So, thought I would ask this here since I talk to you folks the most and trust your experience. I had a few hours and thought would knock the rust off today at what use to be a sleepy little airport I was originally based at. In the last year a group of vagabonds have set up a jumping operation using a 182. I generally don’t mind and like seeing anyone make a go of it in aviation.
I was based at a previous field and got along fine with their parachute operations fabulously. I would always let them take off first and land first to go make money. They would act like in air ATC give all the standard jump operations notices plus a lot more: five minutes until jumpers away, jumpers away don’t over fly the field, be on the look out x canopies in the air, jumpers no factor south of your position, jumpers recovered. In addition they would ask where I am to maintain separation, and tell me where the jump plane was. If they needed me to do something they would ask and I would always say sure and comply. I am just there to have fun. Pattern was to the west and they had a field the jumpers landed in just east of the runway. I actually enjoyed flying with them and seeing the canopies. I think they enjoyed having the company rather than flying around all day making radio calls no one responds to. I felt we were watching out for each other and being responsible.
So, back to today with the new tenants. They seem to have the attitude that when they are in operation all aircraft operations must cease. I understand the call “do not overfly the field” to mean don’t overfly the field, don’t cross midfield downwind, etc. I didn’t understand it to mean that all air and ground operations must cease. They have yelled at me for taking off, and landing, and once for taxing on the taxiway past their recovery field with jumpers in the air. I have even tried working with them, but they won’t say anything other than jumpers away followed by a lot of panicked, angry, snarky directives for me to stop. I have asked if they can confirm they are remaining south of the field, or how many canopies are in the air, or have you recovered the jumpers yet. No response.
So, was the way things worked at my old field more seasoned operators or were they being cowboys. Are these new guys doing it by the book or being bad neigbors. As near as I can tell, their attitude is from the time the jumpers leave until they are recovered. No one should taxi and you should stay out of the pattern and away from the field.
I asked my wife she said well don’t over fly the field means that. It doesn’t mean land immediately and shut down until further notice. But, she said it’s up to me to see and avoid. Jumpers have priority and if something happens aside from harm no one want I would be at fault, so be vigilant.
What do you all think? How do you work with jump operations?
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I was based at a previous field and got along fine with their parachute operations fabulously. I would always let them take off first and land first to go make money. They would act like in air ATC give all the standard jump operations notices plus a lot more: five minutes until jumpers away, jumpers away don’t over fly the field, be on the look out x canopies in the air, jumpers no factor south of your position, jumpers recovered. In addition they would ask where I am to maintain separation, and tell me where the jump plane was. If they needed me to do something they would ask and I would always say sure and comply. I am just there to have fun. Pattern was to the west and they had a field the jumpers landed in just east of the runway. I actually enjoyed flying with them and seeing the canopies. I think they enjoyed having the company rather than flying around all day making radio calls no one responds to. I felt we were watching out for each other and being responsible.
So, back to today with the new tenants. They seem to have the attitude that when they are in operation all aircraft operations must cease. I understand the call “do not overfly the field” to mean don’t overfly the field, don’t cross midfield downwind, etc. I didn’t understand it to mean that all air and ground operations must cease. They have yelled at me for taking off, and landing, and once for taxing on the taxiway past their recovery field with jumpers in the air. I have even tried working with them, but they won’t say anything other than jumpers away followed by a lot of panicked, angry, snarky directives for me to stop. I have asked if they can confirm they are remaining south of the field, or how many canopies are in the air, or have you recovered the jumpers yet. No response.
So, was the way things worked at my old field more seasoned operators or were they being cowboys. Are these new guys doing it by the book or being bad neigbors. As near as I can tell, their attitude is from the time the jumpers leave until they are recovered. No one should taxi and you should stay out of the pattern and away from the field.
I asked my wife she said well don’t over fly the field means that. It doesn’t mean land immediately and shut down until further notice. But, she said it’s up to me to see and avoid. Jumpers have priority and if something happens aside from harm no one want I would be at fault, so be vigilant.
What do you all think? How do you work with jump operations?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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