PilotEdge Forums

Hi guys,

Quick question around the hidden gem feature on the new expansion. I understand I can call for IFR or enroute flight following whilst in the air. I'm currently looking at Sky Vector wanting to depart KTIW (Tacoma Narrows Airport) IFR to Portland. To make matters more complicated the airports sits under the Seattle Bravo airspace. Within the ZLA coverage area I would obviously call clearance/ground/tower in sequence.

How do I go about this in the new coverage area? KTIW isn't one of the airports covered so should be treated as non towered which means I should use the CTAF to state intentions I understand that. Am I doing it the right way if I program a departure procedure and fly this on the CTAF? Exactly when and who do I contact for my IFR clearance into Portland?

If I fly this VFR can I call Seattle centre for flight following whilst on the ground??

As you can tell I'm a little confused apologies for all the questions. I can see on the hidden gem page it states using non towered to non towered would be most realistic option. I'm just trying to figure out in my head what I can and can't do within the new coverage area.

Thanks
Sid

At first glance I would say that you'll need to operate on the field as if it was a part-time tower, and it was closed. Self announce on the CTAF and depart VFR. Once airborne, since this airport is near a field that has the TRACON modeled, call up Seattle departure on the published freq and activate your IFR plan. One thing to watch out for is the bravo, which more or less starts at 5000' in that area.

One thing Im not sure of is if you can fly the Narrows1 DP.

And as far as getting your clearance on the ground, someone from PE will have to chime in. Not sure if they would want you calling the departure freq as you would if the tower was closed.

What I would do is look at the ODPs as these give you two fixes to start you flight plan at and can head towards as you climb out of the delta (which is actually Gulf airspace now) and establish contact with departure. In this case those fixes are Olympia VORTAC or CARRO intersection depending on the runway. If it was solid VFR I would just depart Tacoma and file OLM as my first fix (unless I'm headed north for some reason) and fly direct OLM while getting onto contact with ATC.