I got to MHT at around 6PM. Check-in was quick and I made my way to the security screening. I realized when the TSA lady told me that I had packed my fingernail clippers which also had those small metal scissors in them that I couldn't take that on board. So, I said I'd just walk back down to the ticket desk and check the bag as luggage instead of carrying it on. As I made my way through the metal detector the second time, I remembered that I also had my Swiss Army knife in the bag that had the fingernail clippers. So, had I agreed to just give my fingernail clippers to the TSA and carry-on the bag, I would have boarded the plane with a set of knives which were not found by security!!! WOW they are inconsistent. Last December 18 on this same route, they let me take the fingernail clippers/scissors with me.
Anyway, I sat around at gate B1 for a while watching planes come and go. A FedEx MD-10 landed which have been at MHT for the last few weeks, probably because of increased cargo flights around the holidays.
We began boarding at 1945, and pushed back at 2004. We taxiied quickly to runway 35, held in position for about two minutes, and then were cleared for takeoff. A left turn direct to BRADLEY followed and we climbed to FL350. It was neat to see the area where I have done all my flight training go by in only about 20 minutes. We passed New York City above an overcast layer but the lights of the city were shining through it which was real cool to see. It was clear south of NYC, however, and I could basically pick out my neighborhood 25 miles northeast of Philadelphia. Atlantic City was above PHL and I could see the planes going into EWR on the DYLIN 2 arrival that are now passing over my house as I write this. Descending into BWI the skies were clear and temperature 28F. We got vectored around a bit and then flew a visual approach to runway 28. After landing we made the 60 second taxi to gate B14. I stopped in the cockpit on the way out to chat with the crew. Since I told them I'm an aspiring airline pilot working on my instrument rating at the moment, they happily gave me some of the paperwork that they would have thrown out anyway. The flight release and weather packet's interesting to look at, I think.
Once again, I'm very impresse with the effecient and friendly service from Southwest Airlines. This is the second time I've flown them, and they appear to have their act together in all aspects of the operation. And who can beat the airfare of $31!!! I look forward to flying on them again this July from BWI to BNA. Or perhaps they will announce service from PHL to there by then!?
ScottysAir From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (9 years 5 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2779 times:
Very nice trip report, Nick and next time that you should need to remove from your carry-on items and putting into the checked bag and because in the event of the new security measures. This is very important to think need do something for your travel on their flight.
Goboeing From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 2629 posts, RR: 12 Reply 3, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2512 times:
Yeah, I must agree with scotty.. the new security measures are very, very strict.
Yes, I know, but despite the "strict" security, the TSA left me with the option of boarding the aircraft with a knife. That's not securing the aircraft very well.
Captain_777 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 295 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2440 times:
Goboeing From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 2629 posts, RR: 12 Reply 5, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2413 times:
Captain_777 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 295 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2400 times:
Not lately, I'm not sure where I should spot from. Any recommendations?
Goboeing From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 2629 posts, RR: 12 Reply 7, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2365 times:
Go to the end of runway 35 and turn onto the street that leads up a grass hill. The first road on the left leads to some buildings, the first one on the left is a pet cemetery. Park in their lot and walk to the circular paved turnaround thing near the FAA fenced in shack. From there, you can see straight down the entire runway and the planes go low overhead. At night, this is really awesome too because of all the approach lights.
Runway 17 has an observation area but there's a fence you must look through. Fortunately this runway isn't used a lot because the view isn't very good.
Runway 6 is good, it's right at the airport entrance. Park in the fitness center parking lot on the right, cross the 4 lane airport road and walk up the hill to the fence. They go REALLY low over this spot. Like, 30 feet.
Runway 24 is the best, I think. It's around the other side of the airport, and you can park at some fast food place on the right hand side if you're going clockwise around from runway 6. It's on the right. You can see a lot from there, and also walk past the threshold around to the other side. Planes holding short of 24 for takeoff on the taxiway are only about 30 feet in front of you, and you can watch takeoffs and landings down the entire length of the runway.
Overall, I think MHT is a good place to watch planes.
Captain_777 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 295 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2349 times:
Goboeing From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 2629 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 2339 times:
We've only had a police officer talk to us once, at the runway 35 pet cemetery location. There we were, eight pilots, standing there watching the planes land and the guy wanted us to leave immediately. "You guys understand, anyone could stand here with a missile and aim at these planes." Okay...so we're the ones who'd probably be able to help them out. They just don't get it. But that was the only encounter with the "authorities" at MHT.
Captain_777 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 295 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2333 times:
Tha'ts sucks. But atleast it is the only encounter. Do you go on a regular basis? Maybe sometime we could meet up?
Goboeing From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 2629 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2310 times:
We go maybe once a month. We being myself an my roomates who are all pilots. Contact via my profile and I'll see if I can tell you when we're going up next. Usually it's spur of the moment though.
Catholic2006 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 357 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2213 times:
That sounded like an awesome flight. You really got to see all that stuff??? Awesome!!!
-Chris
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