Operating & Transiting Class B Airspace

Understanding and confidence in Class B airpsace opens up unique routes & provides great sightseeing!

I’ve linked some quick articles that contain “how-to,” some with ATC audio, to show you how this may work.

• SF Bay Tour Class B Surface Area
• Another SF Bay Tour with ATC Audio
• Boston City Tour Class B Surface Area
• San Diego Class B Surface Area

Transiting Class C & D Airspace

The only thing required to transit Class C and D airspace is a simple two-way radio call!

If you’re flying around/avoiding the airspace just to get out of communicating, I encourage you to explore Class C and D transitions.

Example: NORCAL Approach, C172AR is 10 NM north of the field over Highway 1 and Marina Airport, request a north to south transition along the coast.

NOTE: If, on occasion, a facility is truly too overtaxed, they will ask you to stay clear and will likely still continue providing traffic advisories. Nothing lost.

SVFR Clearance to "Severe Clear"

I went twenty years without considering a Special VFR clearance. Then, I started flying in Monterey immediately adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.

The east half of the airport and all area east can be ceiling and unlimited visibility with the west end of the runway under a 700 OVC ceiling from the ocean.

The ATIS even sometimes says something similar to “Ceiling 700 Overcast, Clear East”.

This is what special VFR is for! (Not scud running or pushing your luck)

I request a SVFR upon departure so I can remain “clear of clouds” during the turnout from the runway (but be within the “152” limits) remaining in perfect visibility the whole time.

I like this SVFR video by CFI Jason Miller as an example of how to obtain the clearance and fly to VFR conditions.

Non-Towered Traffic Patterns

Follow the rules and procedures in the pattern.

Detailed Reference for Non-Towered Airport Operations

• Airplane Flying Handbook Chapter 9
• Advisory Circular 90-66 "Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations

Amateur Radio Calls

Things to avoid that are unprofessional:

• You say "Any traffic in the area, please advise"
• This bad habit is all over
• The AIM Section 4-1-9(g)(1) states: Pilots stating traffic in the area, ‘please advise’ is not a recognized self-announce position and/or intention phrase and should not be used under any conditions.
• Increase your professionalism — ditch that phrase
• You announce a "teardrop entry"
• The "teardrop entry" is NOT a recognized entry and means different ideas to many people
• If you are flying overhead and reversing course to enter the pattern, say so directly
• See AC 90-66 (Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations) for recommended accepted entry methods
• Just because Foreflight mentions a teardrop maneuver
  PDF Viewer ×
  does NOT MEAN this is a "teardrop entry"
• You make unnecessary or unrecognized announcments:
• "Last Call" (Annoucing left downwind departure to the North is sufficient)
• Engage in a long conversation with other traffic — pilots all over the area need that CTAF