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Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy
USMC, I suspect you are flying out of Miramar? Which if that is the case, you are in a congested airspace. When you have congested airspace, you have multiple controllers working multiple altitude blocks.
And you would usually be right........but I'm a Marine in a Navy squadron and flying out of NAS Lemoore - practically out in the middle of nowhere (except Fresno of course
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Additionally, I might be wrong on this, but I suspect the FA-18 isn't RNAV, RNP, RVSM or TCAS capable (at least in the eyes of ATC/FAA).
And you would be right - - though we are getting better. The Supers are already RVSM qual'ed and soon the Legacies will be they tell us. I usually just plan on flying at FL280 or below nowdays unless I need to go high for some reason. It sometimes means anohter gas stop across the country - but I just swoop into Forbes Field (Topeka, KS) for some incredible BBQ!
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Also, ATC also has to "baby" you guys ... no disrespect meant. They know you are typically young single pilots, flying fast, and have other things you are managing. There's a little handshake agreement between the military and ATC.
And we appreciate it - but in my case it is usually dealing with a student (or four) that occupies my time quite a bit. If I'm alone (not young), flying fast and managing others things I still *usually* manage to leeo myself out of trouble >G<
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If you are climbing at 6000 fpm, you very well could be setting off TCAS systems of aircraft well above you. I can tell you as a tanker guy with TCAS, the fighters routinely set off TCAS in climbs and descents.
Yep...this is a concern and something that we talk about and brief when flying in heavily congested areas; and another reason why we can't really use TCAS in the collision avoidance role as we discussed in the other thread.
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A visit to your local radar control facility definitely would be a good thing. There you can ask your questions and you may end up not only getting some good answers, but you may introduce a solution that is both conducive to your ops and ATCs.
When I first came to Lemoore a few years ago I stopped by the Departure Control and the Tower to talk to the controllers and ask some questions about some course rules that didn't quite make sense and they were more than welcoming and even commented that they would like to see more pilots come visit. I usually visit every new tower I can get too. It also makes me appreciate them and makes me relaize that even if I do get a little *hot* sometimes - that those guys are great and I don't think I could do their job.
USMCFLYR