A Busy Afternoon at Canyonlands Field - Moab, Utah
In April 2012, I visited Canyonlands Field,
near Moab, Utah. It was a busy day at the airport, with takeoffs and
landings going on throughout the afternoon. Serving both general and commercial aviation
at the same field sets the Moab airport apart from most regional
airports. The juxtaposition of commercial and private takeoffs and
landings, all without tower support means that everyone involved needs
to stay alert and responsible for their actions.
In this video, I watch as the Great Lakes Airlines Beech 1900 departs Moab. Only minutes later, a private pilot lands his high performance TBM850
turboprop
on the same runway. As with any uncontrolled airfield, no one takes
off or lands until radio communications have confirmed the location of
any airplanes in the area. Although this video looks like a narrow
escape, it is more like an aerial ballet, choreographed by the pilots
themselves.Next time you are in Moab, Utah, be sure to dedicate a few hours to the action at Canyonlands Field. The best time is often on a Saturday afternoon. Between the skydivers coming down and the busy airfield, you will not regret your visit.
By James McGillis at 11:18 PM | | Comments (1) | Link
