Another Wrong Airport

easy to do when not familiar with surroundings... center announces airport VFR 10 miles etc... the largest airport pops into sight first, which is where one instinctively goes to when searching

radio silence should be first clue ...no coms with tower, aircraft on ground should be another clue... usually the tower says they don't have your aircraft in sight, then the conversation begins that the wrong airport is in sight also check ILS is correct for landing runway

 

Rapid City and Ellsworth do look a lot alike-- they are pretty close together and the runways have the same alignment. I am always extra cautious when going in there about this.

Good procedure should prevent it, especially with a two pilot crew, but it's human nature to get lazy.

 

They're both single runways with very close alignment...

 

Flying a passenger as much as I do it all looks similar. However from what ive seen the technology should take care of this.

Ill just keep flying the way i do with a jack/coke and beautiful views.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Seems silly they had to wait 2.5 hours to leave.

 

I've been into RAP a few times in the jet at night, once in heavy weather. The runways look almost identical and landing south you practically fly over the AF base. I think there is only a VOR and an RNAV for that airport if I recall. Needless to say, you better be paying attention and brief the threat...

I'm assuming this was after tower operational hours and Ellsworth runs approach. They don't really pay that much attention, plus the airports are so close I imagine you could not catch it before it's too late.

 

We had a crew divert to Dover AFB years ago for fuel. I think they were stuck on the tarmack for something like 8 hours and then bused out. All kinds of issues including getting approval to upload JP-8 (mil-spec fuel) and how to pay for it. It was a huge mess followed by a million company memos, bulletins, and training modules.

 

All during the war there were incidents of heavies landing at Drew Field and talking to the tower at MacDill and wondering why they didn't see them. Same runway alignment but 5 miles apart. I was processed out at Drew and on the way out I saw a B-29 coming in with number two on fire...but then that wasn't anything unusual. Almost the same alignment but further down the pike.

 

You know, I've landed at RAP quite a bit-- probably 10-15 times, and I don't think I've ever landed to the south there.

It's a very convenient fuel stop.

 

Id assume they may have needed some fuel. They might have been investigated by the FAA for entering restricted airspace. Most military bases in the U.S. are restricted. Back when my Dad first purchased his Saratoga. He hired a pilot in command to get insurance until he had enough hours in type. They flew down the west coast from Vancouver to Lake Tahoe. They flew over Everett Naval Station. ATC made them land at Everett and call the FAA. That was back in the 1980's, post 9/11 they are even crazier now. My Dad made the pilot call. He was questioned for about half an hour on why he flew into restricted space and given a warning.

 

Happens at Luke AFB about once a week. Some poor soul flying his C-172 flies an approach to one of the Luke Field runways thinking he's going into Glendale Muni for a burger. As far as I know, not much becomes of it.

 

In the dead centre of Australia is a dragstrip and light plane runway in just about the same orientation and length and only 1mi apart..

Go figure who thought THAT one out! .. I mean.. there IS plenty of room out there..
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

They had to wait for 2.5 hours for new pilots to fly them over to RAP? I wonder if they were grounded.

 

I'm assuming just from what I know happened when my Dad and his "pilot" flew over restricted airspace and assume its like landing on a restricted field. They got grounded until the FAA investigated their transgression. I'm sure if they had been American it would have been more then a slap on the wrist. Don't do it again.

 

"A Town Like Alice"... TV series. Neville Shute

 

I'm surprised it was that quick. I wonder if they bussed the passengers?