PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

announcements, discussions and recordings of PilotEdge real-time workshops
djrisc
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Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by djrisc »

** Disclaimer ** These are my personal notes that I took during the workshop. I was writing as fast as I could to keep up. This means that there might be an error that I missed while writing quickly. I also most likely missed a point here or there, just as I was trying to pay attention while taking these notes.

I *highly* recommend watching the video once it comes out regardless, as I'm sure there is more information in there than just my notes.

Also, if you notice any errors in my notes, please drop me a line and I'll update them. (as I need to know if I made a mistake for my own benefit.) :)

Enjoy...

Brett

(Updated with Keith's corrections.)

-- Special Use Airspace --

- Restricted
  • - Blue zipper pattern denotes restricted airspace boundary
    - Airspace starts with identifier "R-" (Example: R-2515)
    - Not always active
    - Pilots can call controller of this airspace and ask permission for entry
    - Example request: "Request transition of 2515 (restricted identifier)"
    - Detailed information at top of sectional has who to contact and additional information
- Warning Areas
  • - Blue zipper pattern denotes warning airspace boundary
    - Airspace start with identifier "W-"
    - Pilots can legally fly through this airspace
    - Military will generally shut down operations when someone flies in to this area
    - Best to avoid unless necessary
    - Enter at your own risk
- Alert Areas
  • - Purple zipper pattern denotes Alert airspace boundary
    - Pilots can legally fly through this airspace
    - Recommended that you talk to controller before entry
    - Insurance may not cover accidents in some cases (if you clip an F16, etc.)
    - Enter at your own risk
- MOA (Military Operation Area)
  • - ATC can't deny you permission to transition this airspace
    - Operations going on that could risk your life if you enter
    - Highly recommended that flight following is used and be in communication with ATC
    - Exercise good judgement before entering a MOA
    - Ask ATC for safe transit path through the MOA (minimum/maximum altitudes, small deviations, etc.)
    - Not all of MOA has to be in use, ATC can direct you around "active" area
    - solid purple borders (circles) cuts out areas inside a MOA. (airports that fall in a MOA, etc.)
- Prohibited Area
  • - Airspace start with identifier "P-"
    - Pilots can -NOT- transition prohibited airspace
    - ATC will -NEVER- allow pilots clearance in to prohibited airspace
    - Don't ask for permission / Avoid
- Military Training Routes
  • - Dark grey lines denotes routes
    - Airspace start with identifiers "VR-" and "IR-" (V for VFR, I for IFR)
    - High speed for military use
    - Pilots are best to avoid
    - 4 digit identifier denotes below 1500ft AGL
    - 3 digit identifier denotes above 1500ft AGL
- SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area) - Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)
  • - VIP Movements (President, etc.)
    - Firefighting
-- Regular Airspace --

- Class A (Alpha)
  • - IFR Only
    - Flight Level 180+ (18,000ft)
    - No VFR traffic allowed
- Class B (Bravo)
  • - Solid blue lines denotes Bravo airspace boundary
    - Requires Explicit clearance
    - All traffic separation provided by ATC (both VFR and IFR)
    - ATC is legally required to provide separation for VFR aircraft
    - Shape is like upside down wedding cake, but can be adjusted for each bravo. (Think 3 dimensionally.)
    • - It is possible to fly under or over a bravo based on it's shape.
    - Example limits from sectional: 90/50 (9,000ft MSL upper limit, 5,000ft MSL lower limit)
    - If ATC tells you to "enter" at a specific MSL then you should climb to that level prior to entering bravo
    • - Otherwise best possible speed to get to MSL provided by ATC
      - Important to listen to ATC's phrasing upon clearance.
    - You must hear "Cleared in to bravo airspace" prior to entry
    - Weather: 3 miles, clear of clouds
    • - VFR pilots can get as close to clouds as they like in bravo as ATC will maintain traffic separation.
- Class C (Charlie)
  • - Dark purple border line denotes Charlie airspace boundary
    - Don't need clearance, just need to be in 2 way communication with ATC
    - ATC just saying "<your callsign>, standby" gives you clearance in to airspace. (ATC -MUST- use your callsign)
    • - ATC stating "Calling aircraft, standby" is not enough, it must be confirmed 2 way communication to your callsign
    - ATC maintains separation of VFR aircraft from IFR aircraft only (Not VFR aircraft from VFR aircraft)
    - ATC does maintain separation for IFR aircraft.
    - Weather: (3-152's) 3 miles, 1000ft above, 500ft below, 2000ft across

    - TRSA is an optional Class C airspace
    • - Denoted by solid gray line
- Class D (Delta)
  • - Requires 2 way communication with ATC
    - As with Class C, don't need clearance just confirmed 2 way communication with ATC. (See Charlie rules for this.)
    - No ATC separation of IFR aircraft from VFR aircraft
    - Square Brackets with number denotes airspace height. (from surface to # shown.) (example: 20 (2,000ft)
    • - A minus sign prior to number denotes "From surface up to but not including number.
      • - "-27" denotes: Class D from surface to 2,699ft (not including 2,700ft)
        - This is generally due to overlapping airspace (Class C/Class B) which takes precedence over Class D at that altitude
    - Speed limit of 200kts in Delta airspace
    • - Speed limit can be waved by ATC. (Pilot can ask for clearance)
    - Weather: (3-152's) 3 miles, 1000ft above, 500ft below, 2000ft across
- Class E/G
  • - Anything not A,B,C,D, or G is E airspace
    - Commonly associated with non-towered airports
    - Class G is generally from surface (SFC) to 1200ft
    - Class E is generally from 1200ft to FL180

    - Purple shaded areas on sectional changes the floor of protected airspace
    • - Not really a concern for VFR pilots (won't effect you in any way)
      - Drops E to 700ft
- Class G
  • - Uncontrolled Airspace
Additional Notes:
  • - Flight levels: Always in standard pressure and therefore never change
    - MSL: Always current pressure (changes based on conditions)
    - Radials are often used as boundaries for airspaces (check sectional)
    • - Landmarks can be used as well. (islands, mountains, etc.)
    - Review skyvector.com for detailed sectional and other chart information
    - "Contact SOCAL approach" boxes denotes generally area, find one closest to position and use that frequency to call
    - Use reverse side of OBS arrow to dial in outbound radial (so that heading is not reversed)
Last edited by djrisc on Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Brett Johnson
Los Angeles, CA.
PE: Skyhawk C172 - N8979T
Keith Smith
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Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by Keith Smith »

Very nice. Small corrections...
- Class C: IFR is separated from VFR
- Class D: no separation of IFR from VFR

Regarding MOA's
Ask ATC how far you may need to deviate around a MOA (if at all)
Not so much around a MOA, but WITHIN the MOA. (ie, if one is hot, they might on only be using certain ranges within the MOA). Rather than avoid the whole thing, you might go through but find out if there's a minimum or maximum altitude that would permit safe transit, or a small deviation within the MOA rather than avoiding the whole thing.
Calvin Waterbury
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Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by Calvin Waterbury »

Thank you for the notes, Brett. My wife was writing pretty frantic too. She will appreciate your efforts.

Man! This is all pure gold!*


* As in everything that is going on with PE, DTP, the seminars, etc. Special thanks to all the stakeholders!
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djrisc
Posts: 292
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:51 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by djrisc »

Not a problem! I'm actually amazed I got it down as accurate as I did with as fast as I was writing. :) My hand was literally cramped up at the end. There was just a massive amount of great information. I seriously can't wait for more now!

Thanks for reviewing it Keith, I've gone ahead and updated the sections where I made mistakes.

I can't wait to put my new knowledge to use tonight. I plan on flying all over the LAX bravo tonight (I can hear all the PE controllers read this and take a deep breath.) ;)

Happy flying!

Brett

P.S. It was nice meeting you last night Calvin! Hope to bump (hopefully not literally) in to you all on PE sometime soon. :)
Brett Johnson
Los Angeles, CA.
PE: Skyhawk C172 - N8979T
arb65912
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Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by arb65912 »

Brett, if it is OK with Keith, I would like to use your notes if you do not mind. If Keith would rather see them posted here, you could PM them to me. :)
I have a hearing problem and actually reading the notes would benefit me in case I have missed and will miss in the future the whole seminar. Cheers, AJ
arb65912
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Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by arb65912 »

Lol,lol ...Keith, I posted while others were making their replies, I should have removed the posts, sorry. Thank you. Cheers, AJ :)
Mark Hargrove
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Location: Longmont, CO

Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by Mark Hargrove »

I was just introducing Bravo airspace and was about to launch into an explanation of the symbols on the chart when I figured I should ask how many people weren't already completely familiar with it. Silence. Asked again...silence. There was the answer. I shaved a few minutes off and skipped that part.
...and as I read this I suddenly realized that this was exactly the right thing to do for the people in the workshop, but maybe not the right thing to do for the more-of-a-beginner who watches the video! Maybe think about adding a comment and link at that part of the video to a "how to interpret the altitude notation within Bravo and Charlie airspaces" web page somewhere.

-M.
Mark Hargrove
Longmont, CO
PE: N757SL (Cessna 182T 'Skylane'), N757SM (Cessna 337 'Skymaster'), N757BD (Beech Duke Turbine)
bruce
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Re: PilotEdge Workshop: All About VFR [Dec 18 7pm PST]

Post by bruce »

Keith.............Really looking forward to the recording. From what I heard it was a real cracker paving the way forward for future workshops

Brett............Written notes? Should prove to be useful if they can be posted somewhere. Thanks for the offer.
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