In FS9, I like to start trips from Schiphol airport(eham), Amsterdam, since I live in Amsterdam. I land there too, and all that in GA aircraft like the Baron, Lancair Legacy. Schiphol is a large international airport, so I was wondering is this is realistic. Would they, under normal circumstances, let me mix in with the big guys with my slow and small private aircraft , or would the say "sorry, too busy, go to a local airport "? Does a real pilot have the answer to this?

Gerwin

Hi Gerwin,

     Where did you get a Lancair Legacy?

Quote:

Yes, that certainly helps, thanks. I would just like to know from someone who knows about really big airports like O'Hare or Heathrow if it's allowed to land your toyplane there, or if they consider it to dangerous to join the traffic with a plane that has a topspeed as low as the stall speed of a 747. I guess it will cost you a fortune anyway, and nobody will do that, so it's useless to go planespotting at the runways of EHAM. So any input is welcome. Thanks!

Most airports in the US allow ALL aircraft to land. Newark and Washington National are two exceptions that come to mind. These airports do not allow FAR pt 91&135 (general aviation/private charter)operations. BUT this rule means no jets, such as a Lear or Gulfstream, as well as no Cessnas.

A good indicator as to whether an airport is G/A friendly, is to look at the runways that it offers. Boston Logan is probably the busiest airport I have ever seen, with the exception of possibly Heathrow. If you look at an airport diagram for Boston, they offer runway 33R/15L for use. It is a 2,500 foot runway. There's only a certain type of airplane that will use a runway THAT short. And if you go to Signature Boston(private aircraft parking), you will see many single engine, piston powered aircraft.
Exceptance of "the little guys" in the US is dependant more on local government, and the existance of "satellite" airports, than any hard rules. If there is not another option(re:smaller airports), a large airport may have no choice.

I think OTTOL summed it up pretty well, Im sure if the ATC really didnt want you to land, they would just put you out in the holding pattern until you decide to go to another local airport

36/18 at O'hare is 5000 feet.  I believe that one is reserved for small aviation while the big guns get 32/14 L&R which are about 13000 ft.  I can't see O'hare, which I believe is the third busiest airport in the world, letting a small Cessna or something disrupt what must be an extremely complicated ballet of movement.  So they have one runway that is no where near the routes of the big planes just for the little guys...

BTW, Scott, Who do you fly for that still uses 727's?

Also, don't be misled just because an airport has the "International" designation....not all of them are exactly major traffic hubs. I've operated in and out of several "International" airports (and in Cessna 152's actually) that didn't even have a control tower!

I heard from one of my flight instructors that if you go on approach at Brisbane Intl you will get cahrged even if you declare a missed approach.

Last year I was out in the USA for 3 weeks flying out of Daytona Intl in a Warrior (pa28) and a Seneca and landed at Orlando Intl (MCO) and Sanford. All I can say was that it was amazing when we parked up we were treated the same way as the Airline and Bizjet guys.

heathrow at night watching the approach is absolutly amazing, just that long line of lights into the sky is stunning to watch.