This is a matter of curiosity, but when I’m flying to a larger airport ATC always seems to clear me for the larger ILS runway. Not that I mind, but if I’m flying VFR in a Cessna 172 it seems strange I’d not get sent to a GA runway, especially if the wind direction was more favorable.
Define large airport? I would think that most International and busy Airports would not even let planes like the Cessna 172 land on there runways…too disruptive as they are too slow
The ATC only cues off from preferred runway (embedded in each airport’s BGL file entry) and prevailing wind.
So it will never pick a general aviation runway?
I’ve seen a few R/L situations already where it sent me to the larger runway.
It may if the GA runway is the preferred runway, or if it happens to be the only runway in alignment with prevailing wind.
I’ve had instances at Class I and II airports where the preferred runway is the runway (sometimes they’re parallel runways because of the volume they get) and the prevailing wind is disregarded.
What is a “GA runway”? And what defines GA? Look at San Francisco, Chicago Midway or Ohare, or Atlanta and notice there isn’t a GA runway. Of course, there are exceptions. Oakland is basically two airports combined into one. North Field is for GA while the long runway on the west side is for commercial jets. MSFS allows any VFR aircraft to enter Class B airspace and land at the Class B airport. IRL GA aircraft are not given authorization to enter Class B airspace unless there is an emergency. This is due to the higher speed of jets. With Live Traffic enabled at large airports the big jets fly right through me when I am put-putting down the final in my C152.
Not even remotely true.
New York JFK in a Bonanza Arrival - YouTube
Cessna 172 Flying Into Hartsfield Jackson (KATL) - YouTube
Flying a Cessna into Chicago O’Hare | ATC Audio - YouTube
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General Aviation, as opposed to scheduled.
KPBI, was given 10L over 10R.
KPIE, was given 18 instead of 18R (and why isn’t it 18L?)
I don’t think its a GA issue. A business jet for example can perfectly keep up with the flow of traffic but is also considered GA. I think what we are talking about here is more a VFR versus IFR issue. I have flown a small single engine piston into Frankfurt Main on an ILS approach during a training flight for example. VFR there is no space for such operation.
At Schiphol there is a separate (smaller) runway with instrument approach available on one side, not only VFR but also business jets are usually cleared for this runway, if possible wind wise. Sometime you’ll get cleared for approach on one of the other runways with a circle to land to this runway instead.
Every airport has their own way of separating IFR from VFR and slow from fast traffic, this sometimes means simply not allowing such flight to take place. I’m not familiar with FAA airports, in Europe Class B airspace can be entered by VFR traffic with a flight plan and clearance. However most CTRs are class C or D here.
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Thanks, that makes sense. I guess for VFR MSFS would just clear everything to the same runway. They are also kind enough to send the other traffic around for me.
Usually the general aviation FBOs seem to be located by the smaller runways too.
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