Tower or TRACON Tour?

Kristie · January 11th, 2007, 14:57

what would everyone prefer to tour.. ORD Tower or ORD TRACON?

We have someone that can set up the tour(s), it's just a matter of which one ya'll want to do or if you want to do both...

since I've only been on the Tower tour out at LAS, I have no idea what a TRACON tour would consist of or if it'd be more interesting or what not...maybe both would be worthwhile this trip?

ORD Tower would probably just be a train ride to ORD whereas with ORD TRACON, we'd probably need to rent a van or have a few of the ORD peeps drive the group out there and back to the subway as it's about 35 miles west of ORD airport.

WindyCityPilot · January 11th, 2007, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

what would everyone prefer to tour.. ORD Tower or ORD TRACON?

We have someone that can set up the tour(s), it's just a matter of which one ya'll want to do or if you want to do both...

since I've only been on the Tower tour out at LAS, I have no idea what a TRACON tour would consist of or if it'd be more interesting or what not...maybe both would be worthwhile this trip?

ORD Tower would probably just be a train ride to ORD whereas with ORD TRACON, we'd probably need to rent a van or have a few of the ORD peeps drive the group out there and back to the subway as it's about 35 miles west of ORD airport.

If we get the TRACON tour I can drive a load. I can fit 3 or 4 people plus myself.

FlyChicaga · January 11th, 2007, 19:38

I think the tower would be more accessible, not to mention interesting... they have some characters up there. You can access the tower from the main terminal building, Terminal 2. This happens to be a short walk from the last Blue Line stop.

There is always MDW too if ORD falls through.

kellwolf · January 11th, 2007, 21:37

When we did a DFW TRACON tour, they threw in the tower for bonus. Might be able to get the same deal with ORD.

Kristie · January 11th, 2007, 23:33

we can do both... it's just that the facilities are in two different locations.

FlyChicaga · January 12th, 2007, 00:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

we can do both... it's just that the facilities are in two different locations.

There are actually three, if you want to do the trifecta. ORD or MDW tower, Chicago Approach in Elgin, and Chicago Center in Aurora. Then there is always the Dupage FSDO...

Kristie · January 12th, 2007, 01:13

we could look into booking all 3...

is there a difference between Chicago Approach and Chicago Center?

avi8tor · January 12th, 2007, 10:01

Chicago Approach (C90 Tracon; Elgin) handles all IFR traffic in an out of ORD and it's satellite airports, from the surface to 13,000 feet and out to a 40 mile radius of ORD. It is the control operation for the class B airspace surrounding ORD.

Chicago Center (ZAU ARTCC; Aurora) handles all IFR traffic during enroute phases of flight, and feeds traffic into terminal areas.

Kristie · January 12th, 2007, 10:38

Avi8tor...let's go with ORD Tower and Chicago Approach... I think mixing those two together will make a lot more sense if we do one right after the other in a day.

all i need to get set up is transportation from one to the other...

whatcha think?

avi8tor · January 12th, 2007, 12:07

Sounds good. I'll start making the arrangements for both tours. I will need an approximate head count for both tours, and what days you want the tours to be held.

Kristie · January 12th, 2007, 12:16

let's look at Saturday morning for the Tower tour (it'll be slower for them) and maybe Saturday early to mid afternoon for TRACON? I don't know if we can schedule one right after the other.. we'd have to have a specific time set for travel and all that.

that'll leave MOSI/Shedd for Friday afternoon (esp if MOSI is free) and Blues fest for Sat late afternoon/Sunday....

avi8tor · January 12th, 2007, 12:39

Sounds good I will start making the arrangements.

desertdog71 · January 12th, 2007, 12:39

We should just road trip to Milwaukee and go to "The Safehouse"

Kristie · January 12th, 2007, 13:50

now that's a fun place!!

H46Bubba · January 12th, 2007, 14:02

What's the Safehouse?

desertdog71 · January 12th, 2007, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by H46Bubba

What's the Safehouse?

We have a victim Kristie.

avi8tor · January 12th, 2007, 14:35

Quote:

We should just road trip to Milwaukee and go to "The Safehouse"

Good Times.

Kristie · January 12th, 2007, 17:14

if we told you, we'd have to kill you!

the only way you can get there is by blindfold.. the only way your getting in is if you know the password.

CcrlR737AMT · January 12th, 2007, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by avi8tor

Sounds good. I'll start making the arrangements for both tours. I will need an approximate head count for both tours, and what days you want the tours to be held.

What about transportation to there? Are you going to ride the CTA the tower tour(both the train and the bus)?

kellwolf · January 12th, 2007, 18:12

I'm a huge fan of public transportation. The green liberal in me likes it, plus it's cheap.

If we can make it happen without renting cars, it makes it a lot easier for people to afford.

CcrlR737AMT · January 12th, 2007, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellwolf

I'm a huge fan of public transportation. The green liberal in me likes it, plus it's cheap.

If we can make it happen without renting cars, it makes it a lot easier for people to afford.

They have daypass cards you can use for $5 a day and they have 2, 5, and 7 day passes at reasonable prices.

H46Bubba · January 12th, 2007, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

if we told you, we'd have to kill you!

the only way you can get there is by blindfold.. the only way your getting in is if you know the password.

Ha ha, not this guy! I don't do blindfolds.

avi8tor · January 12th, 2007, 20:01

I have been looking into the train (Metra). The Milwaukee district west line runs out to elgin, and according to mapquest the station is about 4.5 miles from the tracon center. If the hotel is downtown you could jump on the train at Union Station and take it out to elgin. What I was thinking was if we have enough JC members from chicago we could shuttle the people from out of town in our vechicles to and from the elgin station and the tracon center. I believe Metra has a weekend pass for $5 and you can ride all weekend on that pass. How does this sound to everyone? For the tower tour if the hotel is downtown the people could take the CTA Blue line right into ORD and we could all meet up for the tower tour. Not to sure about the cost for the CTA. Over the next couple of days I will find out prices for the trains, and route maps. I think this is a pretty good option. I guess the question is do we have enough chicago people that would be willing to shuttle the people from out of town to and from the elgin train station to the tracon facitity?

CcrlR737AMT · January 12th, 2007, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by avi8tor

I have been looking into the train (Metra). The Milwaukee district west line runs out to elgin, and according to mapquest the station is about 4.5 miles from the tracon center. If the hotel is downtown you could jump on the train at Union Station and take it out to elgin. What I was thinking was if we have enough JC members from chicago we could shuttle the people from out of town in our vechicles to and from the elgin station and the tracon center. I believe Metra has a weekend pass for $5 and you can ride all weekend on that pass. How does this sound to everyone? For the tower tour if the hotel is downtown the people could take the CTA Blue line right into ORD and we could all meet up for the tower tour. Not to sure about the cost for the CTA. Over the next couple of days I will find out prices for the trains, and route maps. I think this is a pretty good option. I guess the question is do we have enough chicago people that would be willing to shuttle the people from out of town to and from the elgin train station to the tracon facitity?

The best option is to get the day pass. Depending on how many days you are staying or are going to ride the train then you can choose the pass. For Metra, it is different but the weekend pass is the best option.
here is the website for the CTA's fares
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/fares.html

Kristie · January 13th, 2007, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellwolf

I'm a huge fan of public transportation. The green liberal in me likes it, plus it's cheap.

If we can make it happen without renting cars, it makes it a lot easier for people to afford.

unfortunately, the hotel's not going to be downtown.. they're just too expensive...but it will be near a station if i have anything to say bout it.

I think we might have enuff chicago members to help shuttle, it's just a matter of getting ahold of them and seeing if they're willing to help.

View Poll Results: Which tour is preferred?
ORD Tower	9	31.03%
ORD TRACON	5	17.24%
Both	15	51.72%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll

January 11th, 2007, 14:57	#1
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Tower or TRACON Tour? what would everyone prefer to tour.. ORD Tower or ORD TRACON? We have someone that can set up the tour(s), it's just a matter of which one ya'll want to do or if you want to do both... since I've only been on the Tower tour out at LAS, I have no idea what a TRACON tour would consist of or if it'd be more interesting or what not...maybe both would be worthwhile this trip? ORD Tower would probably just be a train ride to ORD whereas with ORD TRACON, we'd probably need to rent a van or have a few of the ORD peeps drive the group out there and back to the subway as it's about 35 miles west of ORD airport. __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 11th, 2007, 19:38	#3
FlyChicaga Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,801	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? I think the tower would be more accessible, not to mention interesting... they have some characters up there. You can access the tower from the main terminal building, Terminal 2. This happens to be a short walk from the last Blue Line stop. There is always MDW too if ORD falls through. __________________ "Anyone can do the job when things are going right. In this business we play for keeps." Ernest K. Gann

January 11th, 2007, 21:37	#4
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,634	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? When we did a DFW TRACON tour, they threw in the tower for bonus. Might be able to get the same deal with ORD. __________________ "I'm The Doctor, by the way. Run for your life!"

January 11th, 2007, 23:33	#5
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? we can do both... it's just that the facilities are in two different locations. __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 12th, 2007, 01:13	#7
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? we could look into booking all 3... is there a difference between Chicago Approach and Chicago Center? __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 12th, 2007, 10:01	#8
avi8tor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago, ILL. Posts: 432	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? Chicago Approach (C90 Tracon; Elgin) handles all IFR traffic in an out of ORD and it's satellite airports, from the surface to 13,000 feet and out to a 40 mile radius of ORD. It is the control operation for the class B airspace surrounding ORD. Chicago Center (ZAU ARTCC; Aurora) handles all IFR traffic during enroute phases of flight, and feeds traffic into terminal areas.

January 12th, 2007, 10:38	#9
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? Avi8tor...let's go with ORD Tower and Chicago Approach... I think mixing those two together will make a lot more sense if we do one right after the other in a day. all i need to get set up is transportation from one to the other... whatcha think? __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 12th, 2007, 12:07	#10
avi8tor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago, ILL. Posts: 432	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? Sounds good. I'll start making the arrangements for both tours. I will need an approximate head count for both tours, and what days you want the tours to be held.

January 12th, 2007, 12:16	#11
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? let's look at Saturday morning for the Tower tour (it'll be slower for them) and maybe Saturday early to mid afternoon for TRACON? I don't know if we can schedule one right after the other.. we'd have to have a specific time set for travel and all that. that'll leave MOSI/Shedd for Friday afternoon (esp if MOSI is free) and Blues fest for Sat late afternoon/Sunday.... __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 12th, 2007, 12:39	#12
avi8tor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago, ILL. Posts: 432	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? Sounds good I will start making the arrangements.

January 12th, 2007, 12:39	#13
desertdog71 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KIDP/KCNU Posts: 3,006	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? We should just road trip to Milwaukee and go to "The Safehouse" __________________ 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.

January 12th, 2007, 13:50	#14
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? now that's a fun place!! __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 12th, 2007, 14:02	#15
H46Bubba Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: CVG Posts: 4,183	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? What's the Safehouse?

January 12th, 2007, 17:14	#18
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,089 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? if we told you, we'd have to kill you! the only way you can get there is by blindfold.. the only way your getting in is if you know the password. __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 12th, 2007, 18:12	#20
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,634	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? I'm a huge fan of public transportation. The green liberal in me likes it, plus it's cheap. If we can make it happen without renting cars, it makes it a lot easier for people to afford. __________________ "I'm The Doctor, by the way. Run for your life!"

January 12th, 2007, 20:01	#23
avi8tor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago, ILL. Posts: 432	Re: Tower or TRACON Tour? I have been looking into the train (Metra). The Milwaukee district west line runs out to elgin, and according to mapquest the station is about 4.5 miles from the tracon center. If the hotel is downtown you could jump on the train at Union Station and take it out to elgin. What I was thinking was if we have enough JC members from chicago we could shuttle the people from out of town in our vechicles to and from the elgin station and the tracon center. I believe Metra has a weekend pass for $5 and you can ride all weekend on that pass. How does this sound to everyone? For the tower tour if the hotel is downtown the people could take the CTA Blue line right into ORD and we could all meet up for the tower tour. Not to sure about the cost for the CTA. Over the next couple of days I will find out prices for the trains, and route maps. I think this is a pretty good option. I guess the question is do we have enough chicago people that would be willing to shuttle the people from out of town to and from the elgin train station to the tracon facitity?

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