Dave Siciliano
Final Approach
Went to a wedding Saturday and wound up departing at night to the south (runway 18) which took me right out over the ocean.
A few things made this distinctive and memorable.
Before the departure, I had to do the pre-flight in the dark with the FBO closed. Tower was also closed. Don't like doing that for several reasons including not having any help if it's needed, but I had a flashlight and the pre-flight went well.
When I had arrived earlier, I had another plane call in reporting its position where I was! I was about two miles on a right base to 18 on the visual and had been turned over by approach to tower when I checked in. Shortly after checking in, an experimental called two mile right base to the same runway. I started looking around: nothing on Skywatch. Tower questioned the pilot and after some back and forth it turned out he was on a left base and slower than me. Tower clarified that and corrected him. It made an impression on me that some local pilots might not be making the best reports which served well later (g).
After starting up and doing checks, clearance issued my departure which had me climb to 4,000 and upon reaching controlled airspace, turn right over Houston on a DP; call when I was number one. I taxied out and it was very dark except for airport lighting. There was a 4,000 foot solid overcast layer above.
I taxied to runway 18 holding short on E to complete departure checks. While there, a Cessna called in stating he was three miles out for runway 14. That runway would intersect 18 more than half way down and I thought about taxiing into position, but decided to wait until he landed. I saw a landing light that seemed lined up for 18. Anyway as you might guess, he made another call one mile out, then, he landing right in front of me on 18.
I didn't see any traffic behind him and there was none on CTAF, so I made a call, taxied out and departed. The landing lights on my plane are on the gear, so, as soon as I began the climb, I turned off the lights and raised the gear to find it pitch black in front of the runway. No ground reference at all. I climbed, called CTAF stating I was departing straight out, called approach and they called radar contact shortly and had me start the right turn and cleared me to 160. I climbed through clouds at 4,000 and once on top, there was crescent moon illuminating cloud tops that was exquisite. It was as if there was a white carpet below and clear sky with stars above. Couldn't see ground lights at all from Houston below. One of those special experiences that reminds us why we love to fly.
Best,
Dave
A few things made this distinctive and memorable.
Before the departure, I had to do the pre-flight in the dark with the FBO closed. Tower was also closed. Don't like doing that for several reasons including not having any help if it's needed, but I had a flashlight and the pre-flight went well.
When I had arrived earlier, I had another plane call in reporting its position where I was! I was about two miles on a right base to 18 on the visual and had been turned over by approach to tower when I checked in. Shortly after checking in, an experimental called two mile right base to the same runway. I started looking around: nothing on Skywatch. Tower questioned the pilot and after some back and forth it turned out he was on a left base and slower than me. Tower clarified that and corrected him. It made an impression on me that some local pilots might not be making the best reports which served well later (g).
After starting up and doing checks, clearance issued my departure which had me climb to 4,000 and upon reaching controlled airspace, turn right over Houston on a DP; call when I was number one. I taxied out and it was very dark except for airport lighting. There was a 4,000 foot solid overcast layer above.
I taxied to runway 18 holding short on E to complete departure checks. While there, a Cessna called in stating he was three miles out for runway 14. That runway would intersect 18 more than half way down and I thought about taxiing into position, but decided to wait until he landed. I saw a landing light that seemed lined up for 18. Anyway as you might guess, he made another call one mile out, then, he landing right in front of me on 18.
I didn't see any traffic behind him and there was none on CTAF, so I made a call, taxied out and departed. The landing lights on my plane are on the gear, so, as soon as I began the climb, I turned off the lights and raised the gear to find it pitch black in front of the runway. No ground reference at all. I climbed, called CTAF stating I was departing straight out, called approach and they called radar contact shortly and had me start the right turn and cleared me to 160. I climbed through clouds at 4,000 and once on top, there was crescent moon illuminating cloud tops that was exquisite. It was as if there was a white carpet below and clear sky with stars above. Couldn't see ground lights at all from Houston below. One of those special experiences that reminds us why we love to fly.
Best,
Dave
