Simviation Forum

Nov 6^th, 2010 at 6:41pm

kev13479 Offline
Colonel
C172pilot@W13

Posts: 88

Hello everyone.
I have been taking flying lessons for 1 1/2 years now and tomarrow i am taking off for a controlled tower.
Any last minute advice or stories?

appreciate it
Kev13479

Kev13479

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Nov 6^th, 2010 at 9:10pm

olderndirt Offline
Colonel
Flying is PFM
Rochester, WA

Gender:
Posts: 3574

As a former tower controller, all I can say is - be nice. Tell them who you are, where you are and what you want to do.

« Last Edit: Nov 7^th, 2010 at 11:36am by olderndirt »

THIS IS NOT A PANAM CLIPPER

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Nov 6^th, 2010 at 10:43pm

SeanTK Ex Member

Swear like a sailor. It'll liven up their day. Grin

Just joking. Wink

It's a little intimidating at first, but you'll quickly get used to the environment. Good luck, and have fun!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Nov 7^th, 2010 at 6:01pm

beaky Offline
Global Moderator
Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

Gender:
Posts: 14187

Again, "who, where, what" is the main thing, as with comms anywhere. Also... if you are not sure you heard something right, just ask to hear it again. If they mention some unfamiliar landmark, or you can't make sense of taxi instructions from Ground, say "unfamiliar" and they will be happy to clarify it for you. It's not some kind of test- they are there to help.

Another not-so-obvious thing: tower controllers do not have magic powers, nor are they infallible. Trust, but verify... keep a sharp eye out just as you would at a non-towered field.

I say this because the three closest calls I ever had were within the boundaries of tower-controlled airports. Roll Eyes

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Nov 7^th, 2010 at 8:56pm

olderndirt Offline
Colonel
Flying is PFM
Rochester, WA

Gender:
Posts: 3574

beaky wrote on Nov 7^th, 2010 at 6:01pm:

tower controllers do not have magic powers, nor are they infallible.

Wait a minute - you obviously never came to my airport Cheesy

.

THIS IS NOT A PANAM CLIPPER

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Nov 7^th, 2010 at 10:09pm

-Crossfire- Offline
Colonel
Northern Canada

Gender:
Posts: 954

olderndirt wrote on Nov 7^th, 2010 at 8:56pm:

beaky wrote on Nov 7^th, 2010 at 6:01pm:

tower controllers do not have magic powers, nor are they infallible.

Wait a minute - you obviously never came to my airport Cheesy

.

Pilots always blame the controllers and controllers always blame the pilots Grin

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Dec 3^rd, 2010 at 7:14pm

specter177 Offline
Colonel
Check out the Maverick
Flying Car!
I-TEC - X35

Gender:
Posts: 1406

Pilots and controllers are very similar. When a pilot screws up, the pilot dies. When a controller screws up, the pilot dies. Wink

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Dec 5^th, 2010 at 11:14am

DenisH Offline
Colonel
Fly FS
ca, usa

Gender:
Posts: 289

Therein is the beauty of simming. Nobody dies. And even better, no mechanic or fuel bills! Cheesy

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Dec 5^th, 2010 at 10:30pm

olderndirt Offline
Colonel
Flying is PFM
Rochester, WA

Gender:
Posts: 3574

DenisH wrote on Dec 5^th, 2010 at 11:14am:

Therein is the beauty of simming. Nobody dies. And even better, no mechanic or fuel bills! Cheesy

You missed your calling - diplomacy. A few dollars here, a few there - next thing you know, Ambassador to you name it. That 'bumper sticker' quoted has been around for awhile - obviously not by a pilot or a controller. My pilot 'kill ratio' over twenty years was quite low - I even received an award

.