Controller habit?

Tomahawk674

Tomahawk674

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
270
Location
St. Joseph, Missouri
Display Name
Display name:
Tomahawk674
Hello everyone, is it controller habit nowdays to say "check gear down" when giving landing clearances? the FBO where I fly at is decent sized, so you get a nice ammount of GA, but it is also half military (C130s from the Guard)

Anywho here I am, some low time student pilot in a little Tomahawk, and everytime they say "check gear down" I'd like to mess with them and say "gear down and welded.... for the last 25 years actually"...

On the other hand these guys seem laid back sometimes, every once in a while they won't clear you to land until you remind them you're up there coming in. Some people around here have a little more harsh opinion about these guys, but I don't share it. The only thing that made me scratch my head was when I was turning base and my CFI says something like: "what the ^&*&* is that guy doing) which was a cessna that had taken off and climbing toward us (not close enough for a real concern, but still made me wonder that noone said anything, or maybe nothing needed to be said?).

Well I'm not out to criticize anyone I just wanted to share this with you all, just to see if anyone had any comments. Happy flying!
 
You'll hear that sort of thing at fields that are joint use or from folks who came from military ATC. While this does not seem to be enough to stop everyone from "gearing up".....it's a pretty inexpensive call to make.
 
Military towers are required to ask this of military aircraft. After that, it's just habit.

BTW, when I had my Yankee based at Cannon AFB, my reply to Cannon Tower was always, "Gear down and bolted."
 
I've only heard it once and from this thread, I guess I mis-understood him. I thought he was confirming that he could see that my gear was down. Mine is also down and bolted.
 
I was flying with a guy for a while who went thru the GUMPS check everytime. And everytime I said "Gear down and welded". He said "Gear down and welded." Just like it was said.

He said the one time you forget - you break your flow - may be the time that gets you. So we do GUMPS. Even with fixed pitch, welded gear. I can live with that. And hopefully its one I will never forget.
 
I get tickled when Air Force One visits Dallas, and I hear 'em checking in with Love Tower, "Love Tower, Air Force One, ILS one three right, gear down."

========

It's the call-up that tickles me, not the ludicrous TFR that completely shuts down ADS while the President is in the area.
 
SCCutler said:
I get tickled when Air Force One visits Dallas, and I hear 'em checking in with Love Tower, "Love Tower, Air Force One, ILS one three right, gear down."
Click to expand...

As Ron said, military tower controllers are required to give the "check wheels down" warning unless the pilot has stated "Wheels are down." Sounds like good operating practice by AF1. Agree that it's a pain in the ass whenever that plane's around though.

Jon
 
Interesting. As a side benefit, it could confirm that the aircraft is now going to perform differently than with the gear up. (ie. will fly slower through the patern) In other words, best forward speed with the gear down won't be that great...
 
FWIW, foreign towers use this phrase, too. The first time I heard it was at the OM on the ILS to Toronto Int'l.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top