slowmover
FRIEND
Little Rock, AR
I flew C-130s for 20 years on active duty before retiring three years ago. Four of those years were in Alaska, based at Elmendorf. I did a lot of low level flying in those years, day and night. We typically operated as low as 300 AGL and as fast as 250 knots in support of legitimate training requirements that culminated in an airdrop somewhere or a landing at some airfield. Those drop zones are sometimes in a restricted area, or if not they are sometimes depicted on the sectional. At night, we flew higher and used NVGs which meant that any civilian traffic stood out clearly. Night is probably not where the problem is.
I can only speak for the units I flew in, but we diligently tried to avoid civilian airfields, high-traffic areas, etc. We also tried to make position reports on published CTAF frequencies when we could figure out which frequency is in use. Most military pilots are not active GA pilots and not familiar with "localisms" like might exist in certain high-traffic GA areas like the Knik river valley. We never did impromptu low-level flying. Our routes were always planned and briefed in detail. No "cowboy ops." Also, every C-130 I ever flew had TCAS, and we always used it. If you have a transponder, turn it on. Since I've been out three years, I have no idea how they're doing with ADS-B.
We were also responsive to complaints. Every base I flew from had a safety office, and every safety office had a MACA program (mid-air collision avoidance, in the jargon of the Air Force). Often, the MACA guy would look for opportunities to meet local pilots but just didn't know where to start. If you have a complaint or just want to express your opinion, then by all means call the Wing Safety Office and ask to speak to the MACA guy. That's sort of the "soft" approach. If you're really upset, ask to file a noise complaint or a Hazardous Air Traffic Report. I suppose the FSDO (maybe via the FAAST Team?) could help you get in contact with the right folks on the base if you have no luck with the safety office or can't get through to the flying squadron.
Finally, when I'm out in the Cessna these days I come across plenty of non-military pilots who aren't using CTAF or are using grossly improper procedures. Last time I flew, a Carbon Cub flew a full pattern, landed on the grass next to the runway and then crossed right in front of me with no radio calls despite me being on the freq with them for the past five minutes. Thankfully I saw the ADS-B reply before I entered the pattern so I was looking. But my point is that we need to police ourselves too, in addition to opening the communication with our local military aviators and other airspace users.
I can only speak for the units I flew in, but we diligently tried to avoid civilian airfields, high-traffic areas, etc. We also tried to make position reports on published CTAF frequencies when we could figure out which frequency is in use. Most military pilots are not active GA pilots and not familiar with "localisms" like might exist in certain high-traffic GA areas like the Knik river valley. We never did impromptu low-level flying. Our routes were always planned and briefed in detail. No "cowboy ops." Also, every C-130 I ever flew had TCAS, and we always used it. If you have a transponder, turn it on. Since I've been out three years, I have no idea how they're doing with ADS-B.
We were also responsive to complaints. Every base I flew from had a safety office, and every safety office had a MACA program (mid-air collision avoidance, in the jargon of the Air Force). Often, the MACA guy would look for opportunities to meet local pilots but just didn't know where to start. If you have a complaint or just want to express your opinion, then by all means call the Wing Safety Office and ask to speak to the MACA guy. That's sort of the "soft" approach. If you're really upset, ask to file a noise complaint or a Hazardous Air Traffic Report. I suppose the FSDO (maybe via the FAAST Team?) could help you get in contact with the right folks on the base if you have no luck with the safety office or can't get through to the flying squadron.
Finally, when I'm out in the Cessna these days I come across plenty of non-military pilots who aren't using CTAF or are using grossly improper procedures. Last time I flew, a Carbon Cub flew a full pattern, landed on the grass next to the runway and then crossed right in front of me with no radio calls despite me being on the freq with them for the past five minutes. Thankfully I saw the ADS-B reply before I entered the pattern so I was looking. But my point is that we need to police ourselves too, in addition to opening the communication with our local military aviators and other airspace users.
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