ATC tours

RynoB · August 29th, 2006, 13:32

In the post 9/11 era, how hard is it to get tours of ATC facilities?

surreal1221 · August 29th, 2006, 13:49

Not difficult at all.

I wouldn'd suggest calling a facility training manager for one though. Find out who the local NATCA rep is, contact them, leave a message and they should get back to you within a few days.

daveatc · August 29th, 2006, 16:11

The only thing I will add. No foreign nationals are allowed in any ATC facility nationwide. Now, that may have changed in the past year since I was in a facility, but that was the law of the land.

At any Level I or Level II tower, it's pretty darn easy to get a tour. Busier places, maybe not so much.

Fox Xray · August 29th, 2006, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by RynoB

In the post 9/11 era, how hard is it to get tours of ATC facilities?

What facility in particular do you have in mind ???

casey · August 29th, 2006, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by RynoB

In the post 9/11 era, how hard is it to get tours of ATC facilities?

its as hard as picking up the phone. Having a US passport helps too.

PanJet · August 29th, 2006, 19:37

I was an officer in our aviation club at my college, and we arranged a tour of the tower and TRACON facility in Spokane, Washington fairly easily. We got to see both the tower and TRACON with no trouble at all. Also, we arranged a tour of Seattle Center fairly easily as well. We never took the tour due to scheduling issues with our club, not the center, but if I remember right, the only stipulation we had is that they could only take a certain number of people at once, but it wasn't difficult at all.

Fox Xray · August 29th, 2006, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey

its as hard as picking up the phone. Having a US passport helps too.

Not necessarily... a lot depends on the facility manager, the manager has the final say on whether or not tours are allowed. It also depends on security level... there are so many colors I have no clue what they mean but I know tours were banned with the recent threat level. The easiest way, and by easy I mean a live human being answering the phone to talk to, is to contact either the facility training department or the Natca officials. They're your best chance at getting a straight answer...

If anyone hits a roadblock post something up and I'll see what contact info I can find on my end.

desertdog71 · August 29th, 2006, 21:18

I'd like to take a couple students on a Tower Tour myself. Where can I find the contact information for who to call?

surreal1221 · August 29th, 2006, 21:24

Im guessing you're looking at locations in the Kansas area.

Here is the link to NATCA's Central region.

Click on the representative's name to get their contact info.

RynoB · August 30th, 2006, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Xray

What facility in particular do you have in mind ???

Approach and tower at OKC.

desertdog71 · August 30th, 2006, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by RynoB

Approach and tower at OKC.

Tulsa for me.

Fox Xray · August 30th, 2006, 12:15

I'm leaving for work in about an hour... I will get back to you both when I get home this eveing.

Doug Taylor · August 30th, 2006, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Xray

I'm leaving for work in about an hour... I will get back to you both when I get home this eveing.

And, uhh, stay off the land line when I'm trying to check in, mm'kay?

Fox Xray · August 30th, 2006, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

And, uhh, stay off the land line when I'm trying to check in, mm'kay?

But people keep calling... it doesnt stop !

casey · August 30th, 2006, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Xray

But people keep calling... it doesnt stop !

doesnt mean you have to answer

monterrey seems to have that problem every now and a again, or so houston tells me when i'm trying to get direct somewhere south of the border or stay out over the water instead of going to cd. victoria.

surreal1221 · August 30th, 2006, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertdog71

Tulsa for me.

http://nsw.natca.org/facreps.html

Down towards the bottom.

Facility Rep for Tulsa is Scott Keller.

surreal1221 · August 30th, 2006, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by RynoB

Approach and tower at OKC.

http://nsw.natca.org/facreps.html

Same for you. OKC towards the middle. Facility Rep is Loyle Coleman.

Fox Xray · August 30th, 2006, 23:14

The link posted by surreal1221 shows the same contact info for the Natca reps as I found ... I also have the facility phone numbers (FAA) for each. I'll PM them to each of you now...

RynoB · August 31st, 2006, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

And, uhh, stay off the land line when I'm trying to check in, mm'kay?

I've always wanted to say that when ATC calls me. "Standby, I'm on the land line."

ComplexHiAv8r · September 7th, 2006, 08:30

Is there an age limit to attend a tour? I would like to take my cub scouts to the local airport (CAK). They are first graders.

planejay · September 7th, 2006, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertdog71

Tulsa for me.

I got into Tulsa without any problem not too long ago

mpenguin1 · September 7th, 2006, 19:03

I arranged some tours of the LAX & the LGB Towers. Both people went out of their way to show us a good time & answered the groups questions.

Most important if you are lucky enough to go on a Tower tour, bring food! If you feed the Tower People, it makes them happy....

amorris311 · September 8th, 2006, 01:11

how was it in the lax tower? how was it in there? i live 15 min from lax and have always wanted to go up there.

mpenguin1 · September 8th, 2006, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by amorris311

how was it in the lax tower? how was it in there? i live 15 min from lax and have always wanted to go up there.

The LAX Tower was simply amazing!

BobDDuck · September 9th, 2006, 11:35

I've always had luck asking ground for a number to contact the tower to get a tour. Granted at a busier airport (LAX etc) this might not work so well, but the smaller ones never had a problem with me doing that. After I had taken students to one tower several times the controller just told me to ask them over ground or tower if it was alright to come up then.

August 29th, 2006, 13:32	#1
RynoB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 597	ATC tours In the post 9/11 era, how hard is it to get tours of ATC facilities? __________________ Ryan ATP (CE525, CE510, BE-300), SIC BE-400, CFI, CFII, MEI, IGI

August 29th, 2006, 13:49	#2
surreal1221 Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alpha Tango Lima Posts: 8,513	Re: ATC tours Not difficult at all. I wouldn'd suggest calling a facility training manager for one though. Find out who the local NATCA rep is, contact them, leave a message and they should get back to you within a few days. __________________ AGI.MEI.CFI.CFII.FO.CRJ2 \| Josh \|The TRoP \| Ramble On \|ALPA \| Your DD-214 is where?

August 29th, 2006, 16:11	#3
daveatc Former ATC Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 87	Re: ATC tours The only thing I will add. No foreign nationals are allowed in any ATC facility nationwide. Now, that may have changed in the past year since I was in a facility, but that was the law of the land. At any Level I or Level II tower, it's pretty darn easy to get a tour. Busier places, maybe not so much.

August 29th, 2006, 19:37	#6
PanJet Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: WA Posts: 554	Re: ATC tours I was an officer in our aviation club at my college, and we arranged a tour of the tower and TRACON facility in Spokane, Washington fairly easily. We got to see both the tower and TRACON with no trouble at all. Also, we arranged a tour of Seattle Center fairly easily as well. We never took the tour due to scheduling issues with our club, not the center, but if I remember right, the only stipulation we had is that they could only take a certain number of people at once, but it wasn't difficult at all. __________________ "Do you want to be a co-captain or a button pushing $@%#$ ??" -Friend Commercial Pilot-ASEL, AMEL, IA CFI, CFII, MEI 1,450TT/200ME Part 61 CFI and college student Former aerial photo pilot

August 29th, 2006, 21:18	#8
desertdog71 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KIDP/KCNU Posts: 3,000	Re: ATC tours I'd like to take a couple students on a Tower Tour myself. Where can I find the contact information for who to call? __________________ www.flywhiteair.com http://www.myspace.com/desertdog71 Following message is for SkyCougar. Took my chances on a big jet plane, Never let them tell you that they're all the same.

August 29th, 2006, 21:24	#9
surreal1221 Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alpha Tango Lima Posts: 8,513	Re: ATC tours Im guessing you're looking at locations in the Kansas area. Here is the link to NATCA's Central region. Click on the representative's name to get their contact info. __________________ AGI.MEI.CFI.CFII.FO.CRJ2 \| Josh \|The TRoP \| Ramble On \|ALPA \| Your DD-214 is where?

August 30th, 2006, 12:15	#12
Fox Xray ATC Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 400	Re: ATC tours I'm leaving for work in about an hour... I will get back to you both when I get home this eveing.

August 30th, 2006, 23:14	#18
Fox Xray ATC Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 400	Re: ATC tours The link posted by surreal1221 shows the same contact info for the Natca reps as I found ... I also have the facility phone numbers (FAA) for each. I'll PM them to each of you now...

September 7th, 2006, 08:30	#20
ComplexHiAv8r Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 4,506	Re: ATC tours Is there an age limit to attend a tour? I would like to take my cub scouts to the local airport (CAK). They are first graders. __________________ Oh, to be home again! Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying....

September 7th, 2006, 19:03	#22
mpenguin1 Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 9,830 Blog Entries: 5	Re: ATC tours I arranged some tours of the LAX & the LGB Towers. Both people went out of their way to show us a good time & answered the groups questions. Most important if you are lucky enough to go on a Tower tour, bring food! If you feed the Tower People, it makes them happy.... __________________ To see a world in a grain of sand And Heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in a hour. -William Blake

September 8th, 2006, 01:11	#23
amorris311 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles soon to be phx Posts: 2,471	Re: ATC tours how was it in the lax tower? how was it in there? i live 15 min from lax and have always wanted to go up there.

September 9th, 2006, 11:35	#25
BobDDuck Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Left Seat Posts: 5,305	Re: ATC tours I've always had luck asking ground for a number to contact the tower to get a tour. Granted at a busier airport (LAX etc) this might not work so well, but the smaller ones never had a problem with me doing that. After I had taken students to one tower several times the controller just told me to ask them over ground or tower if it was alright to come up then. __________________ TBJC08 The Gear Monkey The Gear Monkey Store

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