Re: Has Anyone Seen Winter?

Gordon wrote:

I've been a small plane pilot since my teen years, starting out
with a J-3 Cub. I feel safer in the air than on the highway.


I'm with you.

I first soloed in an Aeronca Champ. If you remember, it's similar to the J-3, but without the heel brakes (we had toe brakes, which I always preferred). They were so slow that I remember looking down and seeing cars going faster than I was!

Flying, itself, doesn't bother me. I've rarely been even concerned when on a commercial flight. They are usually downright boring. I will, if possible, get a window seat so, at least, I can see at least a little of what's going on. I'll often time the take-off roll, for example. Most commercial jets take about 25 - 35 seconds. Fully loaded international 747's take a bit longer.

However, another thing besides passenger volume that bothers me about O'Hare is this.

For a while on AA DC-10 flights, there was an audio channel which would pipe pilot/ATC communications to the passengers. I found that O'Hare, the busiest airport in the country, would often use intersecting runways for take-offs at the same time. I've heard: "AA 140 cleared for take-off on 18 right" and a few seconds later "United 123 cleared for take-off on 9 left", for example. Apparently there is enough difference in runway lengths and locations to make this practice "safe"!

It does get your attention, though!

Regards...

Tom

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