Class B touch and go

[dmspilot00]

What would be the best time of day to attempt a touch and go in a Cessna at a Class B airport (Pittsburgh in this case) without making the controllers mad? Is it possible or should I not attempt it? I'm flying tomorrow and am thinking about trying it. I've flown into Class C several times before without problems.

Thanks!

 

[Flying Illini]

why not do a T & G at a class C airport instead? Or do a full stop and taxi back at Class B?

 

[mattpilot]

i doubt that they will be happy with you.

There is a big difference between Class C & Class B. Class C are often less busy than Class D airports (in my case, Tulsa has 450 operations a day, and adjacent Class D has 750 operations a day). Now a Class B airport has thousands of operations a day.

Best time of day to try something like that? Say 3 or 4 am in the morning.

 

[dmspilot00]

Or do a full stop and taxi back at Class B?

Would a full stop and taxi back be better?

The reason I'm wondering about it is I know someone else who did one at PIT in a C172. I would ask him how it was but I haven't been able to get in touch with him.

Keep in mind it's Pittsburgh, not LA, if that makes a difference.

 

[apdsm]

I would call them ahead of time and ask if they mind (than cannot turn you down, but it would be a pain in their collective butts if it's busy), and ask when would be the best time to do it.

 

[DCMartin]

LOL

I heard a controller today key the mike and LAUGH before he responded and denied at a pilot who requested to go into Dulles VFR during a busy bank.

 

[ATCER]

I never say never BUT... the chances are slim. I don't work a tower or approach control but I feed them all day. I have had a couple of light A/C ask for T & G's at places like JFK and LGA and gave them the benefit of hitting the land line and asking the tracon ... laughter is generally what you hear...

Seriously, PIT is pretty busy, we feed them traffic also. Try asking at a time when they don't seem busy, if they deny you ask if there is ever a good time to get one. Keep one thing in mind, some airports (eg. JFK) charge high landing fees, in the range of $200, so make sure you know what the story is going in.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[dmspilot00]

Okay, I probably won't go there tomorrow. I'd still like to fly into there sometime, but only after I give PIT a phone call to see what they think. Also hopefully more people will reply to this thread who are familiar with the area. Of course, I would only do 1 touch and go or a full stop, whichever would be better for them. I'll have to research the landing fee thing too.

Thanks to everyone who responded so far!

 

[pilotman2105]

Best time of day to try something like that? Say 3 or 4 am in the morning.

I'm thinking about doing the same at another Class B. I was planning on going about 2am and definitely calling ahead. Be specific though and mention that you want a touch and go, not a full-stop. As was mentioned before, some places have a nasty landing fee.

Also, while they can not outright deny you access to the airport, the Bravo that I'm considering has effectively done this. They have a policy where there are pretty much no touch-and-goes.

Two thumbs up. Have fun! Caution, wake turbulence...

 

[prpjt]

Airnav indicates that KPIT does have a landing fee that would have to be paid.

 

[rubberducky]

What would be the best time of day to attempt a touch and go in a Cessna at a Class B airport (Pittsburgh in this case)...

A lot of times they do not even allow a full stop with taxi back. Check the AFD and definitely call ahead.

 

[Vector4fun]

Just call the Tower on the phone and ask! Early Sunday ams may not be too bad. I don't know if they'd require you to pay the landing fee for a quick TnG though. But again, they should know....

 

[WMUSIGPI]

when I last flew into PIT a couple years ago it was $6.50 for a light twin (PA34). They didn't mind us flying in at all. Course we stopped at the fbo for a bit too. As far as a touch and go most won't allow it but most are alright with a full stop taxi back as long as it's not a push time. Most places get busy for an hour then are quiet for an hour because of the way airlines schedule with the hub system. Don't show up during a push, they don't appreciate that at all. Course there are some airports even at 3 am you'd have a hard time getting into like Ohare and Atlanta and unless you are an airliner or military Washington National (not so national anymore).
also if it's an option file and fly IFR. that makes getting in and out easier.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

Well, we used to do touch and go's at MCO all the time on our cross countries for riddle. I know MCO isn't the busiest of airports but its a B and we were accomidated everytime.

As a controller, its our job to accomidate every aircraft pretty much. So, a full stop taxi back is not out of the question by any means. I don't work a Bravo but it doesn't make a difference. Ive seen small little singles at ORD before. They may make you a full stop and taxi back but they really can't turn you away unless they dont have a landing slot on you.

Alot of the busies are under ground delays and call for releases. I know thats IFR stuff but that is because the approach controlls and runways can only handle so much. Just find a slow time, and plan according and other then hearing a wise crack or some sarcasm from the controller it should be no problem. Expect it to be the longest touch and go or taxi back ever.
keep your speed up as much as possible but the controllers will plan according to your performance as well, so its not like you have to shoot your final at 130 kts, but dont fly 65 all the way down to the runway either.
Have fun.

 

[Flyingtoohigh]

I know that it's a far cry from KPIT, but KDEN will normally allow you to slip one touch and go here and there. I've flown in late at night, usually after midnight and requested vectors for the ILS from TRACON and a touch and go from tower with no problem. The tower controller said no landing fees for a Cessna 172 unless we got off the runway. This is probably the exception rather than the rule at Class B airports.

I think the best thing you could do would be to call the tower and ask before you go. No matter what the answer I'm sure checking ahead is much appreciated.

 

[wickedpilot]

Course there are some airports even at 3 am you'd have a hard time getting into like Ohare and Atlanta and unless you are an airliner or military Washington National (not so national anymore).
also if it's an option file and fly IFR. that makes getting in and out easier.

Back in August, I was returning from KNEW (LakeFront, LA) and it was late...~3AM. We were IFR in a C-182 and our destination was LZU (Lawrenceville, GA.) As I checked on with appch, they advised us that LZU had a NOTAM out for rwy closure from 02-0700 LT. We decided to divert to PDK. Before notifying ATC of our diversion, I requested the ILS 27 into ATL. He gave me vectors and the next thing I knew I was checking in with Atlanta Twr. It was a good feeling and a nice appch. We did a low appch at 120, broke it off and turned over the city to PDK.

Maybe it was just a good window to get in, but ATL didn't seem too busy.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I would call them ahead of time and ask if they mind (than cannot turn you down, but it would be a pain in their collective butts if it's busy), and ask when would be the best time to do it.

Best answer.

Like Flyingtoohigh said, it's fairly common to get a landing in at DIA late. I do it as a standard unplanned "deviation" in my students' night cross countries. It quiets down enough around here after 10 for it to work out. I even had one cool experience when a controller turned on the lights on a non-active runway so my student could do a stop and go.

Unless you know someone who does it at your Class B, call ATC at the airport. One of the ATC Ops people should be able to tell you the best time to give it a try.

 

[JungleJetFO]

I guess everyone has to try it one time to realize it's not worth the pain. If you go, make sure you go IFR instead of popping in VFR trying to get a clearance. And then expect holding and extended vectors. After the 45 minutes it takes to get cleared for the approach and everything in sight is a "heavy" to your cessna, you'll quickly realize it wasn't worth the cost of fuel. If you go, I recommend going in the late evening. I still remember going to John Wayne, Orange County with my CFI and taxing behind 737's and wishing I had never gone there after sitting in the hold short for 30 minutes waiting for my takeoff clearance. I think I logged 2.5 for one approach. When you're working on your instrument rating, not quite what I was looking for to work on my approaches.

 

[great cornholio]

Try for the Touch n go in PIT on Saturdays after around 6pm. US Air runs reduced scheds on Saturdays and most of the flights are gone before 6. And there is really no late night bank. Also if you go to a Class B airport in a Cessna it is possible I've done it hundreds of times into IAD with my students all the time a few yeras ago (usually after 10pm on the night cross country). Anyways do tower a favor and keep the speed above 100 kts as long as possible. Also seems like the touch n go with an early turn off of runway heading always worked best. Also just monitor Approach freq for a few minutes and see if they sound busy before you ask them.

 

[cale42]

If you just want a touch and go the best bet is to contact tower directly and hope you get a cool controller. That is the way to do it without all the hassle, though it is not a guarantee to get it, just try a few times until someone lets you.

I fly under ORDs Bravo and generally the best time is between about 1 and 3 AM. Much earlier than that and some West coast arrivals are still streaming in, much later than that and some of the early morning International traffic is coming in. We don't always get it, but a lot of times in that window we can call tower and they will clear us into the Bravo and give a touch and go..

I would recommend NOT getting off the runway.. thats when they will hit you with landing fees(several hundred dollars at ORD) get a touch and go or stop and go.

If ORD can accomodate this I would think any Bravo can.. but again, just depends on the controller you get..

 

[dav8or]

I did T/G with students all the time @ CLT. The tower published slow time and would even fax you a list. Call the tower and see when the pushes are over and they'll squeeze you in.

 

[flyifrvfr]

I have taken people who have never seen KBWI and did touch and goes with them. The controller chuckled when I requested it. Most controllers won't mind giving you the clearence as long as it is not busy, and he knows you know what you're doing.

 

[Delta3]

I requested to do T&G's at a class B last week, but I was turned down. I went in the evening and approach said they were still too busy.

But I've known other people who have done T&G's at Class B's before at different times of the day and night. Why don't you call the tower or ask around and see what times they might let you do it?

Also, I doubt you will ever be asked to pay a landing fee. I've been in an ops tower at a class b before and when I asked them about fees for Cessnas and things they seemed like they didn't care about charging landing fees for GA planes. The money they earn off of a 737 is way more than what they can get off a 172 and plus it'll take some effort on their part to hunt you down and get your money.