Thanksgiving '07 - Part 6 of 8: KMCN-65J
This is the return flight from Macon, GA (KMCN) to Wrens, GA (65J).
KMCN is an interesting airport. First, the history of the place dates to World War II when it was used to train British pilots. Now it has two runways and five scheduled flights per day to Atlanta (via Delta/Atlantic Southeast). There are a few car rentals on the field (from major players) and a small passenger terminal (not counting the FBO, Lowe Aviation).
We rented a car when we flew in that morning and were told how to return the car after hours. As planned, we returned late that night to drop off the car and fly home. As we were walking to the main doors which we had been told would be open until midnight, a security officer asked us if we wanted in. (She was holding open a different door.) We said we did so we could return the car and she said she thought she'd seen us pull in as she was about to make her rounds in the back of the terminal. The passenger terminal was locked up tight and if she hadn't seen us, we would have improvised by dropping off the rental car keys with the person manning Lowe's desk (as they were still open for a little while longer). Take heed if you're flying into KMCN and renting a car on a weekend.
The tower was closed so I called up Atlanta Center for my clearance back to 65J ("as filed [direct], maintain 5000"). Yep, with overcast ceilings at 2300', we'd definitely be in the soup. At least the winds were light so I didn't have to worry about turbulence.
As I called on Unicom that I'd be taxiing, somebody came up and gave me the local weather. I wasn't expecting that, but it was nice to know somebody knew I was out there. I taxiied out to Rwy 5 and, after a short runup, pulled out for departure. Right on cue, we entered .bmp)
the clouds at 2300 feet.
The short flight to 65J was uneventful - at least for me. Here's a lesson for you folks...
65J is handled by Augusta Approach and lies a few miles outside the KAGS Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA). As you can see on the sectional, there is a 1465' high TV tower (for WCES-TV; you can actually see it on Google maps) a few miles NE of the airport. This is important because we were still very much in the clouds several miles SW of 65J when the Augusta controller gives me the usual spiel for outlier fields: no landing or runway information available, weather at KAGS is 040@7, etc. She also tells me that she can lower me to 2000' SW of the field, but if I get to the field and do not have a visual, she needs me to turn "immediately" due east to avoid the tower.
I understood the plan perfectly. In a couple miles, I'd be cleared to 2000' and be expected to call a visual on the field - which shouldn't be a problem considering every reporting airport in the area had 10 miles visibility.
However, my wife was listening to the exchange. And she's never heard ATC use the term "immediately". And I was still straight and level. She started worrying. But didn't tell me about her concern until we were in the car leaving the field.
Guys, this is how we get in trouble and don't even know it. See if this sounds familiar: "I'm sorry."
Anyway, the controller cleared me down as I expected and we popped out the bottom of the clouds at 2500' able to see clear to Augusta. In short order I found 65J (the GNS-430 really comes in handy), cancelled IFR and set up for a greaser of a landing on Rwy 11.
The video shows the taxi and takeoff at KMCN, entering the clouds at night (visible only in the beam of the landing light), exiting the clouds near 65J, and landing at 65J.