Landing at Hartsfield The BIG one in Atlanta!
I have flown into some large airports. Some welcome you and other don’t. DC National wants a reservation but is actually very accommodating. Dulles, when they aren’t real busy is very pleasant with us smaller types. They politely offered to let me land long. I was coming in on 1R and new it was a long runway - aren't they all at the big ones. I really didn’t think that it was necessary to land looong until they explained the FBO was two miles down the runway.
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So I’m not unfamiliar with operations at the big guys.
But Hartsfield wasn’t ready for me nor me them.
I flew into a small, read
really really small field about 30 miles south of Hartsfield.
I was there with my family to see my brother in law and his family.
His two sons were flying in the next day and I offered to fly up and pick
them up and the FBO. I thought it
would be a neat experience for them. And
it was a 45 to 55 minute trip by car each way.
You can see the number of runways even on this VFR chart. I left from Noonan just off the southern edge of this chart. |
His boys were all excited
when they phoned in the morning and agreed to meet me at the FBO.
I figured about 15 minutes flying time for the flight and then added
another 15 because it was a big airport. The
weather could not have been better. Severe
clear, no wind and no bumps. Just
as pretty a day in Georgia as they have ever had.
I took off VFR without a
flight plan but after I called and got a weather briefing and told the
specialist where I was going and asked if they had any notams.
None and I was off. When I
got close enough, I called the approach control,
I have been monitoring the frequency and they were busy.
I called the frequency that handled approaches from the south and on this
day the final approach as well. The
frequency was busy, so I waited for a break.
One came and I said “Hartsfield approach this is Skylane N6107E about
25 south with India landing Hartsfield”.
There was a pause much longer than I had heard during the last 15 minutes
of monitoring the frequency. I was
getting ready to say again, when with a light southern drawl, “Skylane you
want to do what?” Now this was
not a nasty reply. It was much more
one of bewilderment. I said
“N6107E I’d like to land Hartsfield and if you can arrange it I’d like to
land on the North runway.
” This time only a short pause
and “ This is Hartsfield the big airport in Atlanta and we’re busy, there
are 10 planes on final” Now I had
seen those 10 planes on final. Actually
there were always 10 planes on final because just as one or two landed on
parallel runways there was one or two that came into view behind the other
planes on final. It was a busy day.
Well Atlanta uses four
runways. They align east and west.
The southern two are for landing and the northern two are for departures.
And here I was asking to cross the landing traffic and then land on the
departing runway.
| I came in from the bottom of this drawing. If you look real hard you can see the FBO at the top center. And look at all the ground and ramp frequencies! |
The controller was great.
After some understanding that I would be landing on the southern most
runway if I was going to land at all, and if I could get close enough to the
field to land with 45 to 50 seconds notice.
We worked it out and I circled at the approach end and slightly to the
south of 27L. I circled for 25 minutes until there was a small break in the
final parade. I landed quickly and
shortly and was off the runway at the first turn off. The tower controller said good job and thanked me for
clearing so quickly and asked me to stay with him until I crossed the next
landing runway. I held short for 15
minutes and then scooted fast when he said go.
He passed me to ground control.
And I thought I was almost
there. Well from ground control on
the south side I had to cross through the center section with all the gate and
watch for the big guys pulling in, backing out, and starting their engines.
There were 5 ground control frequencies to get me to the departing
runways and the FBO was on the other side of both runways.
And it only took me 15 minutes more to get this far.
They were nice enough to make a break in the waiting line of huge jets to
let me cut across to the hold short line of one of the middle taxiways.
Another 15 minutes holding until I could cross the first of two runways.
Just 10 more minutes sitting between two runways with the big guys
passing in front of and behind me as the took off.
That was smallest I have ever felt in a Skylane.
I could feel them rumble on by when they passed on the runway ahead of me
or the one behind me. I’m certain
it met all the safety standard and rules, but I sure did feel exposed sitting
there.
Finally did make it to the
FBO and the smallest plane there was a Lear 45 and then only 5 jets total.
I think most everyone else lands at Peachtree Decalb or one of the other
GA airports.
So I pick up the two boys,
almost forgot why I was there. When
I contact ground clearance to leave, a different frequency again, they first ask
if I’m calling the right ground controller.
Thought maybe I was calling the wrong airport. No I’m here, it may be the wrong airport to be at, but I am
definitely there.
There is going to be some
negotiation on this departure. They
are talking about having me fly out 60 miles before I can turn south.
I suggest that I will climb rapidly and head south from midfield.
I mention that all the planes both landing and taking off are on the
ground by midfield and if they do a go around the are still underneath me. I’ve been directed to fly directly over Tampa, JFK, and
Orlando. Not much big traffic
directly overhead. After a few
minutes they ask if I can really do that – meaning be above 800 feet at
midfield. I think I can almost make that.
I know I will be there before the ¾ mark. Well that is the clearance I get. I get in line with 12 transports for the 27 RR.
I ask the ground controller if the plane behind me can see me.
The pilot calls back and says he’ll stay back far enough so he will see
me. I keep what I think is a big
distance from the plane in front of me. I
can only grimly imagine the feeling of being behind him if he gooses it to get
moving. I call the ground control
to remind then to let that pilot know he has a small one behind him.
That pilot too seems to take it easy.
Finally after only 35
minutes from leaving the FBO I’m second in line.
I do eventually get to take position and hold. I’m told to watch for wake turbulence and contact departure
control as I turn south mid field. The
tower coordinates my release with landing aircraft on the south of the field and
with the departure runway next to and just south of me.
They didn’t want me rolling the same time someone was departing the
next runway. I lift off and climb
as fast as I can. I’m close to
midfield and close to 1000 as I contact departure and turn south.
Departure is only mildly surprised that I’m where and doing what.
They get the picture quickly and thank me for my speedy departure of the
area.
The controllers were all
pretty good in trying to understand something that they may never have done
before. They also were helpful once
they realized I wasn’t a heavy.
I certainly did not save any
time. It was an experience for me.
And I now know why I enjoy landing at the reliever airports by Atlanta.
My next trips will be back to those.
National, Atlanta, which one is next on the list to either land at or avoid? I landed at DC National - with 8 airliners on final - but that is another story.