PilotEdge Forums

Hello all,

I was having some trouble with the Rocks VFR departure out of North Las Vegas. The route description per the TAC says to fly direct to the Retention Basin under 4500, the Mine under 6500, then after the Blue Diamond Mine radar services are terminated and fly direct to Jean. All steps specifically call for remaining outside of the Bravo including a note after Jean to fly appropriate altitudes remaining clear of the Bravo. However, as soon as you leave the Blue Diamond Mine at 6500 you're in the Bravo if you head straight to Jean and now you're VFR with no radar services.

So today while flying I was given a clearance through the Bravo at 6500 *via* the Rocks VFR departure which seems like two instructions that can't exist at the same time. I felt like I either had ATC clearance to fly the direction of the route safely at 6500 through the Bravo or avoid the Bravo by following the instruction to use to Rocks route. So the real tricky part for me was leaving the mine at 6500 heading to Jean which would definitely break the bravo shelf. I dove out (since at this point I should have been radar terminated anyway so I'm on my own VFR) at which point the controller told me I should have stayed on route but I was out of the Bravo so frequency changed approved etc. We agreed briefly that it could have gone either way.

It seems I've got myself all confused, please advise.

Edit: My own conclusion after writing this is I didn't have "dive down" under the Bravo shelf as soon as I pass the Mine since altitude is my discretion as VFR and I didn't realize my instruction was "At or Below" 6500 so I wasn't violating any rules not staying at 6500. I'll still leave this up since it's a weird fun transition I don't see many people doing perhaps for this reason.

While you did nothing wrong by diving down, it was unnecessary as ATC cleared you through the bravo via the Rocks route.

Let me try to clarify the route. You are to fly west towards the basin, remaining north of BoA at or below 4500'. This keeps you north of the bravo and beneath that shelf (100/45). At red rocks, turn south remaining west of the bravo (>10nm from LAS). As you cross the LAS 225 radial you enter the bravo and this is where your clearance through the bravo comes into play. You are already cleared through the (100/50) shelf. Once abeam Jean Airport you are below and well clear of the bravo, ATC automatically terminates your radar services and you are free to change frequencies and resume own navigation.

I noticed another "gotcha" when looking at the chart. Be careful to notice the direction arrows near the At or below altitudes or you could find yourself head on with a VFR arrival.