Going to the Museum of Flight
Benefits for the Student
- Gains experience flying in complex airspace.
- Practices flying an "arrival" (appears challenging but is relatively straightforward).
- Learns to obtain ATIS, communicate with ATC, and operate at a towered airport in busy airspace.
- Navigates a large, busy airport on the ground while communicating with ground control.
Pre-Flight Preparation with Your Student
- Review the upcoming flight and encourage reading ahead.
- Practice contacting ATC and requesting flight following to the destination (use script below).
- Discuss obtaining ATIS.
- Review how to call the tower with ATIS (script provided below).
- Enter waypoints for the arrival into the student’s Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).
- Explain the power of jet engines and the importance of avoiding close proximity to jets on the ground.
- Discuss wake turbulence.
- Practice communicating with ground control and following taxi instructions (script below).
- Check NOTAMs (e.g., TFRs, traffic issues, or closed runways).
- Review the VFR chart, identify the airspace, and discuss applicable rules.
- Study the Boeing Field (BFI) airport chart to familiarize with the layout.
- Prepare for the next radio frequency.
- Explain "clearance delivery," which may be required to depart BFI (includes receiving a squawk code).
Note: This can be overwhelming for a newly minted pilot, but practicing these skills is essential for those aiming to become professional pilots or frequently operate at larger airports. Demonstrating communication and planning while explaining each step will be highly valuable, even if the student isn’t performing all tasks.
Communication Scripts
Requesting Flight Following
You: "Whidbey Approach, N_____, just off Skagit, request flight following all the way to Boeing Field."
Tip: If you don’t specify "all the way to Boeing Field," ATC may terminate flight following and instruct you to squawk 1200. If this happens, you can:
- Request a handoff at that time.
- Continue VFR to Boeing Field and follow the transition (call Boeing Tower at Green Lake).
Calling Boeing Tower
Step: Obtain ATIS first.
You: "Boeing Tower, N_____, Green Lake with Information _____."
Communicating with Ground Control
Reference: BFI Airport Chart (note that the Museum of Flight is marked on the chart).
After Landing:
- The tower will instruct you to exit the runway (e.g., "N_____ exit Bravo ___, Contact Ground point niner" [121.9]).
- If the exit is too early, roll to the next one. Move quickly, as the runway is busy.
- You: "Exit Bravo ___, contact ground."
- Stop after fully clearing the hold line, then contact ground control.
- You: "Boeing Ground, N_____, off Runway ____ at Bravo ____, taxi to Museum of Flight. Not familiar."
- (Add “not familiar” if needed, or use it if instructions are unclear; ATC will provide assistance.)
Parking: Park at the Museum of Flight. Call the number on the gate to exit the airport and visit the museum.
On Departure:
- Listen to ATIS before contacting ground or clearance delivery, and follow its instructions.
- You: "Boeing Ground [or Clearance Delivery], N_____, at Museum of Flight, with Information _____."
Possible Responses:
- Clearance Delivery: "N_____ squawk _____, North Departure, heading _____." (Includes departure instructions.)
- Ground Control: "N_____ squawk _____, taxi to Runway ____ via Bravo and Bravo ____ [or another letter]."
- (They may assign an intersection departure; this is acceptable, as the runway length is sufficient.)
Returning to Skagit
- Request flight following on the return to Skagit.
- For added experience, consider requesting the west departure to fly over Puget Sound. Explain:
- Staying below Class B airspace.
- Avoiding or obtaining clearance through Class D airspace around KPAE.