Recreational aviation is a hobby that has changed my life. Without a doubt, I have the most fun whenever I have the chance to fly into a large, busy airport like Milwaukee.
Consider the logistics of a place like General Mitchell International. At any given time, there are aircraft landing and departing, coming and going from all directions. They range in size from heavy passenger airliners, cargo jets, military traffic, multi million-dollar corporate jets, to average, ordinary dudes like me buzzing around for the heck of it.
The level of precision and organization required to successfully run an operation such as this is nothing short of awesome. Although challenging, to fly into Milwaukee is exciting and even downright sexy.
My landing begins when I am still 30 miles away. Every major airport broadcasts an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which is a prerecorded loop of basic, yet essential information, every pilot needs to know before landing or taking off at that airport. The ATIS includes weather, winds, which runways are in use, and any other pertinent information. It is updated throughout the day and given an alphabetized call sign, so that traffic controllers know that the pilot they are speaking to has the most up-to-date information.
ATIS is essential, for the sake of brevity. Imagine if every single pilot flying into and out of Milwaukee had to call the tower and physically ask from what direction the wind was blowing.
I am now 20 miles away from Milwaukee. I will be at the airport in 10 minutes. From my altitude I can easily see the Lake Michigan shoreline, downtown, and approximate the airport. Having listened to the ATIS I make contact with Milwaukee Approach.
My initial contact is only a courtesy call. Remember, there could be dozens of aircraft in the area; I am simply announcing my presence. The controller will contact me when he or she is ready, which is usually within a few seconds.
I tell the controller who I am, using the tail number that is unique to my aircraft. The Fairchild's is N295Y. I tell them where I am, and my intentions. In this case, I am over Mukwonago using visual flight rules, I want to land, and I listened to the ATIS.
Approach gives me a code to enter into the transponder. Now the airport can track me, and maintain radar separation from other aircraft. I also add where I want to land, since there is a maze of terminals at Milwaukee. Throughout, I am flying along at 115 miles per hour.
I am told to contact the Tower when I am 3 miles away from the airport. Since Milwaukee has 10 runways to choose from, Approach tells me which one to expect, based on my particular terminal destination.
I contact Tower at 3 miles. As expected, they direct me to Runway 25R. I am given permission to set up my approach from a left-hand pattern, and to contact them again when I am centered over the field.
At midfield, I again contact the Tower. I am third in line; there are two aircraft ahead of me, and I am cleared to land. I can see the other airplanes, and set up my landing accordingly.
Wheels on the pavement, I am told to exit the runway and contact Ground - my fourth radio contact. I call Ground, which directs me from the runway to Signature Terminal via the taxiway. A worker with batons directs me to my parking space and I shut down the airplane. It has been 50 minutes since leaving Monroe.
Of course, with so many airplanes coming and going, brevity is a necessity. From what I just described, the actual conversation goes something like this:
I am 20 miles and 10 minutes out. I just listened to the ATIS. Initial contact: "Milwaukee Approach, Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee."
Approach: "Fairchild two-niner-five-Yankee, Milwaukee Approach."
Me: "Milwaukee Approach, good afternoon. Fairchild two-niner-five-Yankee is 20 miles south, southwest at 3,500 feet VFR. Inbound, landing, with information Sierra."
Approach: "Squawk 0421. State your intentions."
Me: "0421. Landing Signature."
Approach: "Radar contact confirmed. Maintain course. Contact tower 119.1 when 3 miles out. Expect two-five Right."
At three miles I switch frequencies and contact Tower: "Milwaukee Tower Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee three miles out."
Tower: "Enter left downwind 25R. Contact midfield." I do as told.
Tower: "Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee third in line, clear for the option."
Me: "Clear to land 25R, have traffic in sight."
At touchdown I switch to Ground, "Milwaukee Ground, Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee at Zulu off 25R."
Ground: "Proceed to Signature via Zulu Foxtrot. Have a nice day."
Me: "Thank you Milwaukee Ground, you too."
Don't forget, getting there is only half the fun. Upon departure, I utilize the same procedure in reverse.
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a column for the Times each Tuesday. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
Consider the logistics of a place like General Mitchell International. At any given time, there are aircraft landing and departing, coming and going from all directions. They range in size from heavy passenger airliners, cargo jets, military traffic, multi million-dollar corporate jets, to average, ordinary dudes like me buzzing around for the heck of it.
The level of precision and organization required to successfully run an operation such as this is nothing short of awesome. Although challenging, to fly into Milwaukee is exciting and even downright sexy.
My landing begins when I am still 30 miles away. Every major airport broadcasts an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which is a prerecorded loop of basic, yet essential information, every pilot needs to know before landing or taking off at that airport. The ATIS includes weather, winds, which runways are in use, and any other pertinent information. It is updated throughout the day and given an alphabetized call sign, so that traffic controllers know that the pilot they are speaking to has the most up-to-date information.
ATIS is essential, for the sake of brevity. Imagine if every single pilot flying into and out of Milwaukee had to call the tower and physically ask from what direction the wind was blowing.
I am now 20 miles away from Milwaukee. I will be at the airport in 10 minutes. From my altitude I can easily see the Lake Michigan shoreline, downtown, and approximate the airport. Having listened to the ATIS I make contact with Milwaukee Approach.
My initial contact is only a courtesy call. Remember, there could be dozens of aircraft in the area; I am simply announcing my presence. The controller will contact me when he or she is ready, which is usually within a few seconds.
I tell the controller who I am, using the tail number that is unique to my aircraft. The Fairchild's is N295Y. I tell them where I am, and my intentions. In this case, I am over Mukwonago using visual flight rules, I want to land, and I listened to the ATIS.
Approach gives me a code to enter into the transponder. Now the airport can track me, and maintain radar separation from other aircraft. I also add where I want to land, since there is a maze of terminals at Milwaukee. Throughout, I am flying along at 115 miles per hour.
I am told to contact the Tower when I am 3 miles away from the airport. Since Milwaukee has 10 runways to choose from, Approach tells me which one to expect, based on my particular terminal destination.
I contact Tower at 3 miles. As expected, they direct me to Runway 25R. I am given permission to set up my approach from a left-hand pattern, and to contact them again when I am centered over the field.
At midfield, I again contact the Tower. I am third in line; there are two aircraft ahead of me, and I am cleared to land. I can see the other airplanes, and set up my landing accordingly.
Wheels on the pavement, I am told to exit the runway and contact Ground - my fourth radio contact. I call Ground, which directs me from the runway to Signature Terminal via the taxiway. A worker with batons directs me to my parking space and I shut down the airplane. It has been 50 minutes since leaving Monroe.
Of course, with so many airplanes coming and going, brevity is a necessity. From what I just described, the actual conversation goes something like this:
I am 20 miles and 10 minutes out. I just listened to the ATIS. Initial contact: "Milwaukee Approach, Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee."
Approach: "Fairchild two-niner-five-Yankee, Milwaukee Approach."
Me: "Milwaukee Approach, good afternoon. Fairchild two-niner-five-Yankee is 20 miles south, southwest at 3,500 feet VFR. Inbound, landing, with information Sierra."
Approach: "Squawk 0421. State your intentions."
Me: "0421. Landing Signature."
Approach: "Radar contact confirmed. Maintain course. Contact tower 119.1 when 3 miles out. Expect two-five Right."
At three miles I switch frequencies and contact Tower: "Milwaukee Tower Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee three miles out."
Tower: "Enter left downwind 25R. Contact midfield." I do as told.
Tower: "Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee third in line, clear for the option."
Me: "Clear to land 25R, have traffic in sight."
At touchdown I switch to Ground, "Milwaukee Ground, Fairchild two-niner-five Yankee at Zulu off 25R."
Ground: "Proceed to Signature via Zulu Foxtrot. Have a nice day."
Me: "Thank you Milwaukee Ground, you too."
Don't forget, getting there is only half the fun. Upon departure, I utilize the same procedure in reverse.
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a column for the Times each Tuesday. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
