GrinchWSLG

I happen to think pure firepower is very sexy.

Second time I've seen pics like that. Never a pretty sight.

Hoooooly crap. Through week 3 of Terminal Radar Training in Oklahoma City. We started simulations this last week. This program makes tower training look like a day at the beach. Every new simulation has only one goal in mind, screw you over in new and fascinating ways. The last problems we ran on Friday just about destroyed us. Every time you thought you had a handle on the situation, BAM, VFR flight following call up to distract you. Got a guy you need to turn on to the localiser? Too bad, here calls McCallister Radio with a release. Center needs a point out to get a guy lower? You approved it? Here comes a guy at an altitude in conflict, good luck with that kid. Then they keep shoving more and more planes down your throat, and this isn't even the "high traffic" scenarios yet. Problem 9 will have 17 VFR flight following call ups alone, in a 50 minute period. Add to that arrivals and departures at Academy Airport, which North radar is responsible for sequencing, Jeske AFB departures and arrivals, which South radar is responsible for calling in bound, IFR releases off the 3 uncontrolled fields, and IFR arrivals to said fields, one of which has a very small airspace shelf which is designed to make you bust airspace should you have thoughts of diverting your attention elsewhere, say, to Academy's final where you have a 172 following a B767 with an MD80 eating up the Skyhawk's butt. My brain is jelly. I can't sleep without having ATC dreams. I wake up talking to planes. 2 more weeks of this...I can make it...

Don't know why 2 door Jeep owners always say the same thing about it being too long for off roading. Sure you ain't gonna take it rock climbing, but come on. Lots of great off road vehicles have longer wheelbases. Heck even my 97 Explorer does all right off road. I think its jealousy. usafmtl, I was just wondering cuz the only hard top I've sat in seemed kinda...raw? I mean it was just bam, hard top, right above you, no materials that looked like they would provide any sound deadening. Since I take I90 to and from work every day its kinda important that it be comfy sound wise.

Nice. I'm hoping they have a diesel version ready when I start looking to buy once I get fully certified. Soft top or hard top? Let me know how the road noise is.

Well Memorial Day weekend is here and I guess for a vast majority of the normal world (IE, those not in the aviation biz) this means a three day weekend. So what is everyone's plans for their short vacation if they should have it? And who here is stuck working on said holiday weekend? And of course, let's not forgot those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy every freedom that makes this nation great, and hope that those out continuing to make it safe come home safe and sound. As for me, I'm unfortunately trapped, trapped I say, on temporary duty in Oklahoma City. This means much to my chagrin I HAVE to take a holiday off instead of getting that nice paycheck for working it. It also means I have to sit around on my butt for 3 days in a town I don't wanna be in in the first place. ARG Its too damn hot, too damn humid, and too damn flat here. 27 freaking days left of it too. Only thing keeping me going is the cowgirls, yeeehaw.

One of my favorite PC games of all time. I so wish there was a remake.

I use Western Digital, never had a failure.

How about making the gun attached to a part that acts as a thrust vectoring component. Then use those keys to elevate or de...elevate. No idea if that would work.

Hard at work...

Hmm. Well the Runway 3 VASI's are gone for now, for obvious reasons. The 21 PAPI's should be working. 7 VASI and 25 PAPI should be working too. So I don't know what the issue was, didn't hear about it. We're a bit stretched thin this week...well, we're always stretched thin, but we're really feeling it this week. When they've got ME in on overtime...that's not so good.

No sir, I had overtime that night though. Did the ground trainee give ya trouble? You weren't the Fedex Airbus that got all lined up and cozy for Fairchild AFB the other day were you? Had to nicely remind them where Spokane International is.

*bang head on desk* Uuuugh. What a long freaking day. I had two go arounds, TWO. Thankfully one was pilot initiated. Unfortunately the second one was controller initiated. I had a plan, would have worked great, but some pilots just don't get the concept of immediately. Unfortunately when you've got a guy in position on the runway, you're only out is a go around. Learned a thing or two, and got a nice reminder on which carriers to trust and which to not. In other news, I'm being sent back to Oklahoma City for radar training from May 25 - June 25. Not entirely excited about it, but a break will be appreciated. I probably won't be checked out on local by then though, so I'll have to come back and pick up the pieces where I left off.

Wonder how many of those 500 posts made any sense to anyone but Raden.

I'm on a diet. I hate you guys.

You started 4 threads all referring to the previous one. Come on man, consolidate your posts/mods/whatever into fewer threads. This is ridiculous.

Aw, man, I freaking LOVE B-25's. Would have loved to see that.

I'm no Marine, but...

AIM 2-3-3 Runway Markings The runway number is the whole number nearest one-tenth the magnetic azimuth of the centerline of the runway, measured clockwise from the magnetic north. The letters, differentiate between left (L), right ®, or center ©, parallel runways, as applicable. Interestingly, Felts Field is about 10 or so miles from Spokane International. Like us, they have a runway 3/21. The actual heading of the runway is 8 degrees different from ours, its actually quite noticeable. And of course our departure heading and their runway heading is only 14 degrees apart, one less than the 15 needed for divergent course separation. I learned that the hard way yesterday...

Fairchild AFB tankers were flying in support of the AWACS providing overwatch over the Olympics. We'd watch them come in and out like clock work from the mission. One came back after a rather long one and Fairchild had the runway closed for bird activity or something. They finally got permission from some general to let the poor guys land.

You're somehow claiming Airbus wasn't padding American politicians pockets too? Come on... The results of the competition were thrown out by a GAO board. Its sorta their job to determine when things aren't fair or impartial. I've read some of their reports in college and they can be honest to the point of brutal. And I also don't see how the Airbus tanker was any better than Boeing's offer. It was more than the Air Force and the tax payers needed.

Well I don't think anyone is going to get fired from the controller force for this. Its time on the beach, as thats the precedent set for this sort of stuff. As of yesterday ALL tower visits were stopped. Unfortunate side effect of the media coverage is that the FAA has to do something to appease the public. I'm sure its just temporary though. OvS: Unfortunately he wasn't just reading clearances, he was giving control instructions to aircraft from the local position. These include take off and landing clearance and contacting departure after take off. The controller professionalism I'm question is the controller involved in all this. Understand that we're contantly fighting with the administration to respect us just a little more and to trust us just a little more, in order to combat the constant increase in new rules and regulation over how we control aircraft. The more controllers mess up, the more silly rules we get, the less efficient we can be. This was a case of breaking the rules and getting caught that really wasn't worth it.