VFR practice approaches

[woog315]

Tonight I was shooting VFR practice approaches in the area with my student. We were on with center into an uncontrolled field on LOC back course RWY12 (intending to go missed). Controller asks our intentions after the approach and we tell him we're flying the published miss and holding over the VOR (which is about 6 miles SE from the field, about a 110 heading from the runway direct to the VOR). He says "ok, depart the airport VFR then call me for the next approach." and sends us to CTAF

As we pass the FAF, another plane shows up on frequency and announces their intentions to land on RWY30. we talk to one another and work out how to do it without getting in one another's way. When I go missed, he is on about a 4 mile right base, essentially in our flight path to the vor, but since we're talking its not a problem and we aren't dangerously close- but of course I stay on CTAF to avoid any problems. After we pass him and we're about 3 miles from the airport, I switch over to Center (we only had 1 radio) and he chastises me for taking so long to switch, saying I should have switched over to let him know I had the traffic in sight.

First of all, I was VFR... that means providing my own separation, so I can't imagine the safest thing to do would be to tell the guy "see ya" and switch over to Center while we're less than a mile apart and flying opposite direction ... Second, How am I supposed to know if the other plane is talking to Center and is even a concern of Centers? I was VFR traffic in an uncontrolled airport, why wouldn't I stay on CTAF to talk with possibly conflicting traffic coming into the same field? Any controllers have any insight?

[sdfcvoh]

Not a controller, but I'm guessing that the ATC dude was having a bad shift - and his chastising was him being concerned about your safety, too. Of course he wants to be an integral part of your journey, just as we pilots always want to be PIC landing and taking off.

There are always those three things we've been taught to keep in my mind when it comes to a situation like yours: 1.Aviate, 2.Navigate, 3.Communicate. Sounds like you did those, and maintained a safe environment because of it. If ATC had a further problem with it, I would have said, "Sorry about the delay, but I felt it was safer to stay on CTAF because of pattern traffic."

[exleardriver]

Originally Posted by sdfcvoh

Not a controller, but I'm guessing that the ATC dude was having a bad shift - and his chastising was him being concerned about your safety, too. Of course he wants to be an integral part of your journey, just as we pilots always want to be PIC landing and taking off.

There are always those three things we've been taught to keep in my mind when it comes to a situation like yours: 1.Aviate, 2.Navigate, 3.Communicate. Sounds like you did those, and maintained a safe environment because of it. If ATC had a further problem with it, I would have said, "Sorry about the delay, but I felt it was safer to stay on CTAF because of pattern traffic."

agreed. it may be your first 'chastising' from a controller,but won't be your last. we all get them from time to time, even when not at fault. you took prudent action in my opinion as well. i wouldn't worry more about it. the controller's situational awareness simply didn't match yours in this case.

[ATLTRACON]

Originally Posted by exleardriver

agreed. it may be your first 'chastising' from a controller,but won't be your last. we all get them from time to time, even when not at fault. you took prudent action in my opinion as well. i wouldn't worry more about it. the controller's situational awareness simply didn't match yours in this case.

Center controller was a jerk and uninformed. You must understand that Center controllers do not (in most cases) have a lot of knowledge/experience with approach clearances, rules regarding separation services to VFR a/c on practice approaches, etc.. If at all possible go to an airport that has a tower/approaches/TRACON available. If unable I would maybe suggest you doing the approaches on your own and monitor the enter freq.

CJ @ ATL TRACON

[moxiepilot]

Originally Posted by ATLTRACON

Center controller was a jerk and uninformed. You must understand that Center controllers do not (in most cases) have a lot of knowledge/experience with approach clearances, rules regarding separation services to VFR a/c on practice approaches, etc..

wow...just wow