Rob Law
March 8th, 2004, 10:50 AM
ZOA,
Last night (3/7) was a great night to fly into SFO. I was on a United 757 from IAD to SFO, listening to the ATC feed all the way.
The ATC chatter was light until we reached Chicago Center and I heard UAL201 cleared direct Coaldale, Modesto2 arrival.
So we continued for about another 3 hours more on our merry way direct to OAL and as we were handed off to the first Oak Center, it got sporty. Our flight was due into sfo at about 7:30pm so we were in a good stream of traffic inbound to sfo all along the MOD2.
The first Oak Center was slowing everyone down to 250ias regardless of alt. It was pretty funny to hear pilots at fl310 and above say "Center, confirm you want us at 250 indicated??"
He then started stepping down everyone to FL240. As he handed us off to the next Center controller he had us all dir MOD.
The next center controller (a very good female controller) sent us all direct Modesto. She also had to vector a few inbounds south then back on course for sequencing. Then before she handed us to norcal she instructed us to cross CEDES @11k and gave us the sfo alt.
When we got to Norcal he told us to proced dir ARCHI and cross at 7k then continue along the FMS, expect the FMS 28R, he did not clear us. He then said report the bridge or the airport in sight. we said we had them both and he then cleared us for the FMS visual app 28R, maintian 2000 till the bridge.
Low and behold there were other a/c on the BSR2 that were given either the Quiet Bridge or the Tip Toe visual apps to either the left or the right side.
I can confirm what Inigo has said often times, when sfo has VFR conditions, everyone is given visual apps (Not that you needed confirmation buddy :D ). In fact I even heard app tell a heavy a/c do not overtake the 737 on approach for the other side.
When I was on my way home, as I went down 101 towards the San Mateo Bridge, I saw about 20 a/c still inbound for sfo, half on the MOD2 the rest on the BSR2. It was great!!!
Rob
Last night (3/7) was a great night to fly into SFO. I was on a United 757 from IAD to SFO, listening to the ATC feed all the way.
The ATC chatter was light until we reached Chicago Center and I heard UAL201 cleared direct Coaldale, Modesto2 arrival.
So we continued for about another 3 hours more on our merry way direct to OAL and as we were handed off to the first Oak Center, it got sporty. Our flight was due into sfo at about 7:30pm so we were in a good stream of traffic inbound to sfo all along the MOD2.
The first Oak Center was slowing everyone down to 250ias regardless of alt. It was pretty funny to hear pilots at fl310 and above say "Center, confirm you want us at 250 indicated??"
He then started stepping down everyone to FL240. As he handed us off to the next Center controller he had us all dir MOD.
The next center controller (a very good female controller) sent us all direct Modesto. She also had to vector a few inbounds south then back on course for sequencing. Then before she handed us to norcal she instructed us to cross CEDES @11k and gave us the sfo alt.
When we got to Norcal he told us to proced dir ARCHI and cross at 7k then continue along the FMS, expect the FMS 28R, he did not clear us. He then said report the bridge or the airport in sight. we said we had them both and he then cleared us for the FMS visual app 28R, maintian 2000 till the bridge.
Low and behold there were other a/c on the BSR2 that were given either the Quiet Bridge or the Tip Toe visual apps to either the left or the right side.
I can confirm what Inigo has said often times, when sfo has VFR conditions, everyone is given visual apps (Not that you needed confirmation buddy :D ). In fact I even heard app tell a heavy a/c do not overtake the 737 on approach for the other side.
When I was on my way home, as I went down 101 towards the San Mateo Bridge, I saw about 20 a/c still inbound for sfo, half on the MOD2 the rest on the BSR2. It was great!!!
Rob