[ QUOTE ]
Having flown into both LAX, and SAN the way the landing fee works for small aircraft is all you are required to pay is a ramp fee. This is the fee the FBO charges you for parking, and has nothing to do with the airport. I am sure you are thinking well I am not planning on parking - but read on.
Most people think if you are flying into LAX, SAN, etc you have to do it at 2 o'clock in the morning, fly your approach at 140+ kts, and touch and goes are the way to go. First time I flew into LAX, it was during the 5 o'clock rush hour (I was VFR btw), I had to hold for a few minutes, and then got vectored in behind a turbo prop, being followed by a 767. I just flew a normal approach, and we were all fine. Now the reason you can not just ask for a taxi back, and have to go to parking, if the controller is busy, they do not mind you go there if you have a reason - but just to play or to get LAX in the log book, expect either a phone number, or the airport authority to stop you before you depart, and chew you out.
My advice on flying small aircraft into large airports is 2 fold - first of all fly your plane like you have been taught, do not fly an approach at over 100 knots (unless asked), ATC is not expecting it, and has spaced you accordingly.
I was departing out of LAX one evening with Ed once, and we did a rolling run up, and were planning to test the mags as we held short of the runway. As we got to the hold short bars, we were cleared for take off. We took the active (the runway they were using for landing) and as he throttled up he checked the mags, and yes one was dirty. So here we are on the runway at LAX, cleared to take off but we had a bad mag. Ed taxied the plane clear of the active, and advised tower that we had a technical problem, and we would be clear the runway and troublshoot on the taxiway. Many GA pilots feel threatened by controllers, especially ones at large airports, but he is there to help you. Ours offered services, we advised there was no need. Once we had cleaned it off, we got clearance and departed. We did have a police car monitor us as we sorted out our problem, but in a post 9/11 that was hardly surprising. Looking back I think many people would have felt pressured to depart, but at the end of the day, we had a problem, that we needed to take care of before we departed. We were lucky, where we were it was quiet, there was no aircraft behind us so we could just exit where we entered. We could have easily been blocked in a bit more if there was more movement on the cargo ramp. If we had been blocked in, we would have had to taxi to the next exit, which could have caused an airliner to go around. Now I am sure A300Capt, DE727UPS, Doug, et al would rather small airplanes stay at small airports, and leave the large airports for big planes, but I am as confident that if you were there, and were on the active with a problem they would much rather go around then you feel pressured, or worry about the $10K it is going to cost their company, and take off with an unsafe aircraft.
My other advise is to always take 2 pilots. All the airlines have 2, and it is just easier to share the workload; having someone turn in frequencies, get out the taxi chart, look for traffic, etc is very helpful.
Your airplane flies no different going into LAX then it does going to FUL - so do not fly it different. Just remember that everyone flying into LAX is a professional, so if you are going in there you have to adhere to there professional standards.
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow, thanks for the insight and perspective! Definitely more things to be considered than a few $$$.
