Lonely up there?

In a previous article, Matt Whiting said:
I can always tell when things are slow at ELM ... they will hand me off
to tower and clear me to land when I'm still 20 miles away. No kidding.

I got that at ROC a week ago. I was cleared to land minutes after leaving
Batavia, and I still couldn't see the airport. I was 15 nm away according
to the GPS.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Some days violence is just a nice quick solution to a problem that
would need thought, planning and actual work to do justice to.
-- Wayne Pascoe

Paul Tomblin wrote:
In a previous article, Matt Whiting said:

I can always tell when things are slow at ELM ... they will hand me off
to tower and clear me to land when I'm still 20 miles away. No kidding.


I got that at ROC a week ago. I was cleared to land minutes after leaving
Batavia, and I still couldn't see the airport. I was 15 nm away according
to the GPS.


Same here, but I know ELM well enough to know that it was behind the
ridge at Harris Hill. :-)


Matt

And if they are really busy they clear you to land, taxi to parking this
frequency, good night.

Matt Whiting wrote:
Robert Chambers wrote:


Rich wrote:

I usually try to legitimize my call (a bit) by asking for the
altimeter setting. Makes it seem like I'm busy "tending shop".

Rich



Providence approach has a sense of humor at times. One time I was
heading towards their airspace with my sister and her kid. The
approach frequency was pretty quiet at the time. Called for and
received a squawk, put it in, got identified and then a minute later
got called again "grumman 12345 is radar ah, disregard" so I replied
"345 is glad to be still in radar contact" he replied "345 gives you
warm and fuzzy feelings?" "affirmative 345" and that was the end of
the conversation. My sister however was impressed that not only did
PVD approach let us through their airspace but also made sure we had
"warm and fuzzy feelings" as well.


I can always tell when things are slow at ELM ... they will hand me off
to tower and clear me to land when I'm still 20 miles away. No kidding.

Matt

Robert Chambers wrote:

And if they are really busy they clear you to land, taxi to parking this
frequency, good night.

Haven't quite had that happen, but pretty close!

Matt

Robert Chambers wrote:

And if they are really busy they clear you to land, taxi to parking this
frequency, good night.

"Enjoy your nap," I always have been tempted to say.

--
Peter

Rich wrote:
paul kgyy wrote:

It appeared to be a long time since last hearing from ATC on a recent
flight, and sure enough, "27D can you still hear us?". I still could,
and they transferred me to a local approach control.

Anybody ever just call them up to see if they forgot about you? I did
that once over Toledo.


I usually try to legitimize my call (a bit) by asking for the altimeter
setting. Makes it seem like I'm busy "tending shop".

Why don't you feel that checking if your radio is still working is
legitimate?


Matt

Just last week over Rockford, IL, I was beginning to wonder. Then I
heard another plane asking for a radio check. The controller responded
wit hthe local altimeter.

Some time last year, I keyed up and said, "South Bend approach, radio
check?" The response was, "The lone voice in the wilderness! 8SA,
loud and clear, you are my only airplane right now."

I said, "Okay, if you'd like something to do, I'd like direct
destination."

His response was, "I already checked that, continue direct CRATR,
Detroit's request, for traffic."

"Okay." Pretty cool that he already tried for me.

"I see a few planes coming from Chicago, things will pick up in a few
minutes."

.... and they did.