Control Tower Tour

[myflightblog]

Has anyone had an opportunity to take a Control Tower Tour? I was watching the "Learning to Fly" series on Discovery Wings and the student and CFI take a tour of the Control Tower.

The CFI recommends it as a good way to understand how operations work in a controlled environment.

I just wonder how easy it would be to set up a tour of a Control Tower. I would imagine the FAA would not be so open as to parade people through the tower. Am I wrong?

Anyone know how one could go about setting up a tour?

[n880dt]

Is it just me or is that student pilot Kyle annoying? She ALWAYS says "i cant do it" or something like that. Great program though, but she gets annoying.

[myflightblog]

Originally posted by n880dt
Is it just me or is that student pilot Kyle annoying? She ALWAYS says "i cant do it" or something like that. Great program though, but she gets annoying.

I totally agree. She is always flipping out either almost crying or screaming with joy. But, the content of the show is pretty good.

[smoothflyin88]

I went on one, the guys up there were great, showed me how the light gun workds and all of the flight strips and stuff....just get the tower number from your FBO and give them a call.

[dmspilot]

Originally posted by myflightblog
Has anyone had an opportunity to take a Control Tower Tour? I was watching the "Learning to Fly" series on Discovery Wings and the student and CFI take a tour of the Control Tower.

The CFI recommends it as a good way to understand how operations work in a controlled environment.

I just wonder how easy it would be to set up a tour of a Control Tower. I would imagine the FAA would not be so open as to parade people through the tower. Am I wrong?

Well, I do not know how it works after September 11. But, in Fall 2000 I was at a Class D airport in the area, complete with airline service and a TSRA. (Basically like a Class C airport but without the extra regulations.)

Anyway, the Tower was on top of the terminal, and I went to an information booth not far away from the door leading to the tower and asked if I could get a quick tour. The person said I would have to call the tower and she gave me the phone number.

So I did, explained I was a pilot, etc., and they let me up. We stopped in the radar room first, which was a floor below the tower cab. It wasn't very busy at all, and I recall only a few aircraft being on radar. They talked to me for about 5-10 minutes, and showed me the 'machine' that they process flight plans with (I'm not sure if you could call it a computer or not!). Then I spent probably about 20 minutes in the tower cab, just watching and talking to the only tower controller on duty. I think 3 planes landed while I was there, so I guess I was lucky I was there when it wasn't busy.

Like I said, I'm not sure how it works now, but I am sure you can probably still do it.

[Jackal278]

Most the time it's no problem at all. I've gotten to know one of the controllers at LZU and he's a really cool guy. He and the other controllers encourage students to come up so they'll be less intimidated. Just as they said on the show.

Actually the time I went up in the tower me and my PP instructor video taped an interview with Dave, the controller, for a class at GSU. It's a pretty cool video, I gave Dave a copy and he got a kick out of it.

Just give 'em a call and I'm sure they won't mind.

[myflightblog]

Thanks for the input. I looked up the number for my control tower and will give them a call to see if I can come down to take a tour this weekend.

[jaunt10]

When i first reported on base last year i got to take a tour of our control tower. It was interesting to see how it worked on the other side of the coin. They told me that i was welcome up there anytime. Now at Corpus International its a different story. No one is allowed up there, pilot or not, AND i personally know one of the controllers. i guess its different all over the place.

[goldslinger]

I toured ours; was very interesting and knew it would help me

[Snowpilot]

When I was a kid, my Dad took me on a tour of the tower at Meacham field in Fort Worth. We got to see a Confederate Air Force P-51 take a quick maintenance flight while there. COOL! At Centennial in Denver, they won't let you tour the tower, heck you can't even visit the flight service station. Talk about paranoid. Gder was able to get a tour of Denver TRACON recently, though. Where are you Gder? You haven't paid us a visit in a while.

[CraigH]

I tried to arrange for a tower tour at KADM for one of our studentpilot.com fly-ins. Was told by the tower that due to new security procedures tours were no longer offered. Hopefully this was airport specific.

[JimJenson]

Best thing a student pilot can get from a tower tour is an understanding that the controllers are ordinary people, not pitbulls waiting to pounce on a student that makes a mistake. Helps a lot of students overcome the fear of talking.

Very highly recommended if you get the chance.

[JimJenson]

Originally posted by myflightblog

Anyone know how one could go about setting up a tour?

Call them and ask if it can be arranged.

[ForEcon]

A friend of mine is a controller at KLAS. I was able to visit TRACAN and the tower with him about a month ago. It was very very educational and tons of fun. He said that anytime I want to go back to just let him know and he'll arrange it.

[myflightblog]

I just contacted the control tower at Luken (KLUK) in Cincinnati where I train. The gentelman I spoke to was really friendly and mentioned they just recently began offering tours again.

So on Wednesday I am of to tour the tower. I will post some photos (If I am allowed) and details of my tour on my website sometime Wednesday night - www.myflightblog.com.

Thanks for everyones help. And if you have never taken a tour of the control tower follow the advice hear and call them up!