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090807 Landing KBUF

Flight track: KJYO-KBUFHere is my first landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (KBUF) in Buffalo, NY. Due to unavoidable delays in departing Leesburg, we arrived at KBUF after dark. This made identifying the airport a bit more challenging (especially on my first time there), but I eventually found it and was cleared to land runway 32.

While en route to the field, the approach controller asked me keep my speed up for following traffic. No problem. I've been to large fields before and this is to be expected. What I didn't expect was the tower controller giving me instructions while I'm crossing the numbers on short final ("no delay to the intersection"). Needless to say, I had kept the speed up, landed fast, and was now asked again to stay fast. As I'm rolling out on 32, however, the tower asks if I can hold short (of runway 23).

I should have said "unable". I didn't. I tried to comply. The Southwest jet on final was asked to go around while I was encouraged to move across the intersection.

All's well that ends well, I guess, but there are some lessons to be learned here including:

  1. Alert controllers early if you're unfamiliar with the airport.
  2. Decline LAHSO (land and hold short) if you're unfamiliar with the airport - and certainly if this first landing happens to be at night.

I'm sure there are lessons for controllers in this, too. For instance:

  1. Don't bother landing traffic on short final when pilot workload is high.
  2. Don't ask traffic to keep up their speed then turn around and ask them to hold short.

Published Friday, August 07, 2009 9:54 PM by jtabor
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Attachment(s): http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/files/3/4939/090807 Landing KBUF.512.mp4

Comments

# re: 090807 Landing KBUF

I'm glad you posted this; I imagine it was not easy to do. It's hard to tell, but it looks like you were stopped before the runway (judging from the lights) when Southwest called "he's not holding short." But then again, maybe you were over the HS line? Did you call the tower afterward? The "no delay" followed by "hold short" was really not fair. And LAHSO at night is already a suspect call by the tower, IMHO.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 7:42 PM by Brian

# re: 090807 Landing KBUF

Thanks. I debated posting it, but decided the educational value was worth it.

I distinctly remember watching for the hold line on the pavement - or even a taxiway line - but never did see one. That's why I said "stopping here" figuring the controller would say something if it wasn't where he wanted me.

No, I didn't call the tower about it. I considered it, but figured he would be doing similar mental reviews of his own.  

Regardless, I will not be accepting another LAHSO when landing at an unfamiliar field at night.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:18 PM by jtabor
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