What do I do..

[f-16]

Today I was making a VFR flight from KSEA to KLAX. When I was in the landing pattern, visability was about 10-15 miles. So I set up for final and request landing clearance...

ATC replies "AIRPORT IS IFR..CLEARANCE DENIED!!"

OH NOOOO!!! Now what do I do?? I was allready descending and about 5 miles from the runway, the visability went to 3-5 miles!! At first I thought about just landing anyway, but I did not have much time to think about it, because there was a 747 2 miles behind me and catching up!! I did a go around and went back into the pattern to think...

I quickly looked around and saw that no one was in the pattern with me. So I descided to land without clearance. It worked fine.

I would like to know what I should have done? I was denied landing clearance?? Was ATC expecting me to go VFR? If so, how do I do that in the pattern??

P.S. Luckily AISmooth was keeping any aircraft in the pattern away from me while I was landing. Otherwise I would still be in the pattern..

[Foxtrot Sport]

You couldn't really do much else when you're told that at such an abrupt time.  I've had that happen only a few times, as if I'm going to fly VFR, it's not very far, and I dont set up a plan.  If you were using a 737 or big heavy like that, then I'll always use IFR, just incase a problem like that would arise.  

My suggestion to you, would be while you were on final, annouce to cancel landing intentions (if tower didn't do it for you), and head to a different airport for a VFR landing.  Using your GPS, (if you really want to hassle with it), you could set a new course to say....Catalina island.  For maybe landing when denied clearance might not have been the best idea, not that it matters, we're all in this for the fun right?

-HF

[Fozzer]

You couldn't really do much else when you're told that at such an abrupt time.  I've had that happen only a few times, as if I'm going to fly VFR, it's not very far, and I dont set up a plan.  If you were using a 737 or big heavy like that, then I'll always use IFR, just incase a problem like that would arise.  

My suggestion to you, would be while you were on final, annouce to cancel landing intentions (if tower didn't do it for you), and head to a different airport for a VFR landing.  Using your GPS, (if you really want to hassle with it), you could set a new course to say....Catalina island.  For maybe landing when denied clearance might not have been the best idea, not that it matters, we're all in this for the fun right?

-HF

Blimey Flyer...!

Have you seen the size of that bit of air strip on Catalina Island....I wouldn't risk landing my Cessna 152 there...let alone a Jumbo 737.... ....!
LOL...!

Cheers Mate......!

Paul....Californian West Coast Flyer...always VFR... ...!

[BFMF]

First off, you should have been flying a IFR flightplan Second, did you happen to give yourself a thorough weather briefing before the flight?

Have you seen the size of that bit of air strip on Catalina Island....I wouldn't risk landing my Cessna 152 there...let alone a Jumbo 737.... ....!
LOL...!

Oh come on Fozzer, I've taken 737s into the Alaskan bush before

[Nav]

One of those things that makes FS9 interesting - happens quite a lot when you're using real weather and visibility is bad. Basically it means that you have to fly a controlled approach.

Next time, ask for clearance in good time! If the airport is IFR, click on the 'Create or Open an IFR Flight Plan' option in the ATC window.

This will bring up the Flight Planner for you. Enter up your origin and destination (any 'origin' will do), make sure that the IFR box is ticked, and then click on 'Find Route'.

The route map will come up - make sure that the altitude
box shows your actual altitude, then click 'OK'. Back in the cockpit, the ATC window will now offer you the option of filing the flightplan, and ATC will clear you and start giving you vectors and heights to fly. After that just follow the ATC instructions.

Height is important, though - remember the 'rule of three', three miles to descend one thousand feet. No use asking for clearance three miles out at five thousand feet!

You don't say what you were flying, but with an airliner at say 35,000 feet, flying IFR, ATC will begin stepping you down about 100 miles out!

[MattNW]

One of those things that makes FS9 interesting - happens quite a lot when you're using real weather and visibility is bad. Basically it means that you have to fly a controlled approach.

Next time, ask for clearance in good time! If the airport is IFR, click on the 'Create or Open an IFR Flight Plan' option in the ATC window.

This will bring up the Flight Planner for you. Enter up your origin and destination (any 'origin' will do), make sure that the IFR box is ticked, and then click on 'Find Route'.

The route map will come up - make sure that the altitude
box shows your actual altitude, then click 'OK'. Back in the cockpit, the ATC window will now offer you the option of filing the flightplan, and ATC will clear you and start giving you vectors and heights to fly. After that just follow the ATC instructions.

Height is important, though - remember the 'rule of three', three miles to descend one thousand feet. No use asking for clearance three miles out at five thousand feet!

You don't say what you were flying, but with an airliner at say 35,000 feet, flying IFR, ATC will begin stepping you down about 100 miles out!

One important thing to point out if doing this. Do Not. I repeat
[glb]DO NOT!!![/glb]
click "Yes" when the simulator asks you if you want it to reposition the aircraft at the original airport. That is unless you want to do the whole flight over from the start.  ;D

[Foxtrot Sport]

Have you seen the size of that bit of air strip on Catalina Island....I wouldn't risk landing my Cessna 152 there...let alone a Jumbo 737

That's why they invented Spoilers, AND brakes  ;).  Nah, sorry for my mistake, there's a lot of ports around there, just take down SOMEwhere, shouldn't take that long.  I didn't really know as I'll spend more of my time up north in my neck of the woods.

-HF