Third Times a charm

[Basil]

My oldest son flys commercially and the other night he had to do something he's never had to do outside of a simulator and that was to do, not one but two, go-arounds do to lack of visibility. They were flying (I think into Richmond) a couple nights ago in minimums. Visibility was such that, at a certain point if they didn't have the runway in sight they must initiate a go-around. They had to do that twice. On the third attempt they made a successful landing. Had the third attempt been unsuccessful they were going to divert to another airport. I always worry when he flys in cruddy weather and was just glad he made it ok.

 

[Gliderman8]

Glad to hear it all worked out. Training pays off!

 

[Basil]

Glad to hear it all worked out. Training pays off!

Yes it does! He did say that, even though he'd done this many times in sims, doing it in real life was a bit stressful.

 

[TR3driver]

Hmm, I thought all international airports were required to have ILS. What I didn't know is that there are different levels of ILS, only the top level allows landing in zero visibility. Richmond apparently only has the next-to-top level, which requires 50 feet.

That must've been a real sphincter clencher!

 

[Basil]

That must've been a real sphincter clencher!

Training training training.

 

[DNK]

He fly for 1 of the commuter airlines?

 

[Basil]

He fly for 1 of the commuter airlines?

It's a regional airline that contracts with other major carriers.

 

[DNK]

That's what I figured by your description of events

 

[John Turney]

Glad it worked out. But I have to tell you that you Air Force guys have it easy - at least the runway isn't moving.

 

[Basil]

Glad it worked out. But I have to tell you that you Air Force guys have it easy - at least the runway isn't moving.

Yeah, I hear ya. My Uncle Bill was a Naval Aviator back in the day.