How annoying was I?
Posted by Suspicious-Buy-7851@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 93 comments
Title. Took someone up flying today who had never gone before. They said they wanted to see a relatively busy Class C nearby. I’ve done pattern work there before, so I didn’t think much of it and agreed to head over there. The only issue is, once I got on with tower and requested closed traffic, he said unable because there was a high amount of commercial traffic. I said no problem, I only want to do one tough and go. The issue is, when I got over the field to cross, I saw I line of 5-7 commercial jets all lined up waiting for takeoff from the parallel. The controller is talking non-stop dealing with all the departures. Gives me a heading on the go, and vectors me out. I apologized when he handed me off, but I’m just worried I created a big disturbance for no good reason. Obviously a huge lesson for me, but I’m wondering if anyone on here knows just how annoying I was for this controller. Sorry for the long post.
GooberPilot_@reddit
Imagine an A380 holding short for a 152 who’s approach speed hovers around 60 kts
zchmiguel@reddit
They will definitely tell you if it’s a problem. A few days ago I was splitting time out of my home airport (busy class C) and a guy asked for a touch and go. Tower immediately said something along the lines of “you can land and taxi back for takeoff, but a touch and go isn’t going to happen.” Must’ve been a cross country, cause no one who flies here would try that. That being said, they won’t be shy if they need to say no.
Purgent@reddit
All of those guys in the jets were you at one time, flying a bugsmasher into a busy airport.
Engine is on, they are getting paid. They’ll be ok.
duaIinput@reddit
Anytime I’m holding for a GA plane I am always envying what they’re doing and wondering how much fun they’re having.
Quirky-Advisor9323@reddit
I literally wonder if this is what they’re thinking whenever I taxi my lil ol’ Cessna around their Boeings. I admire them, but I don’t envy them. Still, I appreciate the presumed good vibes but I wouldnt feel comfortable requesting a touch and go at my closest Class Charlie. Deltas, no problem, but if I head to a Charlie I’m planning on a full stop as a courtesy.
duaIinput@reddit
Don’t get me wrong I love my job but there’s nothing like flying along the beach after a $100 hamburger with complete autonomy over where you go.
esciee@reddit
Where are these $100 hamburgers at?
Redneckish87@reddit
A long time ago, but if you find one you let me know before you tell anyone else. When I flew it was the $100 hamburger, that was almost 20 years ago. I was trolling here a few weeks ago. I think it’s the $500 hamburger now…
3deltafox@reddit
Other side of the airport. $50 for the burger, $50 to taxi over.
44Runner@reddit
Facts
Quirky-Advisor9323@reddit
The year 1958.
Quirky-Advisor9323@reddit
I respect your job and don’t doubt that you love it too. I’m in a different industry and love my job also. But still, when I’m working, I’m working. And when I’m taking off in front of one of you big boys, I’m 100% goofing off. 😂
Wasatcher@reddit
KSLC is pretty cool because I can show students how to get in/out of a Bravo but don't bother anyone because they have 17/35 for GA traffic off the east side. Usually tower asks us how many laps we want haha
PillarOfLogic@reddit
I always thought a touch and go would cause fewer issues than a full stop. You won’t be on the runway any longer for a touch and go, tower won’t have to fit you into the flow again when you depart, and it’s not like you’ll cause wake turbulence problems for the jets behind you.
Quirky-Advisor9323@reddit
My thinking on the issue is that I’m not even heading into the Class C unless I actually intend to be there and stop there. Therefore, I’m not even a presence, for the sole purpose of practicing a landing.
I’ve happily done touch and gos at random Class D’s in my area all day long. Students still of course do need experience with a Class C and that’s valuable education too. But I’m writing from the perspective of a private pilot not a student.
PillarOfLogic@reddit
Fair enough, that makes sense. FWIW, I haven’t done a touch and go at a Class C just for funsies either. Was just commenting on the impact if someone did so for some reason.
Ashea123@reddit
I flew into atl recently in a 172 and I was like oh my god I’m probably so annoying right now
mfsp2025@reddit
Guys on OT definitely loved you. What I’d do to have a 172 on final when I’m trying to overblock OT.
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
That's not how it works at my legacy airline. Delays often just eat into trip credit.
Ok-Selection4206@reddit
Not sure why thats down voted, other than it went over their heads.
Crafty_Perception_85@reddit
Waaaaaah I'm getting paid even more than my normal hourly wage because I don't understand that trip/duty rigs are a good thing
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Correcting someone who doesn't understand pilot pay structure does not equate to complaining. But go on.
Ok-Selection4206@reddit
Can burn a lot of gasoline, too.
tetrachromatictacos@reddit
WN?
mountainbrew46@reddit
🤓☝️
csl512@reddit
They would be ending all of your clearances with the dreaded period.
Saltyspaceballs@reddit
Nah I don’t think anybody would mind this at all so long as you’re doing a good job. Honestly it’s one of the fun things about flying in the USA, the mix of light and commercial traffic. One of the highlights for me this year was doing a parallel approach with a SR22 out to my left. We’re back at approach speed doing 145kts or so in a 500,000lb jet and he’s probably flat out keeping up with us probably having the exact same thoughts. It’s great!
Kemerd@reddit
Keep this in mind. First, if it’s a public airport, you have every right to be there as the big guys. Yes, you can try and even go out of your way to be courteous, but there will always be the occasional disruption here and there. If you are following directions from the controller cleanly and politely, I guarantee you none of the pilots nor the controller gave it a second thought. If it was CalFire operations maybe it’d be different, but just because a passenger jet takes 1 more minute to land or takeoff makes very little difference.
hutthuttindabutt@reddit
He fit you in. Don’t worry about it.
PhilRubdiez@reddit
That’s what she said
brucebrowde@reddit
"Don't worry about it?"
always_gone@reddit
Dude, you’re good. GA guys are usually pretty good about making a hole for me coming straight in on my IFR. I’ve got no problem sitting at the hold short line while someone squeezes in a smash n go.
immaterial737-@reddit
Paid by the minute friend. And all our blocks are padded by like 25 minutes.
grumpycfi@reddit
Airspace is public use. You are just as entitled to use it as the commercial jets. If ATC didn't tell you to stay clear then you didn't create a "disturbance." ATC won't be shy. If they don't have the bandwidth for you they won't clear you in.
And all the commercial people should buy you a beer - they get paid by the minute.
Frankandthatsit@reddit
yeah, man, lakes are public, too. but if you wander into the middle of busy lake with lots of waterskiers by yourself on your paddle board, you are very annoying and making the lake less safe. Sure, you can do it, but you don't need to.
aw_shux@reddit
That’s a poor analogy. Lakes don’t have controllers keeping an eye on all the boats and specifically making room for that paddle boarder. If OP had flown through the airspace without notifying anyone, then your comparison would make more sense.
LookoutBel0w@reddit
I don’t get paid by the minute on reserve :( I’d be annoyed
flyindogtired@reddit
Yes you do. You’re just not doing enough minutes.
LookoutBel0w@reddit
No, I never break guarantee. Any delay is just less time at home or on break.
x4457@reddit
Yes, that’s called not doing enough minutes. You’re not exceeding the minimum guarantee of minutes that you’re already getting paid.
You are, in fact, getting paid for minutes you’re not required to fly.
LookoutBel0w@reddit
Thanks for explaining to me how it works. We’re both correct.
If I’m delayed by 5 minutes for a Cessna I’m not being paid any extra for the delay, that’s my point. That’s 5 less minutes of waiting in line in the Orlando starbucks
UpdateDesk1112@reddit
So you are getting paid to work for time you usually get paid to not work?
Crafty_Perception_85@reddit
Because by your logic you're working even less than that guarantee value, which means per hour of actual work you're taking home more money. Quit whining.
Ok-Selection4206@reddit
But not extra...so get out if my way. (Just kidding) I really dont care unless we are tight on gas.
Ok-Selection4206@reddit
Only after the min guarantee is met. Unless it is a JRM or OT.
randombrain@reddit
Most everyone here is answering how annoying you may or may not have been for all the pilots, because you asked /r/flying. If you asked /r/ATC you'd have more responses about how annoying you were for the controller. You'd also have a lot more snark.
You made a request, the controller was unable to accommodate it, so you made a different request and that one they could work with. No big deal. Happens all the time.
If you were coming in slow for a single runway and blocking up the departures on that single runway, that could be annoying, but it's still on the controller for approving the operation.
If you were on a parallel runway? Totally fine. You probably didn't delay any of the jets even a little bit.
Frankandthatsit@reddit
correct. and if there were r/passengers or r/ontimedepartures etc etc. they would sing a different tune
srbmfodder@reddit
idgaf, I get paid by the minute. Have fun and enjoy it, you're paying, I'm getting paid
Vincent-the-great@reddit
They get paid by the landing and you pay taxes to use that runway, fuck em
Cherokee260@reddit
At a Charlie? Most of those don’t have infrastructure fees, only ramp fees.
PilotC150@reddit
Fewer ops at an airport means it gets downgraded in level, which means controllers get paid less.
Cherokee260@reddit
Ah, I think I’ve heard that mentioned before elsewhere. The levels go 1-10 right? Now here’s a question I know airspace classification works the same way- we used to have a Charlie airport that stopped having as much regional traffic and was subsequently converted into a Delta. Do the levels then correlate to airspace as well? For example anything above an 8 is a Bravo, anything below 3 becomes a Delta? Or are they two separate systems entirely?
FreshSetOfBatteries@reddit
You have every right to be there.
MD500_Pilot@reddit
In the 80s, I flew a 152 into LAX. They had no problems accommodating me, even with all the traffic.
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Annoying shit happens at work every day. Dealing with bugsmashers when you have a line of 6 jets waiting to takeoff is annoying.
Waiting for a bugsmasher to do a touch and go when I'm #4 to takeoff with 180 people in the back of my jet is annoying.
But that's why it's called WORK. We're getting paid to do shit we wouldn't do for free.
Vincent-the-great@reddit
Nah I cheer them on, doors closed im getting paid idgaf
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Yeah I'm too senior to be flying trips that pay hard block.
Vincent-the-great@reddit
More like im over min pay for the month and want extra cash
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Yeah that ain't how it works at my airline. Must be a regional thing.
trimix4work@reddit
Wow you are suuuuuper annoying
fly_guy1@reddit
Yeah, his account is only 11 days old. Every comment so far is a masterclass on how to be complete and utter dick.
jlvit@reddit
I don't believe in doxing, but dang I'd love to find out who he is :P
Wonderful_Catch_8914@reddit
If he is an actual ATP I hope he’s never on the same plane I am.
dash_trash@reddit
We get it, you're at a "legacy" and you want everyone to know it. But I'm at a "legacy" too, and at my airline, the rigged trips are the shitty ones and the hard time trips are senior because people want to maximize their days off. So no, it's not a "regional thing," and no, you don't understand how contracts work at every airline.
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Sounds like you choose to work hard at work. Meanwhile I fly broken 2 leg trips and credit 2 days of pay to be gone 14 hours.
Crafty_Perception_85@reddit
Then why in the Cinnamon Toast Fuck are you complaining about your pay structure if it's your own strategy
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Because everyone assumes pilots are paid by the minute. But that's not necessarily true under any contract.
dash_trash@reddit
And this is?
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Probably skywest. That's why they fly at Mach .7 everywhere.
dash_trash@reddit
Congratulations! Nobody asked though
ATrainDerailReturns@reddit
That’s your Charlie dude
You pay for that with your taxes.
run264fun@reddit
I guarantee if any of those jet pilots looked out and saw a little bugsmasher go by, one of them chuckled and had a nostalgic moment or two.
shavnir@reddit
When I was training for my PPL my instructor and I took a 150 into love field. I wonder what the Southwest 737 behind me was thinking as I was doing my takeoff.
For what its worth I was thinking "how early can I turn on course" and then shortly after "oh tower just cleared cactus for takeoff, I'm gonna turn now!"
InternalFast5066@reddit
No kidding? I’m at DTO and I’ve always wanted to fly into DAL. How’d you manage it?
shavnir@reddit
This was back in 2014 so the specifics might be different these days. From what I remember my instructor called around to different FBOs until he found one that was bored enough to invite us over without a landing fee. It helps that we were flying on Easter morning.
After that it was just getting flight following direct KTKI to KDAL and going through Dallas approach to Tower to ground. Taxied over to the FBO and marveled at the crew cars that cost twice as much as the 150 we flew there in. Only time I've had someone guiding me in with hand signals. Once we parked two other people rushed in with chocks. They treated us the same as their jet customers which was both really nice and really amusing.
Signed the guest book, chatted a bit, used the restroom then got ready to depart. Called clearance delivery to get a departure to KRBD and did the incredibly short hop over there. From KRBD we were able to depart and fly under the bravo the long way around back up to KTKI.
SelectCabinet5933@reddit
Hey guys! My son is training out of KTKI right now. Getting ready for his first solo soon!
MexicanGuey@reddit
Yo im training at KTKI too! Good to see locals on this sub!
I wonder how busy KTKI will be next year once it opens to airliners. I’m hoping to finish my commercial before it ends.
shavnir@reddit
Ha, small world, although I haven't flown for a dang long while. I still haven't seen the new buildings they've built up at TKI but I keep meaning to go check it out.
TobyADev@reddit
Considering the controller let you, you’re fine
__Patrick_Basedman_@reddit
You’re traffic just like them. Doesn’t matter how big or small you are. That airport sees other traffic so they can either be cranky or not. They’re getting paid no matter what
Classic_Ad_9985@reddit
If they didn’t want you there, they wouldn’t have let you in
We were on a mid final too. Not short but still like sub 500agl. Don’t sweat it
VillageIdiotsAgent@reddit
I can’t speak for the controller, but you didn’t bother anyone in the airliners, I can assure you. You have every right to be there.
Accomplished_Phone39@reddit
i remember doing this in a 150. Approach control asked me why I wanted to land and I told her to use the VOR test facility. She then asked aircraft type and I told her Cessna commuter. After about 5 minutes of inbound for the runway she asked what kind of Cessna Jet I was. Man the line of 737's at the hold short line was pretty long .....
AnonymousPineapple5@reddit
He said unable to the pattern work, if he really couldn’t handle your one approach he would have told you to remain outside the C.
Yossarian147@reddit
Sounds like you handled it perfectly. I’ll bet your first time passenger got a thrill out of seeing all those jets alongside you. Well done!
FrostyKuru@reddit
They are probably looking at you like an adult looks at a puppy. Thinking you look all adorable and small
Texpress22@reddit
Nope. You ask for what you want and the controller will either accommodate or tell you no. If the “big jets” get pissy, then just smile and wave!
Next_Juggernaut_898@reddit
Wave....with one finger
dodexahedron@reddit
In addition to what everyone already said RE: ATC...
If the AFD didn't have a note prohibiting touch and go operations (PHX has such a restriction for at least one runway last I checked, for example), you're as entitled to it as everyone else, on a best effort basis. If they can't accommodate you, they'll tell you.
Unless you filed IFR. Then they have to let you in, at least.
But they don't have to let you touch-and-go. They can ask you to taxi-back, if they want to get those jets out without you being in the way or something, and then let you out after them. I've even had ATC at some deltas deny touch and go but grant taxi-back, when they're busy or have a noob running the show.
Sure someone may have been rolling their eyes or making some rude comment on their intercom, but fuck 'em. Not like that extra 2 minutes is going to affect their lives enough to even remember 20 minutes later.
Practical_Fig_7655@reddit
We get paid by the minute. Trust me you are fine.
Mispelled-This@reddit
If it was a real problem, Tower would have told you to stay out, or at least to wait while they got rid of the other planes.
For all you know, they were happy for a chance to see if a trainee could handle the extra complexity/workload correctly.
bhalter80@reddit
If you were too annoying they would have denied you entry or cleared you for a low approach instead of a T&G. We should play well with our ATC friends but if there are no complaints you should keep on keeping on
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Title. Took someone up flying today who had never gone before. They said they wanted to see a relatively busy Class C nearby. I’ve done pattern work there before, so I didn’t think much of it and agreed to head over there. The only issue is, once I got on with tower and requested closed traffic, he said unable because there was a high amount of commercial traffic. I said no problem, I only want to do one tough and go. The issue is, when I got over the field to cross, I saw I line of 5-7 commercial jets all lined up waiting for takeoff from the parallel. The controller is talking non-stop dealing with all the departures. Gives me a heading on the go, and vectors me out. I apologized when he handed me off, but I’m just worried I created a big disturbance for no good reason. Obviously a huge lesson for me, but I’m wondering if anyone on here knows just how annoying I was for this controller. Sorry for the long post.
Please downvote this comment until it collapses.
Questions about this comment? Please see this wiki post before contacting the mods.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.