My first flight without GPS (just sharing)

Ryan B · Post by **Ryan B** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:58 pm

Cool post.

(disclaimer this next part refers to PE only)

Golly... VFR is almost harder to fly in sunny socal than IFR! Am I the only one who thinks this? When going VFR (especially if not receiving FF/tfc advz) you've got to dodge airspace left and right (up and down!). Very challenging I really do enjoy it here in socal.

Keith Smith · Post by **Keith Smith** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:29 am

Oh it's no secret, IFR is a whole lot easier if unless you're intimately familiar with all the nooks and crannies of the various B/C/D airspace. This applies to the area around BUR/VNY, LAX, LGB, ONT, etc. Once you get out to PSP, or west past OXR/CMA, or SE of SNA, things get considerably simpler and VFR becomes less ridiculous

djrisc · Post by **djrisc** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:34 am

Yet another selling point for flight following. It just makes dealing with all of it a breeze.

Brett

Ryan B · Post by **Ryan B** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:47 pm

I don't mean to compare the two main networks but I'm glad PE is here. On vatsim most controllers have no clue what to do with VFR pilots. Vatsim to me seems very IFR oriented. Here you have to WORK to go VFR

Well done PE!

Keith Smith · Post by **Keith Smith** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:34 pm

Ryan, I think you're right on that one (I'm not a fan of comparing networks here either for the most part, but this one seems very fair). Controllers on VATSIM don't get much VFR traffic, so it's not a highly-polished skill. It's a chicken & egg problem.

In our case, we planned for this situation from Day 1. Just as well, because we've had VFR traffic from Day 1, too. Having a smaller coverage area promotes that, obviously.

gavink42 · Post by **gavink42** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 7:42 pm

So, Keith... I've always wondered why you chose SoCal for the coverage area.

Keith Smith · Post by **Keith Smith** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 7:50 pm

Easy:
1) ZLA has something for everyone in terms of airspace complexity, it has incredible versitility from a training perspective. A lot is made of the compelxity of the LA Basin, and rightly so, but there are simple and medium complexity areas all within the ZLA boundaries
2) I knew the airspace cold and could mentally prepare for how the new radio system would work there (ie, could a controller work all those frequencies, and how many freqs there would actually be)
3) I knew a lot of people who knew the airspace cold
4) it was adjacent to a facility that I know quite well (ZOA, I have around 700 hours controlling time there)
5) I knew a lot of solid controllers who knew the adjacent facility very well

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My first flight without GPS (just sharing)

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