Picking up IFR clearance at remote airport while on ground

[gavink42]

I had a great time today on PE, but ran into an issue. I was ready to depart KSZP IFR (with flight plan submitted) but had no way to open it on the ground.

In real world, I would first look for an RCO for a nearby airport's that would provide clearance delivery. If there was none, I would call FSS via cell phone or a published comm frequency.

Since PE doesn't sim FSS, and there was no published RCO, I was unable to obtain my clearance before launching. Had the weather not permitted taking off VFR and opening my IFR flight plan in-flight, there would have been no legal way for me to begin the flight.

I think this is something that needs to be covered. Would it be possible to dedicate the standard FSS frequency 122.2, in all PE areas to serve this function for remote airports?

Gavin

[Keith Smith]

Gavin,

Knowing that we haven't implemented a clearance delivery phone number, or a Flight Service function, we designed the center and approach transmitters such that you should be able to reach the overlying TRACON from the ground, which would not always be possible in the airplane.

So, you would first check to see if there are any instrument procedures at KSZP to get a local TRACON/CTR freq....and there are none. Next step, cast a wider net, look for nearest airport that DOES have procedures (airnav/skyvector make this easy, of course, they list them in ascending order of distance). Camarillo (CMA) is 8 miles away, pull up that airport and find out the approach/departure frequency for that airport, either through he commnications section of the AFD entries, or by looking at one of the plates. Quick review shows Pt Magu Approach, 124.70.

You will be able to reach that from the ground to pick up your clearance and release.

We got your back, Gavin, and are well aware that a critical part of the IFR system is to be able to pick up clearances and releases at non-towered airports.

Summary: whatever procedure you would use to work out a good flight following frequency for that area should work from the ground, there. There MIGHT be the occasional exception out in the desert, but not many. You get 40 miles of tx/rx instance for approach facilities, and 60nm for enroute facilities right out of the gate (on PE), and it only improves with altitude after that.

[gavink42]

Thanks for the reply, Keith! I can imagine that there are a bunch of solid reasons for not "dipping a toe" into the FSS side of things!

I actually tried to reach Camarillo Clearance, but got no response. It never occurred to me to contact TRACON or Center while on the ground. But, I'll do that in the future.

Thanks again for a great service!

Gavin