San Diego VFR Corridor
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 10:27 am
Flew the VFR corridor through San Diego as marked on the TAF chart for San Diego and got flagged by the controller for violating class B airspace. I'm not sure whether it really was my fault or the controller's and this post is not about pointing fingers but I trying to understand, so here's the scenario:
The text inside the magenta VFR corridor box isn't clear to me. It states that pilots are encouraged (why encouraged and not must?) to remain right of the a Northwest/Southeast dashed line. You can find the dashed line on the TAF chart just north of KSAN extending south crossing the east end of the airport and following the center of the bay. What does staying right mean? I interpreted it as staying to the west of the dashed line since this is to the right when facing south. Also, there's a magenta arrow to the west of the dashed line indicating the VFR corridor flight path. I've been flying to the west of the dashed line towards the south at 5,500'. ATC instructed me to stay clear of the class B airspace about when I was at the red cross mark (this is my mark of course and not part of the TAC). I was confused since I knew that I was already in class B, but because I was following the VFR corridor instructions (or at least I thought I was) I simply mumbled "roger that" and planned to continue southeast until exiting the class B. About ten seconds later ATC flagged me with a class B violation. I've tried to plead my case with the controller and asked what I've been doing wrong and I was told that I should have stayed to the right of the dashed line and right would mean to the east (like facing north).
My question is: Does staying to the right mean always east or depending on which way you're heading?
The text inside the magenta VFR corridor box isn't clear to me. It states that pilots are encouraged (why encouraged and not must?) to remain right of the a Northwest/Southeast dashed line. You can find the dashed line on the TAF chart just north of KSAN extending south crossing the east end of the airport and following the center of the bay. What does staying right mean? I interpreted it as staying to the west of the dashed line since this is to the right when facing south. Also, there's a magenta arrow to the west of the dashed line indicating the VFR corridor flight path. I've been flying to the west of the dashed line towards the south at 5,500'. ATC instructed me to stay clear of the class B airspace about when I was at the red cross mark (this is my mark of course and not part of the TAC). I was confused since I knew that I was already in class B, but because I was following the VFR corridor instructions (or at least I thought I was) I simply mumbled "roger that" and planned to continue southeast until exiting the class B. About ten seconds later ATC flagged me with a class B violation. I've tried to plead my case with the controller and asked what I've been doing wrong and I was told that I should have stayed to the right of the dashed line and right would mean to the east (like facing north).
My question is: Does staying to the right mean always east or depending on which way you're heading?