Realistic Commercial Flying with Flight Simulator
by John Rafferty
Chapter 18
Southbound Commuter: Everett to Seattle
It's a mild but typically gray and “squishy” winter day in Everett, Washington, and here at Snohomish County Airport—which is better known as Paine Field—conditions are strictly IFR. Right now you're standing by the window in the WashAir pilot's lounge, gazing out at the wet pavement and dark, gloomy sky as you ponder a move to Arizona.
Then you note the time, bring yourself back to the present, and turn to get a final update on the weather. It's hardly necessary, of course: There's little wind, but there's a solid ceiling at around 2000 feet throughout the area with occasional light rain—as usual.
You shrug it all off and head for the gate. You're a senior pilot with WashAir, a local commuter airline, and you're scheduled for the noon departure of WashAir 201, the southbound commuter to Seattle.
The stop at Seattle will be brief as you'll be departing again, almost at once, to continue on to Olympia. Shortly after arrival at Olympia, you'll turn around to return to Everett/Paine Field with the same equipment and crew, this time as northbound Flight 202, again stopping at Seattle on the way.
Preflight
The weather details are indelibly imprinted in your mind—conditions have scarcely changed for days. The front office takes care of your flight plan, the flight is too simple and familiar to require a log, and the clearance routing for this first leg to Seattle-Tacoma International is invariably just “Direct to the Seattle VOR.” In fact, you scarcely reach your cruising altitude before they start bringing you down again for the approach to the airport.
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Departure
At the WashAir Gate After Contacting Ground
WashAir Flight Two O One
Cleared to Seattle-Tacoma International
Direct Seattle
Maintain three thousand
Squawk three four three zero
You read back and indicate ready to taxi.
WashAir Two O One cleared to taxi
Your departure runway is 16
Proceed straight ahead and turn right onto Runway 29
Then hold on 29 at the first runway intersection.
On Runway 29, Holding at the Runway 3 Intersection
WashAir Two O One you're cleared across Runway 3
Then turn right onto the northbound taxi strip.
Approaching the Threshold of Runway 16
WashAir Two O One hold short of the runway
Contact Paine Tower on one twenty-one point three so long.
Switch.
WashAir Two O One Paine Tower
You're cleared for departure
Runway 16
Altimeter three zero point one zero
Wind one eight zero degrees at five
Visibility five miles
Temperature 53
Maintain runway heading.
At 1000 Feet
WashAir Two O One contact Seattle Center
On one twenty-three point niner good day.
Switch.
WashAir Two O One Seattle Center
Climb and maintain twenty-five hundred
Proceed direct to Parkk intersection
You set Nav 1 to Seattle, R-158, and intercept the radial, noting that Parkk is on that radial at 5.8 miles DME.
20 Miles DME from Seattle
WashAir Two O One Seattle Approach
On one twenty-three point niner so long.
Switch.
WashAir Two O One Seattle Approach
Descend and maintain eighteen hundred
Expect VOR approach to Runway 16 Left.
12 Miles DME from Seattle
WashAir Two O One contact Seattle Tower
On one one niner point niner good day.
Switch.
WashAir Two O One Seattle Tower
You're cleared for the VOR approach to Runway 16 Left
Altimeter three zero point one zero
Wind one seven zero degrees at six
Visibility seven miles
Temperature 53.
On the Runway
WashAir Two O One left next intersection and hold
Then ground on one twenty-one point seven bye now.
Switch.
Clear of the Runway and Holding
WashAir Two O One cleared to your gate
That's straight ahead and just to your left.
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