Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
08-06-2008 | 08:45 PM
#26
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
. . . flies a landing pattern and is about to touch down when this delta comes screaming from the other direction and just misses it by inches.
It's always a good idea to confirm the pattern before you take off with the pilots already at the line and call your intentions to use the runway to take off or land (or, even better, have your spotter announce it for you, to the other pilots).
08-06-2008 | 08:57 PM
#27
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From: Bloomington,
MN
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
I'm pretty lucky. The guys I fly with are friends, and we rarely end up sharing the field with many others.
When I'm around people I don't know as well, I try my best to talk to them a bit. Not just while flying. Establish a rapport, and everyone is more likely to communicate when something needs to be said and much less likely to do something unkind or unthinking.
That said, I've yelled at a couple of guys who have started doing jackass things while I'm flying. The old man who can barely hover his helicopter, and decided to try that at the end of the active runway while I was flying? I really don't care if he thought I was a donkey. People who don't yell out what they're doing when you're in the middle of flying and don't care to crank your neck around to see them dicking around behind you? Same deal. Some people are just stupid. That's not their fault, and it's not my fault when I remind them of it.
When I'm around people I don't know as well, I try my best to talk to them a bit. Not just while flying. Establish a rapport, and everyone is more likely to communicate when something needs to be said and much less likely to do something unkind or unthinking.
That said, I've yelled at a couple of guys who have started doing jackass things while I'm flying. The old man who can barely hover his helicopter, and decided to try that at the end of the active runway while I was flying? I really don't care if he thought I was a donkey. People who don't yell out what they're doing when you're in the middle of flying and don't care to crank your neck around to see them dicking around behind you? Same deal. Some people are just stupid. That's not their fault, and it's not my fault when I remind them of it.
08-07-2008 | 06:31 AM
#28
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From: Jacksonville, FL
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
I believe in the pattern...those that fly against the pattern and damage an airplane flying with the pattern owes the guy some money...
08-07-2008 | 09:40 AM
#29
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
I don't really think either of you did anything wrong. I just think you became more nervous than normal being a beginner. There's no need for this to bend you out of shape. I think I would have just politely mentioned that standing that close to the runway made you nervous.
08-07-2008 | 10:03 AM
#30
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From: Simpsonville, SC
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
I know that I would be distracted if I'm flying and someone else is taxing around like a go kart, specially close to my feet. I don't like props hitting me, they cause PAIN and expensive doctor bills! When you shout "landing" Dad and his winged go kart have to get off the runway and give you the right-of-way. Its common sense and courtesy, but unfortunately some people lack both. IMO, Dad should have gone to a large parking lot and there he can practice his taxing skills (less the wing on the airplane).
08-07-2008 | 11:38 AM
#31
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From: Mississauga,
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RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
ORIGINAL: nickj
I would be upset. I don't know how lax they are at other fields, but at our field NO ONE is allowed anywhere near the runway except to retrieve a stopped plane, and only then after announcing loudly. We have a low catch-fence about 30 ft. from the runway, and everyone stands behind it. If you don't have a similar set-up at your field, then common sense should apply. IMO, common sense would dictate that you don't practice taxiing on the runway when planes are in the air. I disagree that what the father and son were doing was okay.
I would be upset. I don't know how lax they are at other fields, but at our field NO ONE is allowed anywhere near the runway except to retrieve a stopped plane, and only then after announcing loudly. We have a low catch-fence about 30 ft. from the runway, and everyone stands behind it. If you don't have a similar set-up at your field, then common sense should apply. IMO, common sense would dictate that you don't practice taxiing on the runway when planes are in the air. I disagree that what the father and son were doing was okay.
Other than that I have no real problems with what they did, you called out a landing, they gave you the runway, was not perfect, but they did what they should do overall.
08-07-2008 | 11:54 AM
#32
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From: Mississauga,
ON, CANADA
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
ORIGINAL: boxbeam
Runways are for takeoffs and landings not for groundhandling exercises while there is a hot prop in the air. When you have a deadstick and have to cross the field when someone is still above you, you are still nervous when retrieving your plane, why? Because it is dangerous. If the taxiing plane stalls out, there is always a chance of something going wrong while it is being retrieved especially if you have an excited little one who is with you and is part of the operation. If you want to practice on the ground, have at it in your back yard, or street or drive way or vacant store parking lot or when no one is in the air, run it up and down on the runway, but when someone is ready to fly, give them 100% use of all the field. Take the wing off so you don't lift off if you are concerned with that. We all have done that at some point or another but leave all runways open to those in the air for whatever situations may arise. No other acivity should be taking place on the forward side of the pilots station when there is taking off, flying or landing in progress.
No one likes it when someone has to run out in front of you to get their powerless plane and you are flying your usual stuff, nor does the person like going out to get it either. This point can be argued several different ways I suppose because some club rules and regulations may or may not specify on this particular matter, but overall, the safety of members and spectators should be the first priority and the second should be the property of all those present and nearby.
Runways are for takeoffs and landings not for groundhandling exercises while there is a hot prop in the air. When you have a deadstick and have to cross the field when someone is still above you, you are still nervous when retrieving your plane, why? Because it is dangerous. If the taxiing plane stalls out, there is always a chance of something going wrong while it is being retrieved especially if you have an excited little one who is with you and is part of the operation. If you want to practice on the ground, have at it in your back yard, or street or drive way or vacant store parking lot or when no one is in the air, run it up and down on the runway, but when someone is ready to fly, give them 100% use of all the field. Take the wing off so you don't lift off if you are concerned with that. We all have done that at some point or another but leave all runways open to those in the air for whatever situations may arise. No other acivity should be taking place on the forward side of the pilots station when there is taking off, flying or landing in progress.
No one likes it when someone has to run out in front of you to get their powerless plane and you are flying your usual stuff, nor does the person like going out to get it either. This point can be argued several different ways I suppose because some club rules and regulations may or may not specify on this particular matter, but overall, the safety of members and spectators should be the first priority and the second should be the property of all those present and nearby.
I question having a5 year old on the siticks, but who knows if it was just connected and the kid thought he was doing something, the the dad really controlling.
We have a standard set of rules, if you are not the only one out there, call out your intentions, landings, taxi, deadstick, take off, on the field ect, whoever is flying will acknowledge the request with a simple OK, if someone is on the field we fly high and easy over the field.
If someone is landing you stay on the flight line which is protected by a 4 foot high fence.
I think the right place to work on Taxing ect is at the club, not a local parking lot ect. The only real issue to me here is what kind of control did the kid have, and I would question the wisdom of giving a 5 year old the controls even on a box.
08-07-2008 | 12:07 PM
#33
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RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
At our field everyone forward of the pit area must be an AMA member, whether they are flying or not. While not strictly enforced I'd be wondering if that 5yr old had an AMA card with him.
Whether or not the field permits it, dad and son were discourteous for certain.
My thoughts,
Clay
Whether or not the field permits it, dad and son were discourteous for certain.
My thoughts,
Clay
08-07-2008 | 12:41 PM
#34
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From: el centro, CA
RE: Airfield Etiquette - Was I Wrong?
You just nevous, thats all.
They where just practing taxing. They had just as much rights to use the runway.
Sometimes people creep up on me and wanna chit chat when I'm testing my model or trying to dial it in.
Sometimes noobie fly against the grain or fly into my flight path when I'm in the middle of a manuver.
well, how the heck am I going to retrieve my model after a dead stick ?
I can't just leave it on the runway. I cross my fingers no one else dead stick.lol
If I'm dead sticking cross wind, down wind or not...it's coming in.
I just yeah "HOT" and hopefully others can hear me. Plenty of engine noise sometimes.
They where just practing taxing. They had just as much rights to use the runway.
Sometimes people creep up on me and wanna chit chat when I'm testing my model or trying to dial it in.
Sometimes noobie fly against the grain or fly into my flight path when I'm in the middle of a manuver.
well, how the heck am I going to retrieve my model after a dead stick ?
I can't just leave it on the runway. I cross my fingers no one else dead stick.lol
If I'm dead sticking cross wind, down wind or not...it's coming in.
I just yeah "HOT" and hopefully others can hear me. Plenty of engine noise sometimes.
