I know it's not Back-Country flying. But just curious how many of you have flown in and out of busy Class Bravo airports like LAX, JFK, ORD, etc, etc. I know I would like to at least land at LAX one of these years just for the adventure, challenge and to log all public airports that are on the LA Terminal map. I know there might be some challenges involved with a busy airport like LAX, but with the right planning and timing, I'm thinking it might be fairly simple. About the only thing I can think of that might be the biggest challenge of all, is getting lost on the complex taxiways, especially at night . I would almost think that if you fly into LAX during the slow times (Maybe 12am-4am??), the controllers would take it easy on you and help you along the way (yeah sure ).

Looking forward to any good/bad comments, your trip/fly in reports, suggestions, tips, encouragements, and/or telling me and others we are absolutely nuts for even thinking such craziness

Get a clearance to transition their airspace, then declare an emergency and land on the runway, a taxiway, or what the heck, even out in the grass. Afterwards, tell them you had food poisoning, and you felt like you were going to get violently ill and lose control of the plane, but you feel much better now. What could possibly go wrong?

If I had a reason to and it was the best choice I would do it in a heart beat. I doubt it will ever be the best option.

Good day

I've landed at ATL-Hartsfield a couple times to pickup or drop off. Did my 10 night landings for commercial at MEM in the dark of night, ten hops down the 12000 foot runway in a C-150, all in one pass.

Point is...hit it during off peak hours and they'll be happy to have you.

Went into SLC once in a turbo retract. that I wasn't super familiar with. Everything went good until I was supposed to land and one of the main runways closed due to a flat tire on a 747. Got my clearance cancelled twice, once on short final. PITA to gather flaps, gear, not over-boost, parrot back the instructions that were machine gunned to me and fly. One thing I've learned is always tell approach where you're parking. I flew into Reno once where I had a car at the jet center but they cleared me into the the other side where small planes usually go. I then had to get a progressive taxi across all three runways.

Sometimes I'd rather deal with controllers than arrogant jet-jockeys in uncontrolled airspace. Driggs is interesting when you get azzholes like the Jon Huntsman jet announcing a 20 mile final then tying up the c-taf relaying Big John's instructions to the serfs on the ground where to have Mr. Huntsmans Navigator parked, the temperature the AC should be set at and which door to use so-as not to let the hanger get hot. I like to hear the the Southern drawl of the cracker controller in J Hole tell them "mornin' juliet hotel, ya'll are number two behand the skah-lane."

How about landing fees at those places?? A buddy landed at Chicago 15 or more years ago, just to say he did it, and that cost him $85.00 then.

I few a pipeline every week that lined up with the center runway of Cincinnati’s three N-S parallel runways at 500 AGL, then right at the end of that one, it jumped over and went next to the runway lights the full length of the west N-S runway, crossing their E-W runway mid field.

It was sometimes scary and other times fun. They had a lot of traffic at some times. There could be a big line of jets in the sky heading towards you. And other times a 737 flying next to you.

A pilot I talked to at Fullerton that went into LAX about 2 years ago (he just wanted to log LAX), said it cost him $100.00 landing fee

Gotta be careful, too. Some FBO's may have a ramp fee. Million Air at Hawthorne, CA wanted to charge me $25.00 just for a 15 minute stop over.

How about a touch and go do they track you down using your tail number with a bill?

A lot of times landing/ramp fees are reduced or waived if you buy fuel.

Some busy airports turn to ghost towns at night, I landed at ORD once at 3am and was cleared to parking "via any paved surface."

When going to LAX at night keep in mind that the south side (where general aviation is) is also the cargo side of the airport. Lots of 747/ MD11 cargo traffic between midnight and 6am.

Does a busy Saturday morning at JC count?

I did all my training at SLC when OK3Air was there. I could have done it at SkyPark or OGD but I wanted the experience and thought if I trained there then I wouldn't be paranoid to fly into class B. It worked as I don't have any issues with controlled airspace like my brothers who trained at LGU do. Having said that, my preference is to avoid controlled airspace as much as possible.... no sense in talking to a tower if you don't have to in my opinion.

I only fly out of Class B (KSLC) because I'm based there. Most pilots say that Salt Lake is one of the easier International Airports to deal with. The controllers are good and usually friendly. I often tell people "if you can follow directions, you can fly into Salt Lake". Pretty easy, but I understand the intimidation... I have family in Idaho that will fly far out of the way to avoid the Class B to head south to U77.

They are very accommodating here when they aren't busy. I sometimes get my 3 night landings back to back with a simple request to the tower. Just make sure the transponder works!

I do long for the day when I can base out of a smaller airport with a GA "community" and a little less barbed-wire but it makes sense to have the plane hangared 100 yards from where I work.

My instructor in Maine regularly flies Angel Flights into Boston Logan with his Piper Arrow. I think they waive the landing fee for AngelFlight.

Jim

Nosedragger wrote:Driggs is interesting when you get azzholes like the Jon Huntsman jet announcing a 20 mile final then tying up the c-taf relaying Big John's instructions to the serfs on the ground where to have Mr. Huntsmans Navigator parked, the temperature the AC should be set at and which door to use so-as not to let the hanger get hot. I like to hear the the Southern drawl of the cracker controller in J Hole tell them "mornin' juliet hotel, ya'll are number two behand the skah-lane."

I have this dream....
Déjà vu, here in Bermuda Dunes. I'm sorry F them. The airplane that is lower in the landing sequence on final has the right of way.

Dream:I have always wanted to loiter to be in the right position to cut them off. Then do a REAL slow taxi so as not to clear the runway. Now the jet has to do a go around.

Now I get off the runway and taxi back, take off. Then stay in the pattern. After they do their go around. Do it to them again. Never had the nerve.

On the 3rd time I let the jet land. Then I taxi by REAL slow and give them the finger. Never had the nerve.

SixTwoLeemer wrote:I only fly out of Class B (KSLC) because I'm based there. Most pilots say that Salt Lake is one of the easier International Airports to deal with. The controllers are good and usually friendly. I often tell people "if you can follow directions, you can fly into Salt Lake". Pretty easy, but I understand the intimidation... I have family in Idaho that will fly far out of the way to avoid the Class B to head south to U77.

They are very accommodating here when they aren't busy. I sometimes get my 3 night landings back to back with a simple request to the tower. Just make sure the transponder works!

I do long for the day when I can base out of a smaller airport with a GA "community" and a little less barbed-wire but it makes sense to have the plane hangared 100 yards from where I work.

I have been to KSLC several times and the controllers there get an A for helpfulness.....

Ben.

I'm Hawthorne based, so if you get up the nerve for LAX, pick me up first - I wanna go too!

I've really considered it, and can think of good reasons to land at the Phoenix (close to our office there), San Diego (walking distance to the zoo - a fun day trip) and Las Vegas (way closer to the strip than either of the other airports) class B's. Haven't done it yet.

I've done Oshkosh twice. What a cluster F@%# that can be. Had one crash with double fatal moved it and opened the runway 45 min later.

OregonMaule wrote:

Nosedragger wrote:Driggs is interesting when you get azzholes like the Jon Huntsman jet announcing a 20 mile final then tying up the c-taf relaying Big John's instructions to the serfs on the ground where to have Mr. Huntsmans Navigator parked, the temperature the AC should be set at and which door to use so-as not to let the hanger get hot. I like to hear the the Southern drawl of the cracker controller in J Hole tell them "mornin' juliet hotel, ya'll are number two behand the skah-lane."

I have this dream....
Déjà vu, here in Bermuda Dunes. I'm sorry F them. The airplane that is lower in the landing sequence on final has the right of way.

Dream:I have always wanted to loiter to be in the right position to cut them off. Then do a REAL slow taxi so as not to clear the runway. Now the jet has to do a go around.

Now I get off the runway and taxi back, take off. Then stay in the pattern. After they do their go around. Do it to them again. Never had the nerve.

On the 3rd time I let the jet land. Then I taxi by REAL slow and give them the finger. Never had the nerve.

I never had the nerve either but the glider crew does. Oh- and the balloon guys, they're like honey badgers.

I have landed at KSEA a few times. Each time coming from Eastern Washington.

I called ATC on the land line and asked for a good arrival time and they requested that I call once on the West side of the Cascades ~ 50-60 miles out. Each time they sequenced me to enter base at the numbers and land where I only needed a short taxi to the FBO exits.

The land long gets you past the wing tip tornadoes from the heavy iron and minimizes the time on the runway.

All in all pretty painless, but not my first choice of a place to land by a long shot.

TD

I think if I need to go to a class B airport then I will let someone else do the flying . Just no need for me to attempt such a feat . Flying is suppose to be fun ! II