Chico, KCIC, Class D

I’m sure the teacher will understand the phenomenon about the expectations we create based on our experiences. Flying in the Bay area with several class D airports like SQL, PAO, LVK, and RHV I have been accustomed to expect certain things. Among these things are that these airports have weather information broadcast aka ATIS and they provide sequencing, separation and traffic advisories with common requests such as requesting aircraft to IDENT, calling traffic at 2 o’clock, 1 mile two thousand five hundred feet opposite direction, etc.

These expectations don’t apply at all class D airports. In particular, I had a chance to fly into Chico airport, KCIC. Chico is a class D airport with parallel runways, one of which is 6724 feet long and 150 feet wide. It has several instrument approaches, instrument approach lighting and commercial airline service via United Express. On many accounts it is a major airport.

However there are number of differences at this class D airport compared to the ones I fly out of routinely (SQL, PAO). The first is when you tune in their WX, 119.675, you get their AWOS and no identifier such as Tango. It provides wind, ceiling, altimeter etc. The second difference is that they don’t have access to radar. So when you call in to report you let them know you have the numbers/one mimuter weather and your position. If you report you are 10 miles south of the airport, they take your word for it and provide a pattern entry based on your report. Unlike SQL or PAO they can’t "see" you until literally they physically see you. To confirm your actual location instead of the tower asking you to IDENT, you might hear a request to rock your wings. I can only imagine the controller in the tower with his binoculars looking out the window confirming that the plane they see is really the one they are talking to.

Although I am sure during my flight training I had experienced some of these differences before, I probably was not in a position to absorb those differences. As one CFI said, there is nothing much better for a learning experience than going out on a trip to someplace new.