enviorment where you fly?

[Dr.bob7]

in real life around your home airport what type of flying enviorment is it just wondering heres mine:

Centennial KAPA:

Ive taken one flight and my second is next monday and im pretty sure learning to fly here will be a big challenge because Centennial is a extremly busy airport with a huge level of prop and private jet traffic, ranked against arpirts without major airlines flying into it it ranks 2nd busiest in the country and compared to takeoffs and landings with major airports like O'Hare it ranks 25th in the nation along with being busy about 1000 or so feet above it is the surronding Class B airspace of Denver International..... so im thinking its gonna be a challenge

[beaky]

Not to be negative or anything, but the biggest challenge will be getting any flight training done for your money. Expect to spend a lot of time waiting to get off the ground or back into the airspace... it's educational, but only up to a point.
I know because I started at Teterboro. Even 10 years ago it was pretty bad. Very busy Class D, under a Class B, reliever for KEWR, etc.
One time I spent 45 minutes from clearance to taxi to clearance for takeoff (multiple jet departures, all with lengthy IFR clearances), and didn't learn a damn thing during that time.

Aside from that, dealing with controlled-airport procedures and flying in or near a Class B is not a big deal, and I believe all new students should be exposed to that early on.

[DaveSims]

All of my training, and most of my flight experience has been from uncontrolled airports.  Even now, the airport I work at is uncontrolled, but with some jet and commercial traffic.  The only thing I can say from my perspective, you get a feel for being around uncontrolled fields, but I get a little nervous in the Class B and C areas.  I hear the reverse is true for guys used to having the tower watching, they are nervous at the uncontrolled fields.

[The Ruptured Duck]

Enviroment is good and bad.

Crazy bizjet pilots and Beechcraft test pilots barreling into the runway, always windy, and expensive gas.

Positive?  Some really nice fellows out there to talk to (even though there are plenty of jerks)

[Brett_Henderson]

I agree with Rotty; in that you'll end up spending more time (more money) getting the training done...

[Splinter562]

I've seen many pilots that learned to fly at smaller airports or started in gliders that feel uncomfortable with ATC and going into Class B or C airports; even after they get their private. I think it really makes a difference to get a good base of experience in busy airspace during your private with an instructor to help you learn the ropes.

That being said, it can work in reverse too. I have seen pilots that learned to fly primarily at controlled airports who are uncomfortable with uncontrolled fields. Some have trouble figuring out how to transition from en route to the pattern without ATC direction and understanding what the informal/nonstandard/missing radio calls of other aircraft in the pattern mean to them.

Since you are operating out of controlled airspace, you'll probably have a pretty good handle on dealing with ATC which you get your ticket. I'd just be weary of neglecting untowered airports in your training. Perhaps  make your cross countries to uncontrolled fields so you can get the experience.


As for my personal flight environment. Right now I'm based on a field with a part-time tower and only a stones throw away from a lot of restricted airspace. The tower isn't as daunting for student pilots because it is pretty lax when it is open, but the airspace can be a challange. Student pilots tend to be fearful of busting the airspace because they are not yet confident enough in their pilotage skills. As a result they tend to use GPS fairly heavily for airspace avoidance. Not that that is bad, GPS is a great tool for airspace avoidance. But it could be a problem if they learn to depend only on the GPS and don't build confidence in their pilotage.

[machineman9]

Well I fly at one of two locations...

RAF Cosford
RAF Shawbury (Tern Hill)


Traffic is usually minimal as it is sort of restricted airspace. Only other traffic is the other cadets flying or maybe some jets flying down south. Though it is a really nice area to fly from. In the tutor following the river by Iron Bridge and then around a few hills is just great.


When I properly start my flying lessons (about this time next year) I will probably fly from Sleap (Shropshire Aero Club) or a similar and reccomended aero club. One of the civilian instructors at cadets knows a few good flying schools in that area, but to be honest it is just a rip right now with all the fuel prices. If it gets horrific, I may just go forward for a flying and gliding scholarship instead before potentially joining the RAF (though they are having their fun share of the fuel crisis)

Lovely England

[EGNX]

Nearest airspace to me is East Mids and that's a good 15nm away. Gliders don't like wandering off so we never venture to far unless we have the height. Which allows up to 8,000 uninterrupted!

[beaky]

Nearest airspace to me is East Mids and that's a good 15nm away. Gliders don't like wandering off so we never venture to far unless we have the height. Which allows up to 8,000 uninterrupted!  :)

However down at Wethersfield the Category D airspace extends right over the airfield at 2,000ft. So it's a bit annoying when you're in a thermal at 1,900ft climbing at 6kts up and request to enter the airspace from Stansted and they tell you to 'stand by....' for a good 10 minutes! Gah...!  :P

That's a drag... I've been experiencing a similar problem soaring at 47N: there's a new approach for flights from the SW coming into KEWR, and they're often below 4000 well outside the 3000-ft Class B shelf. I've actually had to maneuver a little on more than one flight to avoid heavies with a healthy margin, or at least to "show them our belly" to make sure they see us.

[EGNX]

That's a drag... I've been experiencing a similar problem soaring at 47N: there's a new approach for flights from the SW coming into KEWR, and they're often below 4000 well outside the 3000-ft Class B shelf. I've actually had to maneuver a little on more than one flight to avoid heavies with a healthy margin, or at least to "show them our belly" to make sure they see us.

Cool!  :)

There's nothing better, and scarier than seeing a 757 arching around you 200ft above and less than a mile away!... Those things really are HUGE compared to a glider!  :P I could give a nice wave to the pilots if they spent some time looking out the window!  ::)
Fortunately the things I fly are very hard to miss. Gotta love the RAF and their use of dayglow orange!  ::) 8-)

[machineman9]

Gotta love the RAF and their use of dayglow orange!  ::) 8-)

Lets just be glad they didn't paint the entire aircraft fluorescent pink or something  ;D

[DaveSims]

One of my favorite traffic stories was when we were flying overhead Barksdale AFB at 3500 watching a B-52 takeoff and climbing straight towards us.  They turned him at 2500, he was remaining in the traffic pattern, but a Buff just 1000 feet from you in flight is impressive.

There was also another time where we were practicing the ILS.  As we crossed the outer marker inbound ATC advised us to maintain maximum forward speed for the MD-80 three miles behind us.  Being as we were just in a 172, we offered to break off the approach and allow the big guy to land first.  

[Brett_Henderson]

[quote]One of my favorite traffic stories was when we were flying overhead Barksdale AFB at 3500 watching a B-52 takeoff and climbing straight towards us.