Visiting the Airport Control Tower?
Jul 14, 2014, 5:36 pm
#16
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I've been to an en route facility, a TRACON, an airport tower at a major hub and the FAA command center. At all of those places, I know someone, but my field of work has me doing air traffic research anyways, so visiting these places is also part of my job 
Jul 14, 2014, 6:01 pm
#17
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I've been in a few airline ops towers over the years but not an FAA facility. I've got a friend who has offered me access but haven't been able to make the timing work quite yet on that one.
Off the top of my head I've been in EWR/CO, ATL/DL and JFK/AA. All were part of group events organized by the airline hosting us. This was just a couple weeks ago at the ATL/DL one: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater.
Off the top of my head I've been in EWR/CO, ATL/DL and JFK/AA. All were part of group events organized by the airline hosting us. This was just a couple weeks ago at the ATL/DL one: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater.
Jul 14, 2014, 6:25 pm
#18
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I recall twenty years ago that I was able to visit several towers simply by calling and noting I was a private pilot and wanted to make a brief visit. Invariably the answer was yes, and I showed my PPL and that was that.
A few months ago I tried that - wanting to give a grandchild the experience. I was told that it was no longer possible, that I would need to submit a request in writing 60 days in advance and undergo a security check.
Sigh.
A few months ago I tried that - wanting to give a grandchild the experience. I was told that it was no longer possible, that I would need to submit a request in writing 60 days in advance and undergo a security check.
Sigh.
Jul 15, 2014, 6:32 am
#19
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The tower visit was interesting, even though nothing much was going on: it was a clear day with normal operations, and SAN has only one runway (it's the world's busiest single-runway airport), so most of the controllers were sitting around.
Jul 15, 2014, 1:55 pm
#20
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You can get married in the tower at Arlanda (Stockholm).http://www.swedavia.com/arlanda/at-t...vice/weddings/
Jul 15, 2014, 2:03 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2010
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As others have said unless you know someone good luck. When I was around 8 years old my dad knew someone who worked in the local tower and had the magic key to make the elevator go up there. It was pretty cool seeing the airport from up there and even cooler when they let me flip the switch to turn on the runway lights for an incoming plane. We got to spend a good hour or more up there. I can't remember if they didn't allow camera up there or we didn't think to bring one with us but it'd have been cool to have pics of our visit.
Jul 15, 2014, 2:13 pm
#22
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For what it's worth, while towers tend to have the best views, the activity tends to be far more interesting at TRACONs. I've been to to all of the major facilities that service SFO (SFO tower, NorCal TRACON, and Oakland ARTCC) and SFO tower was downright sleepy compared to the magic that the SFO final approach controller pulls off in NorCal.
Jul 23, 2014, 11:02 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2014
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That might have been the San Diego Do in July 2001, organized by SanDiego1K and Captain Mike. I don't recall the citizenship issue, since it wouldn't have affected me directly and 13 years have gone by, but it sounds plausible.
The tower visit was interesting, even though nothing much was going on: it was a clear day with normal operations, and SAN has only one runway (it's the world's busiest single-runway airport), so most of the controllers were sitting around.
The tower visit was interesting, even though nothing much was going on: it was a clear day with normal operations, and SAN has only one runway (it's the world's busiest single-runway airport), so most of the controllers were sitting around.
Seeing the SFO controllers shoot the hole is pretty interesting though. =)
Last edited by VPsych; Jul 23, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Jul 24, 2014, 7:18 am
#26
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Proof of U.S. Citizenship is asked for since ATCT facilities are Federal facilities with "restricted" access. Federal facilities that are not usually open to the public typically require proof of citizenship as an easy way to do a basic check. Although in most cases a passport will suffice for any non-US citizen...
Jul 24, 2014, 1:19 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2014
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I'm afraid I don't know the exact answer since I only noticed the U.S. Citizenship visitor requirement after I worked for a Federal agency (post-9/11). If I recall correctly, the documentation I read for adding guests to the visitor list dated back to 2001. I wouldn't be surprised if that was a requirement added post-9/11.
Jul 25, 2014, 3:34 am
#30
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Just went up a week ago into the SFO tower. Found a phone number for the facility, called, and said I was a private pilot in the area. They were happy to show me around. Got to see an Air China flight get lost Will be touring ZLA (Los Angeles Center) in a few days, if all goes well.
Will be touring ZLA (Los Angeles Center) in a few days, if all goes well.