The RUNWAY is NARROWER than my PLANE: Harris Ranch

[@gordonfeliciano4315]

Brings back more memories of when I was stationed at NAS Moffett - KNUQ back in the 80's and 90's. My wife and I loved flying down there for their steaks.

[@skybound.adventures]

I‘m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@CascadiaAviation]

The Google earth view is sick, good idea. Great editing

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks! I hope it makes a few explanations easier to understand.

[@jeffersonstatecrash]

Nice video. You had traffic that called in sight, but in an area like that I’d be concerned about NORDO traffic. The most important thing you can do is to be predictable. Just back taxi and depart 32. I’ve never been to Harris ranch, I’ll make a point of stopping in, and thanks for the tip about the discount!

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks for your input!

[@alanparker7012]

I’ve landed there many times . Even back in the 70’s when it was a dirt strip. Personally I would have taxied to the hold area of 32, waited for traffic to land, and then departed north to my destination if heading to Reid Hill View.

[@skybound.adventures]

Oh that’s an interesting thought. I was under the impression that the area at the end of the runway there is part of the runway und just so you can turn around. I’ll check that out next time.

[@matthewmiles3974]

Great video and the steaks look awesome! Had I been in the same situation as your departure, I would have made a climbing right turn over mid-field to get above the TPA in order to avoid the in-bound traffic for Rwy 32. The better answer in hindsight would have been probably just to hold short and wait for the arriving traffic. You both had visual contact with each other and maintained separation so no problem in my mind.

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks for you input and I'm glad you liked the video! I agree with your assessment. Next time, I'll just wait for the other plane to land.

[@CascadiaAviation]

Cool! I’ve been there too when I used to live in SLO

[@skybound.adventures]

Love that place!

[@larrymangold1048]

Cool video. I flew a C-177 from Hayward to Harris Ranch one time for dinner when I was stationed in Alameda. It was an exciting runway with I5 turbulence and the exceptionally narrow runway. Loved the challenge.

[@skybound.adventures]

I sure hope you mean the Cessna Cardinal and not the CC-177 Globemaster 😅 The narrow runway definitely was a lot of fun and a nice challenge!

[@aviate68]

Awesome flying. Everyone's always a little surprised at the runway width the first time they come in but I've seen planes as big as Quest Kodiaks easily slipping in there. 👍 👍

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks! Yeah the runway was really fun! I love your content as well!

[@patrickbeedles6671]

Cool video! During my flight training, my instructor had me land at KDTG - where the runway is only 21' wide. It's very challenging for sure! The first time it was very hard to judge my height since the runway is so much narrower and it looks so different.

[@skybound.adventures]

That's definitely a concern when landing on runways that have a very different shape from what you are used to. I always make it a habit in my approach briefing to mention how my picture on touch down differs from what I'm used to in these cases.

[@Akroker1]

I’ve landed at Harris ranch twice now! Lots of fun, excellent steak

[@skybound.adventures]

Definitely not the last time I was there!

[@CascadiaAviation]

One small piece of advice angle your wing camera so that tiny triangle of wing is not visible

[@skybound.adventures]

Yeah good point. I don’t always get it right but I could probably zoom in a bit if that happens.

[@dennisnbrown]

I would’ve back taxi like you should’ve done to begin with and taking off in the normal direction

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks for your input! Harris Ranch does not have a calm wind runway, so there was no 'normal direction' in this case.

[@lucaskubas7354]

Great trip and 🥩 😊

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks, it was! We should fly there together some time ;)

[@glennwatson]

You both communicated with each other and had each other in sight so didn’t seem like a big issue. Left may have been a better choice maybe but given you both had each other in sight don’t think it’s huge

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks! Yes I think in hindsight left would have been the better option. But we had at least a mile of spacing at any time I think.

[@yellowdogadventures]

left turn on departure to avoid traffic

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks for your comment!

[@danielreuter2565]

Hey there. I have my plane based at RHV also. Lemme know if you wanna go flying sometime.

[@skybound.adventures]

Sounds great! We should do that some time if it ever stops raining again!

[@danielreuter2565]

I'm a red Arrow tied down at NorCal aviation. I don't really know how to contact you lol.

[@skybound.adventures]

You can message me on Instagram @skybound.adventures

[@steven2145]

I totally would have made a left turn. IMHO turning right might have brought you cutting through the pattern with potentially some NRDO traffic or someone tuned to the wrong frequency. If I did turn right I would have stayed at 500 feet or below.

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks for your comment. I'm curious to learn more about why you think this was a bigger problem than normal in this case? Harris Ranch does not have a designated calm wind runway so landing and departing can be done on either runway in this case. It seems the potential conflict with NORDO traffic always is higher in this scenario, independent of whether another aircraft is inbound. But it's definitely a case that deserves some more thought.

[@steven2145]

@@skybound.adventures Think about the traffic pattern of that airport in low/no wind where both the ruways' downwind are over the highway--this is dangerous itself. I think this is a particular problem because you are crossing the downwind with potential traffic on either side of you or both sides of you as any non-extended final inbound traffic was coming into a pattern over the highway. You can have landing traffic facing each other on the opposing downwind legs over the highway plus you crossing it. My sense is that we should only cross a downwind leg at >500 feet above which wasn't an option for you. Here is a particular scenario: imagine where a plane is coming in cross midfield and turns left to enter the direct to downwind just as you are crossing it. When he is crossing the midfield, he is looking up to the right and down to the left for traffic and you are below him so if he is in a low wing he won't necessarily see you at all. You would probably be around 800 feet AGL climbing as he is turning into the downwind at 1000. My question for you is why not the left turn out? You and I may disagree with the scale of the hazard turning across the downwind leg(s) but even if you think it is non-zero, is there any reason why you think the left turnout was inferior? There was a fatal crash today between a Cherokee and a NRDO Cub in the pattern in Florida (not quite the same situation).

[@skybound.adventures]

Thanks for that detailed write up. I don’t think turning right was beneficial here, I basically just followed the published traffic pattern. I was just curious about your thoughts on how this situation was different to no known airplane in the pattern. I totally share your risk assessment of unknown traffic which is always an increased problem when there is no clear direction of traffic. Your explanation totally makes sense! Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely add this to my list to think about when assessing my departure path!