Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student
Subject: Re: Cross-countries- finding an unfamiliar airport
From: jbolinger@lintek.com (J L Bolinger)
Organization: AeroFlex Lintek
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In article <73a0ac$bvg$1@nw001t.infi.net>, rraport@courant.infi.net says...
>
>I'm getting close to my cross-coumtry solos.  I find that locating an
>unfamiliar airport at night is usually fairly easy, just look for the
>beacon (yes I know, it's not always that simple).  
>
>But how do do locate an unfamiliar airport during the day,
>particularly in an urban area with allot of background clutter?  Even
>if my navigating and the forecast winds are accurate and bring me to
>within a couple miles, it is easy to miss the airport.
>
>How do you guys find the airport?
>
>Rich
>
>Feel free to e-mail any replies.
>
>
>"If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the 
>right to remain silent?"
>

If it is a controlled field, ask for help.

If they have an NDB or VOR on field (yes, some uncontrolled fields have
VORs), use that, even if it is not on the field.  For example, I fly out
of 4I9, which is hard to see when approaching from the N or NW.  MNN,
which is about 15 miles away, has a VOR on field so when returning from
MNN to 4I9 I fly the 124 degree 'from' radial, and it takes me right over
4I9.  [Of course, this is just an academic exercise since by now I know
where the field is anyway.]

Beleive it or not, the charts _do_ match the real world pretty close.  If the
above methods are not enough, and you have enough fuel, try flying around the
area.  There may be another direction from which the field is easier to find.
[For example, 4I9 from the SE---there are trees blocking the view from
the N and NW]

The easiest way, if the plane has one, is a LORAN or GPS.

Jim

