Parking areas

[sba55]

Anyone else here upset about airports where the parking area isn't quite level?

After landing tonight around 10pm, I found that the ramp (for some reason) was completely full except for one spot. So I pulled up in front of it, hoping to just push the plane back to park. As it turns out, there's a very slight incline and I just couldn't move the plane back at all.

I ended up calling our very friendly police department (hehe, I bet they haven't had that call before). I think the dispatcher was a pilot because he used phrases like 'taxi' and 'tail number'. Silly parking areas

-Felix

 

[wabower]

Bowmaster.

Anyone else here upset about airports where the parking area isn't quite level?

After landing tonight around 10pm, I found that the ramp (for some reason) was completely full except for one spot. So I pulled up in front of it, hoping to just push the plane back to park. As it turns out, there's a very slight incline and I just couldn't move the plane back at all.

I ended up calling our very friendly police department (hehe, I bet they haven't had that call before). I think the dispatcher was a pilot because he used phrases like 'taxi' and 'tail number'. Silly parking areas

-Felix

 

[flyersfan31]

The parking spots for Penn Avionics at Brandywine Airport are on a ski hill. Well, i exaggerate, but it is VERY far from level. I had my heart in my throat when I dropped of my Sundowner for some avionics work on the weekend. I kept expecting a call saying "Sir, your aircraft rolled into 7 parked aircraft downhill from your parking place." Muscling it into the spot was a lot of fun too.

 

[gismo]

I've encountered this more than once. If the incline is uphill towards the edge I'd be tempted to "drive" into the spot nose first. Several times I've had to set the brakes in order to climb out without having the plane roll away. I also encountered one ramp that was both sloped and ice covered making it virtually impossible to stop (probably not a problem San Fran).

 

[SCCutler]

There was this one time...

...the club Deb was just back from overhaul, and I just felt like flying, so I did.

A beautiful spring afternoon, an exquisitely-balanced 550 in a light airframe, it was pure delight. I decided to visit some airports to which I had never yet been.

I landed at Decatur, TX (KLUD), and hopped out to wander around a nice-looking field. Watched a helicopter come and go, a couple of planes do touch 'n' goes, that sort of thing. When I visit a field with a lot of open-front hangars, I like to wander the hangars to see if there are any hangar queens, that sort of thing.

After about 45 minutes of casual laziness, I meandered back to the plane, noticed the sun was at an angle that would make for some nice photos, so I snapped a few, then I walked back around, behind the wing-walk (passenger side), and stood there just taking in the marvelousness of the day.

Apparently, the plane felt the moment too, for she gently rolled back into me, the trailing edge of the flap nudging into my thigh- I had to turn around and lean into the plane to stop the rolling. Which would have continued (as I now noticed) on to the edge of the ramp, down the significant incline, across the taxiway and teh runway, and into a pretty good-sized ditch.

Gulp.

Why she decided to roll *just then*, I do not know; no wind, anything like that. I ws just danged lucky she did not roll while I was out and about, wandering. No harm, no foul, but I sure learned a lesson about tying-down and wheel chocks.

 

[wabower]

A small set of chocks rides along under my seat. They are not roped together because I may need one behind or ahead of each main. As long as gravity pulls downhill, I think they will do the job.

There was this one time...

...the club Deb was just back from overhaul, and I just felt like flying, so I did.

A beautiful spring afternoon, an exquisitely-balanced 550 in a light airframe, it was pure delight. I decided to visit some airports to which I had never yet been.

I landed at Decatur, TX (KLUD), and hopped out to wander around a nice-looking field. Watched a helicopter come and go, a couple of planes do touch 'n' goes, that sort of thing. When I visit a field with a lot of open-front hangars, I like to wander the hangars to see if there are any hangar queens, that sort of thing.

After about 45 minutes of casual laziness, I meandered back to the plane, noticed the sun was at an angle that would make for some nice photos, so I snapped a few, then I walked back around, behind the wing-walk (passenger side), and stood there just taking in the marvelousness of the day.

Apparently, the plane felt the moment too, for she gently rolled back into me, the trailing edge of the flap nudging into my thigh- I had to turn around and lean into the plane to stop the rolling. Which would have continued (as I now noticed) on to the edge of the ramp, down the significant incline, across the taxiway and teh runway, and into a pretty good-sized ditch.

Gulp.

Why she decided to roll *just then*, I do not know; no wind, anything like that. I ws just danged lucky she did not roll while I was out and about, wandering. No harm, no foul, but I sure learned a lesson about tying-down and wheel chocks.

 

[ScottM]

A small set of chocks rides along under my seat. They are not roped together because I may need one behind or ahead of each main. As long as gravity pulls downhill, I think they will do the job.

At a recent fly in at my home aerodrome a guy parked his 152 on a slope and decided to use the tow bar as a chock. That worked until a Cherokee passed by and knocked the plane loose with it's prop wash. The 152 rolled down the slope with people chasing after it trying to get it to not collide with other planes on the ramp. Luckily they succeded.

 

[wabower]

At a recent fly in at my home aerodrome a guy parked his 152 on a slope and decided to use the tow bar as a chock. That worked until a Cherokee passed by and knocked the plane loose with it's prop wash. The 152 rolled down the slope with people chasing after it trying to get it to not collide with other planes on the ramp. Luckily they succeded.

I also carry a set of the walmart come-along straps in the bag with the jumper cables, prop lock and other stuff (in far aft baggage area, figure it's good ballast for CG and occasionally useful). If any other airplanes are aound (fly-in's etc.) I usually try to tie it down. Taildraggers can be a bit churlish about being blown around, and sometimes seek to spread their misery with others.

 

[Teller1900]

There was this one time...

...the club Deb was just back from overhaul, and I just felt like flying, so I did.

A beautiful spring afternoon, an exquisitely-balanced 550 in a light airframe, it was pure delight. I decided to visit some airports to which I had never yet been.

I landed at Decatur, TX (KLUD), and hopped out to wander around a nice-looking field. Watched a helicopter come and go, a couple of planes do touch 'n' goes, that sort of thing. When I visit a field with a lot of open-front hangars, I like to wander the hangars to see if there are any hangar queens, that sort of thing.

After about 45 minutes of casual laziness, I meandered back to the plane, noticed the sun was at an angle that would make for some nice photos, so I snapped a few, then I walked back around, behind the wing-walk (passenger side), and stood there just taking in the marvelousness of the day.

Apparently, the plane felt the moment too, for she gently rolled back into me, the trailing edge of the flap nudging into my thigh- I had to turn around and lean into the plane to stop the rolling. Which would have continued (as I now noticed) on to the edge of the ramp, down the significant incline, across the taxiway and teh runway, and into a pretty good-sized ditch.

Gulp.

Why she decided to roll *just then*, I do not know; no wind, anything like that. I ws just danged lucky she did not roll while I was out and about, wandering. No harm, no foul, but I sure learned a lesson about tying-down and wheel chocks.

That's a wonderful story, Spike! I have this image in my head of the plane gently nudging you like an obedient old dog as if to say "look around, this is pretty much perfect!"

The entrance to the line shop at Hap's is on a pretty decent incline. Stacking airplanes in the hanger at night sucked when you were only guy working. It wasn't bad for the ones at the back because you could get a running start, but when the hanger filled up, those last few planes could be a real PITA!

Our ramp in Rockland was on a bit of an incline, too. When it would get icy, we got the rare experience of taxiing sideways a few times; thank goodness for beta!

 

[sba55]

There was this one time...

...the club Deb was just back from overhaul, and I just felt like flying, so I did.

A beautiful spring afternoon, an exquisitely-balanced 550 in a light airframe, it was pure delight. I decided to visit some airports to which I had never yet been.

......
That's just funny

 

[silver-eagle]

That's a wonderful story, Spike! I have this image in my head of the plane gently nudging you like an obedient old dog as if to say "look around, this is pretty much perfect!"....SNIP....

More like "It's such a nice day you PUTZ, why aren't we flying?"
My dog does it to me on my days off. That's how I know!

 

[AdamZ]

Well, I can't really get upset with the Airport because the parking area "isn't quite level" sometimes the field just has to play the topographic cards they are dealt. Grading and leveling is expensive. Even at the home drome there are some spots ya have to push back uphill to get into its a pain but I can't get ticked at the airport.

The post however leads me to a question. If you arrive at an unfamiliar field after the FBO closes and your going to be over night:

1) How do you decide where to park? If its not readily evident where transient is do you take any old tie down and risk taking the spot of a based aircraft? Or do you leave it parked on the ramp in what appears to be an open yet out of the way place as possible?

2) If you leave it in an open area on the ramp do you chock it and leave the break off so the FBO can move it in the AM if need be Obviously you lock it but how about setting the break?

 

[gismo]

The post however leads me to a question. If you arrive at an unfamiliar field after the FBO closes and your going to be over night:

1) How do you decide where to park? If its not readily evident where transient is do you take any old tie down and risk taking the spot of a based aircraft? Or do you leave it parked on the ramp in what appears to be an open yet out of the way place as possible?

In short, yes. If there's no indication of where you're supposed to park, just try to avoid blocking someone else in (and leave the brakes off).

2) If you leave it in an open area on the ramp do you chock it and leave the break off so the FBO can move it in the AM if need be Obviously you lock it but how about setting the break?

I never leave my "break" on when I leave the plane. For one thing the POH claims this can lead to overpressure in the brake lines if the temp goes up. But besides that, the line crew might drag a wheel if they try to move it and if there's enough wind to jump your chocks, the brakes probably won't help all that much anyway.

 

[Rob Schaffer]

At my home drome, KLOM, as a renter, if you arrive back at the end of flying in the later evening, after most of the other renters are already back, there is generally one spot left on the right,... that's the uphill one.

Not long ago, I came back from flying one evening and that was the only spot left. I pulled up close, spun the plane so I could push it back into the spot, put the parking brake on. Once out, quick attached the tow bar and grabed a chock for the nose wheel. Back in the plane, take off the parking brake,... to the front of the plane, and push,... rock,.. push,.. just about anything I could do. I made it about 1 foot,... Then,.. here come the fuel truck with one of the Lineman (Jay I think,.?) He graciously offered to help me push her back into the spot.

Last weekend, came back with my parents and landed behind another cessna,... of course, he took the other spot and there I was again with the uphill spot.

 

[wabower]

The Mercury (or whoever may be there now) ramp at PDK is always good for a hillside parking adventure.

At my home drome, KLOM, as a renter, if you arrive back at the end of flying in the later evening, after most of the other renters are already back, there is generally one spot left on the right,... that's the uphill one.

Not long ago, I came back from flying one evening and that was the only spot left. I pulled up close, spun the plane so I could push it back into the spot, put the parking brake on. Once out, quick attached the tow bar and grabed a chock for the nose wheel. Back in the plane, take off the parking brake,... to the front of the plane, and push,... rock,.. push,.. just about anything I could do. I made it about 1 foot,... Then,.. here come the fuel truck with one of the Lineman (Jay I think,.?) He graciously offered to help me push her back into the spot.

Last weekend, came back with my parents and landed behind another cessna,... of course, he took the other spot and there I was again with the uphill spot.

 

[sba55]

Well, I can't really get upset with the Airport because the parking area "isn't quite level" sometimes the field just has to play the topographic cards they are dealt. Grading and leveling is expensive.

Oh no, you misunderstood me. I'm not mad at the airport, I'm mad at the parking area!

1) How do you decide where to park? If its not readily evident where transient is do you take any old tie down and risk taking the spot of a based aircraft? Or do you leave it parked on the ramp in what appears to be an open yet out of the way place as possible?

Depends. If it's a small uncontrolled airport, I'll probably take a spot that looks reasonably unused. At an FBO, I just park somewhere on the ramp.

2) If you leave it in an open area on the ramp do you chock it and leave the break off so the FBO can move it in the AM if need be Obviously you lock it but how about setting the break?

I never set the break when I'm at a FBO.

-Felix

 

[SkyHog]

I went to KSAF once. Parked by the Santa Fe Jet Center (which I think is gone now). Stopped the plane, seemed all good, so I looked down to complete the after shutdown checklist. When I looked up, I was rolling at a pretty decent clip right towards a fence.

I was so happy I looked up. I had no sensation of motion at all. Would have been hard to explain the damage from that one.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

2) If you leave it in an open area on the ramp do you chock it and leave the break off so the FBO can move it in the AM if need be Obviously you lock it but how about setting the break?

I never set the break when I'm at a FBO.

What is this "break" of which you speak? I sure don't want my airplane to break!

I do set the brakes, however, when there's no chocks or tiedowns.

 

[AWACSEng]

Don't you mean "chalks"?

 

[The Old Man]

Skyhog, I had that happen to me at Bowie (0f2). Sandra was about to hop off the wing while I had my head down. No sense of motion whatsoever. I had turned sideways towards the door while I wrote down the times and could only get my left foot on the right brake. Stopped us after about 20degree swing to the right.

Spike, We've been to Decatur. After taxiing up that "mountain" to the ramp (took about 1500rpm to make it), I wasn't about to leave the plane unchocked for an instant.

The topper has got to be Banning, CA (KBNG). After the first 100yds an the west end, the whole field has a 6% downslope. Line guy met us at the pumps with chocks. When we were ready to leave, I thought Sandra was not going to be able to get the chocks out while I stood on the brakes.

 

[SCCutler]

Here's a link to the picture from that day, and Yes, I did screw it up and label the picture as having been taken at Bridgeport. I had stopped there as well. Unfortunately, I was unable to edit the picture location after submission.

Note the handy tie-down chains sitting uselessly on the pavement...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Beech-C33-Debonair/1068792/M/

Sad that plane is no longer with us; she flew sweetly.