,

B-2 bombers.

but they
clearly didn't want an uninvited civilian airplane on their property.
If we can't perform an intercept where the planes actually are, how
are we going to scramble and go get them somewhere else?

Even when we provide them AppCtrl.

TomSixkiller... RCA has B-1s.. not B-2s..
BT

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

I'm surprised that they were allowed to land,
especially seeing that they were told to pull the shades and don't
peek. I don't know what it is they weren't supposed to see,

B-2 bombers.

I landed at RAP less than two hours after the event described. The weather
was severe clear, with no clouds and unlimited visibilities.

Interestingly, as we approached from the east, my wife pointed at Ellsworth
and said "Isn't that the airport over there?" I said- "no, we're landing at
the smaller one directly in front of us since I don't want to get out and
lay on the ramp with a lot of sky cops pointing loaded guns at us"

Even with the great visibility I can see how the error might be made, since
the main runways are roughly parallel.

The event was the talk of the town, although the controllers seemed pretty
normal over the radio when we came in to land (Ellsworth controls the
airspace except for the tower at RAP, and were letting pilots fly over Mount
Rushmore VFR sight seeing, so they couldn't have been too upset)

The backseat drivers will come out and blast the pilot, crew,
controllers, flight attendants and lineboy for this screwup, but you
know, stuff happens.

In the 1970s (I think) an airliner landed at then Moffett Naval Air
Station instead of San Jose Muni.

Just a few months ago a tri-engine Falcon Jet--I don't know which
model--landed by mistake at University Airport (3185 x 50 ft.) instead
of nearby Yolo Airport (6000 x 100 ft.) The pilot hit the reverse
thrust before the nosewheel touched down...better pilot skill than
judgement.

Stuff happens. Be glad it doesn't happen to you.

On 21 Jun 2004 18:22:59 -0700, Bob Fry
wrote:

The backseat drivers will come out and blast the pilot, crew,
controllers, flight attendants and lineboy for this screwup, but you
know, stuff happens.

In the 1970s (I think) an airliner landed at then Moffett Naval Air
Station instead of San Jose Muni.

Just a few months ago a tri-engine Falcon Jet--I don't know which
model--landed by mistake at University Airport (3185 x 50 ft.) instead
of nearby Yolo Airport (6000 x 100 ft.) The pilot hit the reverse
thrust before the nosewheel touched down...better pilot skill than
judgement.

Stuff happens. Be glad it doesn't happen to you.

Stuff does happen and I am grateful that I haven't made that egregious
and error, yet. What amazes me, however, is that the military
"allowed" this plane to land at the base. If the plane happened to be
in the hands of someone with ill intent and he took out a row of
bombers there would be one hell of a lot of explaining to do.
Rich Russell

On 21 Jun 2004 18:22:59 -0700, Bob Fry
wrote:

Just a few months ago a tri-engine Falcon Jet--I don't know which
model--landed by mistake at University Airport (3185 x 50 ft.) instead
of nearby Yolo Airport (6000 x 100 ft.) The pilot hit the reverse
thrust before the nosewheel touched down...better pilot skill than
judgement.

I'd sell tickets to the guy's takeoff when he tries to leave.Even a straight
wing Citation couldn't get out of that mess.

Tom Sixkiller wrote:
On 21 Jun 2004 18:22:59 -0700, Bob Fry

wrote:

Just a few months ago a tri-engine Falcon Jet--I don't know which
model--landed by mistake at University Airport (3185 x 50 ft.) instead
of nearby Yolo Airport (6000 x 100 ft.) The pilot hit the reverse
thrust before the nosewheel touched down...better pilot skill than
judgement.


I'd sell tickets to the guy's takeoff when he tries to leave.Even a straight
wing Citation couldn't get out of that mess.



Well you wouldn't make much money.
You could take out of it any 3 engine Falcon with about 6000 lbs/2+hours
of fuel.

Gabriele

"gabriele" wrote in message
...
Tom Sixkiller wrote:
On 21 Jun 2004 18:22:59 -0700, Bob Fry

wrote:

Just a few months ago a tri-engine Falcon Jet--I don't know which
model--landed by mistake at University Airport (3185 x 50 ft.) instead
of nearby Yolo Airport (6000 x 100 ft.) The pilot hit the reverse
thrust before the nosewheel touched down...better pilot skill than
judgement.


I'd sell tickets to the guy's takeoff when he tries to leave.Even a
straight
wing Citation couldn't get out of that mess.



Well you wouldn't make much money.
You could take out of it any 3 engine Falcon with about 6000 lbs/2+hours
of fuel.

Out of a 3185 foot runway at 4000(?) feet? He might make it, but it would
sure be exciting to watch.

Even a straight
wing Citation couldn't get out of that mess.

Yeah....it could do so quite easily. So could the Falcon for that matter.


-John
*You are nothing until you have flown a Douglas, Lockheed, Grumman or North
American*

"Tom Sixkiller" writes:

On 21 Jun 2004 18:22:59 -0700, Bob Fry
wrote:

Just a few months ago a tri-engine Falcon Jet--I don't know which
model--landed by mistake at University Airport (3185 x 50 ft.) instead
of nearby Yolo Airport (6000 x 100 ft.) The pilot hit the reverse
thrust before the nosewheel touched down...better pilot skill than
judgement.

I'd sell tickets to the guy's takeoff when he tries to leave.Even a straight
wing Citation couldn't get out of that mess.

He got out no problem. The first and probably last time we saw a jet
blasting over West Davis.