KCMH procedures

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PPC1052

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I don't operate much out of a class C airport, but I am planning a VFR trip to CMH. Two questions:

1) do they want you to contact ground or CD first to get your taxi and departure instructions? (I always check the A/FD, but I am never confident that the A/FD gives the correct information on this)

2) Where do you generally do your run-up at this particular airport? Do you do it at the FBO ramp? I don't want to hold some jet up while I run through my check list.
 
PPC1052 said:
I don't operate much out of a class C airport, but I am planning a VFR trip to CMH. Two questions:

1) do they want you to contact ground or CD first to get your taxi and departure instructions? (I always check the A/FD, but I am never confident that the A/FD gives the correct information on this)

2) Where do you generally do your run-up at this particular airport? Do you do it at the FBO ramp? I don't want to hold some jet up while I run through my check list.
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1. ATIS will usually specify who to contact. It all depends on the airport.
2. Depends. If there is a runup area by the runway I'll do it there. If there is no runup area, I'll do it at the ramp.
 
Usually ATIS will tell VFR aircraft to contact CD prior to taxi for VFR departure instructions.

When I went in there I think I remember calling CD for departure instructions.
"Columbus CD Cessna N12345 VFR westbound at 6,500"

If it isn't required they will just tell you to contact ground for taxi.

I usually do the run-up right at the hold short line. The taxiways are usually large enough that you can turn it into the wind depending on what you are flying. If not, I just keep the plane on the yellow line, make sure a plane isn't behind me and do the run-up.
 
jordane93 said:
1. ATIS will usually specify who to contact. It all depends on the airport.
2. Depends. If there is a runup area by the runway I'll do it there. If there is no runup area, I'll do it at the ramp.
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Thanks. But that is why I asked the question.
 
jordane93 said:
I answered your question:dunno:
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I guess I didn't make my question clear. I am asking what the procedures are at that particular airport. "It depends" doesn't help me. I know that it depends, which is why I am asking and not assuming it's one particular way. Sorry my question was vague.
 
PPC1052 said:
And if there is?
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If there's a plane behind you that kinda sucks. I blocked some guy a Martha's Vineyard thinking there wasn't going to be anyone behind me at the hold short line. So I did my runup and made the guy wait. Now I always try to do the runup at the ramp if there is no runup area. That was my bad.

PPC1052 said:
I guess I didn't make my question clear. I am asking what the procedures are at that particular airport. "It depends" doesn't help me. I know that it depends. Sorry my question was vague.
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Gotcha. The ATIS will have the information on who to call on initial contact.
 
Odds are whoever you're doing business with there will have the info you need. Last time I went in it was for our transponder, I don't recall exactly what I did to get out but I'm pretty certain someone at Spirit knew. I don't recall anything special, either. Did my runup somewhere adjacent to the runway. I recall calling ground before anyone else, but it has been some time. I wouldn't sweat it.
 
When I moved my plane to base it at San Jose (Class C, KSJC), I had similar questions about the local procedures at that airport. So, I picked up the phone and called the tower to ask. Why not do the same? Pick up the phone and call the tower or one of the FBOs on the field, and I'd bet they could answer your questions a lot faster than what you're getting here. Probably with much greater accuracy also.

Edit: Just checked AC-U-KWIK: http://www.acukwik.com/AirportInfo/KCMH# It reports the tower phone number at KCMH is 614-236-8547.

In general, though, there's really no reason to sweat it. Some airports want CD contacted for both VFR and IFR traffic; some don't. The ones that don't will tell you to contact ground. No big deal either way if you get it "wrong" for that airport. Same for the run-up. At unfamiliar airports, I just ask ground where the run-up is.

As an aside, KSJC's tower was very happy to help. Invited me up for a tower tour and everything. They pointed at their radar and showed me their traffic vs the Class D Palo Alto a bit further North. No comparison at all; Palo Alto was swamping them. SJC is happy to have GA traffic. I think they're bored!
 
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PPC1052 said:
And if there is?
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Then I probably would have seen him taxiing out behind me. In that case, I would do it while taxiing(almost no-one will recommend doing that, and I honestly admit it isn't the smartest practice), or let the plane know on ground frequency I'll be doing a run-up when I reach the hold-short line.
 
I go to Ohio State and fly out of KOSU regularly. For a small plane, KOSU will be much cheaper, and isn't much further away. If you have any questions about Columbus, let me know!
 
lifeofsilence said:
I go to Ohio State and fly out of KOSU regularly. For a small plane, KOSU will be much cheaper, and isn't much further away. If you have any questions about Columbus, let me know!
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Thanks. But CMH is 10 minutes from my intended destination. In this case, I think the extra charge is worth the convenience. Otherwise, I would go to OSU.
 
If you park at Lane Aviation, be aware they have a parts store right next to the FBO staffed with some helpful folks and just about anything you'd need for a small GA plane.
 
iflyvfr said:
If you park at Lane Aviation, be aware they have a parts store right next to the FBO staffed with some helpful folks and just about anything you'd need for a small GA plane.
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Last time I was there they had a decent pilot store to.

David
 
flhrci said:
Last time I was there they had a decent pilot store to.

David
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Yeah, right next to the counter? I think that is all gone now and it's maybe some work surfaces? I used to browse in there, but everything I've purchased was from the parts store. Every annual my A&P sends me there with a shopping list of stuff to buy.
 
Last visit, the pilot shop had been removed and a coffee bar was going in, I think. It's been a couple of years. There's a runup spot near the hold short line, although there was significant runway construction on my last visit, and it may be all different now. New runway, I think, and the roads are all jacked up.

But 95th Aero Squadron is great food! Lane will take you and bring you back, all for their ramp fee. Check fuel prices, it may be cheaper than their fee. Most places wave fees with 8 gal purchase.
 
PPC1052 said:
I guess I didn't make my question clear. I am asking what the procedures are at that particular airport. "It depends" doesn't help me. I know that it depends, which is why I am asking and not assuming it's one particular way. Sorry my question was vague.
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Pilot's discretion. Ya gotta look at the taxi diagram and decide for yourself. ;)
 
I am based at a class C about 90 miles north of there. I swing the plane 45 degrees and do a quick runup at the hold short line. The taxiways at a Class C are almost as wide as some of the ramps at a small airport. It has been a while since I went into CMH, but I don't remember doing anything different there. Also, check atis for clearance instructions. CAK always has you contact ground for VFR clearance - I don't remember what CMH did. Like the others said - IF you contact clearance delivery and they want you on ground, they will tell you.
It is not a big deal.
 
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