Visiting the tower
 

Never done this...but am definitely interested in going up there. Do I just call the tower (landline) and ask to arrange a tour?

Thanks,
PCJ

I've been wanting to do the same thing and according to this book that I'm reading about avoiding common pilot errors (Written from a controller's perspective) it is absolutely encouraged for all pilots to take a tour of the ATC facilities and get a fell for how it works. The book says to give the facility a call, let them know who you are, who might be coming with you, what exactly you would like to see, when you would like to come by etc. and they should be happy to set something up for you.

Thanks Spartan. I'm really looking forward to it. I think it would help future students to help get over their initial fear of the radio when they meet the controllers and realize they are human as well.

Yeah definitely. In my eyes it could help almost anybody who has never been there. A little extra knowledge and experience never hurt anybody :D

Oh definitely...now I gotta think up of smart questions...haha. This could be hard.

haha I go up in the tower all the time :) i love it. good luck getting up in a bravo tower, but class D shouldn't be too hard. I go up all the time and just kinda hang out. but yeah there are 2 easy ways to do it, just call up the tower and let them know you wanna take a tour and blah blah blah, or sometimes I just give ground a shout on the radio and ask them.

Syracuse is a not so busy class charlie...but either way, should be fun. Just to get to meet the faces on the other side of the radio. Here's a stupid question, do they allow pictures up there? Or is there some FAA rule against this. Not a pictureholic (i dont take good pics)...just curious. Would be nice to remember.

thats not a stupid question. I dont even know, I'd imagine it would be ok tho? when you call em up just ask and then let us know :D

What's even cooler is if you can arrange to go up when your student is solo-ing in the pattern!

i usually just give them a call and go up there. i bring my students they seem to like it and learn a little bit.