ATC IFR Reroute Question/Curiousity

[N119XD - Shawn]

love flying on the network. can't say that enough.

quick question, I hope. I was flying from KLAS to KSBA and filed an IFR plan.
Route: DAG BASAL PMD RZS

I have no idea what I'm doing (not completely true), however Clearance suggested another route that I would like better.
Route: GFS HEC PMD FIM KWANG

I rather enjoyed having the suggestion and took the route. Was just wondering what makes this a 'better' route (maybe not having to deal with the terrain North of Santa Barbara)...a more popular or published route? Curious. Thanks in advance. It was a great flight.

[Peter Grey]

Hello,

The route that you filed conflicts with LAS arrivals which is why you were rerouted.

LAS jet arrivals from the south are routed DAG CLARR. So departures can't go from LAS to DAG (you'd end up head to head with the arrivals). Jet departures go BOACH HEC, so if you are in a piston you can't go that way. That leaves via GFS, so that's why you went that way.

The SBA arrivals are easier to work (for terrain) if they go to KWANG vs RZS.

So that's some of the why behind it.

[N119XD - Shawn]

Thanks Peter! Great reply! Soaking it up like a sponge!

My background (20years) is in Software QA so we share that in common. Keep up the excellent work!