IAH pireps?

TexasAviation

TexasAviation

Pre-takeoff checklist
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TexasAviation
If weather cooperates, I'm going to fly to Bush Intercontinental (IAH) in Houston next week.

It'll be my first time landing at a Class B airport. I'm planning to use Landmark Aviation and already called ahead to get their fees.

I'm very comfortable on the radio and use flight following all the time, so I'm not too worried about the Class B controllers. My biggest concern is taxiing. Depending on which runway I land on, I could have a loooong taxi with lots of turns. Might have to ask for progressives.

Any pireps on IAH (or taxiing at big-boy airports in general) would be appreciated.
 
Just try to avoid the push... which is hard to know the timing of without a phone call to the tower in advance or if you are based on field and know the patterns... They usually land the heavies east or west on the three parallels (8/9-26/27) and usually depart to the SW. They could probably vector you in and land you on the calm wind departure runways (15-33 R/L) and keep you out of fast moving landing traffic (and keep your taxi to a minimum)

The airspace isn't that congested per se.... I've been in there ONCE in a spam can for cause... But it was late.. after 10 pm.

Unless you have business on-field I honestly cant think why you would WANT to fly in there in a spam can in the first place... Hooks... Ellington... West Houston.. Sugarland...Even Hobby... are more GA and corporate friendly.

With regards to taxiing, have the diagram printed, study it for a little bit... expect to have rapid fire instructions. Listen for your call sign.. Have the ground freq dialed in before you are on the ground (on the other radio's flip flop. etc). Have the ATIS before you even get in range with approach. And you WILL be calling approach on the way in. No pop ups on the tower freq at this one. Be on your game.

Do you have much experience at towered fields with multiple runways?
 
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Any others an option? If you want to be up north, there's always Conroe. We have lots of airports!

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
 
Frequently they want "fastest possible speed" on final. Like 120 if you can do it.
 
Doggtyred said:
Unless you have business on-field I honestly cant think why you would WANT to fly in there in a spam can in the first place...
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1. My meeting is at Hilton Houston North, right next to IAH. And 2. I want to land at the big airport for the experience.

Doggtyred said:
With regards to taxiing, have the diagram printed, study it for a little bit... expect to have rapid fire instructions. Listen for your call sign.. Have the ground freq dialed in before you are on the ground (on the other radio's flip flop. etc). Have the ATIS before you even get in range with approach. And you WILL be calling approach on the way in.
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In other words, follow my normal procedure :) I've got good habits for all those things. Not worried about any of that, except for the rapid-fire instructions on the ground. That'll be new to me. I'll have a notepad and taxi diagram at the ready, and I'll ask for progressive if I'm the least bit unsure.

Doggtyred said:
Do you have much experience at towered fields with multiple runways?
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Yes, but not nearly to the extent of IAH. I'm very comfortable landing at Longview and Texarkana (two runways) and Tyler and College Station (three runways). I know Houston is on a whole different level from those, but I feel ready. I've been comfortable dealing with Austin, San Antonio, Dallas regional approach, etc., including some times when they've been crazy busy. Seems like a Class B is a reasonable next step for me.
 
College Station, Austin and IAH are night and day. There are lots of taxi ways at IAH
 
If you feel ready, go do it and have fun. Some operational tips based on the busier B/C fields I've been to most often (LAS, SAN, HNL, PDX, BUR, SJC, others):

- Have the taxi diagram out and study it in advance. It looks like you could get some exciting instructions at IAH if you're not landing on 15/33. Expecting a progressive taxi may illicit some attitude from the ground controller, but "N12345 off of 33L at WR for Landmark, not familiar" is a subtle way to ask the controller to help you out.

- On the ground at IAH, notice that you're supposed to operate with mode C on. If your xpdr goes to GND automatically, remember to flip it on.

- Be alert to the difference between "contact ground/tower" versus "monitor ground/tower". If ground tells you to "monitor" tower, there's no need to let tower know you're ready. They know you're there, and they'll call you when they're good and ready for you (which might be a while).

- If something's not perfect, a controller might be prone to express annoyance. If that happens, don't let it throw you off your game or make you afraid to ask for clarification about something.

- Like the person above mentioned, plan to "maintain best forward speed" on approach. Plan enough fuel to fly around for a bit waiting to be sequenced in. If you're IFR and it's IMC, expect to wait a while for an approach. Have an alternate.

- Be very, very alert to jet blast on the ramp and taxiways, and to wake turbulence in the air, particularly if the tower tries to squeeze you in between two jets. Especially where heavies are concerned, wake turbulence is no joke and a very good reason to go around.
 
Do they have a grass runway there? If not, then I wouldn't really be interested in adding it to my list...

:)
 
Once you get the winds(forecast) then the ATIS the flow will start to come into focus. 95% of the taxiways could never apply to your potential route.

I'd try to put out your parking location with approach on arrival. Yes, a full size taxi diagram right handy is essential. You can print one off the net. Error on the side of slow and 'progressive' rather than fast and wrong turns. You may not need that slow.

No biggie with some preplanning, same on departure.
 
There were some students that the CFI I was with took over there after say 10:30 at night. Also expect a long wait to work you into the take off sequence.
 
I am sure you have done the math but driving from Hooks to your hotel is 30 min. Driving from Landmark at Bush to your Hotel is 12 min. Is landing at Bush worth all the extra money and stress just to save 18 min? You may Taxi to the FBO longer than that.
 
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Scott@KTYR said:
I am sure you have done the math but driving from Hooks to your hotel is 30 min. Driving from Landmark at Bush to your Hotel is 12 min. Is landing at Bush worth all the extra money and stress just to save 18 min? You may Taxi to the FBO longer than that.
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Yes, because I want the experience.

All my plans might be moot, though. I'm still a VFR pilot, and weather is looking iffy tomorrow.
 
Thanks for the input, guys.

I ended up having a fairly uneventful flight. The controller even said it was perfect timing because nobody else was landing at Intercontinental at the time. It was super quiet.

They switched me to the runway that runs right by the FBO, too, so even taxiing was a piece of cake.

I almost feel cheated! I was expecting more pressure.

Still, it made for a nice, easy first time in Class B and first time at a big-boy airport. Glad I came here.
 
TexasAviation said:
They switched me to the runway that runs right by the FBO, too, so even taxiing was a piece of cake.

I almost feel cheated! I was expecting more pressure.
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Sounds like my experience at STL (St Louis). It was as easy as a small Class C. It's good to hear that it can be like that at a bigger class C as well.
 
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