BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 12 Jun 2020, 16:42

Lined up for RWY27R with 4 on hold

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Jun 2020, 15:42

I fly KLOM to kmqi (dare county) often (5x the last three months, and even during quarantine to pick up my parents.

This last flight was the first time I opted to go vfr the whole way back from the outerbanks in probably 50 flights. I figured I could transition through the bravo without worrying about going to MXE first. Nope! Wouldn’t give it to me and they dropped me from flight following because they were too busy on the handoff.

I do think it’s definitely picking up traffic wise on the east coast.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Jun 2020, 16:29

Out yesterday. Reading approach tells me Philly not taking any VFR traffic. No help with the TFR. I'm actually glad to see it picking up. I can find my way without their help...

--paul

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Jun 2020, 12:15

I guess the other part of the equation is staffing level. A single controller might be working a bunch of consolidated sectors that would typically be split for a given amount of traffic - if that controller is saturated good luck getting FF.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Jun 2020, 16:00

I had no problem this past Friday getting FF out of LOM westbound from Philly. Guess traffic is increasing.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Jun 2020, 16:04

I still think traffic levels are down (but increasing) but the controllers staffing is way down.

Friday evening I called Reading Approach and there was no answer. I guess they were off the air. That never happens.

There is actually a lot of VFR traffic flying around. Pilots don’t have anything else to do.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Jun 2020, 11:43

Username Protected wrote:

I fly KLOM to kmqi (dare county) often (5x the last three months, and even during quarantine to pick up my parents.

This last flight was the first time I opted to go vfr the whole way back from the outerbanks in probably 50 flights. I figured I could transition through the bravo without worrying about going to MXE first. Nope! Wouldn’t give it to me and they dropped me from flight following because they were too busy on the handoff.

I do think it’s definitely picking up traffic wise on the east coast.

Last I heard Dare Co was closed. :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Jun 2020, 12:59

Username Protected wrote:

I fly KLOM to kmqi (dare county) often (5x the last three months, and even during quarantine to pick up my parents.

This last flight was the first time I opted to go vfr the whole way back from the outerbanks in probably 50 flights. I figured I could transition through the bravo without worrying about going to MXE first. Nope! Wouldn’t give it to me and they dropped me from flight following because they were too busy on the handoff.

I do think it’s definitely picking up traffic wise on the east coast.

Last I heard Dare Co was closed. :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Jun 2020, 13:50

Username Protected wrote:

I guess the other part of the equation is staffing level. A single controller might be working a bunch of consolidated sectors that would typically be split for a given amount of traffic - if that controller is saturated good luck getting FF.

Precisely. I did a flight the day of lockdown and Philly didn't even answer me. When I landed full of dogs to KVAY, they had closed the building and I had to pay for gas through the window.

I normally fly through TFR's however this last one I made the rescue come to Trenton-Robbinsville, just outside, as I feared not getting cleared to HPN through the NY airspace because of staffing issues.

Air traffic will pick up and the commercial guys will get their preference before staffing comes back to normal, so you need to be extra careful in your planning to take that into consideration.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Jun 2020, 20:34

Username Protected wrote:

I fly KLOM to kmqi (dare county) often (5x the last three months, and even during quarantine to pick up my parents.

This last flight was the first time I opted to go vfr the whole way back from the outerbanks in probably 50 flights. I figured I could transition through the bravo without worrying about going to MXE first. Nope! Wouldn’t give it to me and they dropped me from flight following because they were too busy on the handoff.

I do think it’s definitely picking up traffic wise on the east coast.

Last I heard Dare Co was closed. :shrug: