Hello Chums... ...!

As many/most of my FS 2004 Sim Flights involve very small, General Aviation, Microlight/Ultralight/Flexwing/Homebuild/Vintage, etc, Aircraft, mostly without any form of Navigation and Communication Radios...

What are the rules when approaching or entering Controlled/Restricted airspace?

For example: Many of my low altitude, VFR flights, cover the San Francisco Bay*, and Silicon Valley area*, which according to my Aeronautical Charts, is covered over a very large areas by controlled Airspace, presumably requiring constant Radio Communication with Air Traffic Control!

(These areas also appear on my FS Navigator GPS Radar)

Are we required, by Law, to carry some form of Radio, to communicate our presence and intentions when in these areas?

Or, do we have to avoid/circumnavigate all such Controlled/Restricted areas altogether?

I would normally detour around them, for safety, but some/many of my small Airfields/Airstrips are actually located within the Controlled Airspace!

So, my question is; what is the procedure when approaching Controlled Airspace, if we do not have any form of Radio Communication, during our flights aloft?

Paul...G-BPLF....With a Flexwing, and equipped with a Cheese and Pickle Sandwich... ...!

*   http://skyvector.com/#44-16-3-2902-2457

Hello Brett...

...interesting one..

It looks as though when I approach my Half Moon Bay (KHAF) from the (recommended) Sea approach, runway 12, I am OK when I approach from the North//West at my usual altitude, 800-1000 feet ASL....

...but it is a no-no when approaching KHAF from KLAX, etc, and the South, runway 30, (not recommended) at my usual low altitude!

So, in reality, we low and slow, Microlight  flyers, are required to have some form of minimum Radio Communication device when approaching Controlled Airspace.

No problems with my Bendix-King Nav/Com/Transponder Radio Stack in my majority of GA Aircraft....but it looks like a bit of a headache in my non-radio equipped GA Microlight/Flexwings!

Paul...G-BPLF...sometimes with Mr Bendix and Mr King as passengers.....!

..luckily, my local Airfield in England has no strict restrictions on airspace for some 30+ miles an any direction...which is nice!... ...!
...my airfield just likes a friendly chat now and again, if I have a Radio handy ......!

My 'Frisco Bay area is a nightmare for GA Private Pilots!

Do you have "Special VFR" in the States Brett?

Brett_Henderson wrote on Mar 10^th, 2009 at 10:47am:


Radio Communication with ATC in the complex Bay area is fantastic, and highly educational when I have my full Bendix-King Radio Stack fully operational during my off-line Solo flights...

...but it becomes a bit scary when forced to silently fly my flight plans during my frequent, on-line, (Multiplayer) flights.... .... ...!

One of the tribulations of on-line Flight Sim, Multiplayer Flying...NO ATC!.... ...!

Ta for the info, Brett......!

Paul...G-BPLF...and a £10 Motorola Mobile 'Phone!.... ...!

..... ...!

BAW0343 wrote on Mar 17^th, 2009 at 2:27pm:


Yes,, 'G' airspace is totally uncontrolled. And unless you're trying to duck under some ceilings, trying to get on the ground as weather deteriorates.. it's not a good place to fly. Radio towers and even some power line towers poke right up into it.. It's best left to ultra-lights, and fools on motorized lawn chairs. 

Quote:


I think you're looking at ATC wrongly. They are there to HELP YOU. You should WANT radar tracking in busy airspace for your protection and for others operating in that airspace. It's an insurance policy. Rather than risk life and limb flying in among the towers, wires, birds, and floating Walmart bags, talking to ATC clears you to safer altitudes, with vectors if necessary, and traffic clearance, warnings and such. They are charged with helping even the small aircraft, so it's in your best interest to seek them out, rather than try to avoid ATC.

Excellent and important point, flaminghotsauce.  


best,

..................john

PS:  Fozzer, are you doing clandestine flight planning for the KLAX - KSFO hop? 

Brett_Henderson wrote on Mar 17^th, 2009 at 6:02pm:


That's often true if the Class G lies underneath a controlled airspace, but there's plenty of it that extends quite a ways higher. And Class E is not really controlled so much as controllable- ATC can provide control for IFR flights and FF for VFR flights in there, whereas it is not practical in Class G areas. But Class E is very nearly "free" airspace. Operating VFR, there is no requirement to even talk to anyone, although it's definitely good practice to use Flight Following when flying VFR on Victor airways, despite the fact that the IFR flights are flying at altitudes separate from the recommended cruise alts for VFR flights. If you're even going to see another plane out between terminal areas, it will likely be on an airway, or near a VOR.  A little more crowded. And altimeters get set wrong, people aren't looking outside enough... it's nice to be on somebody's scope when you're flying in remote but heavily-trafficked areas, and it helps keep IFR ops smoother and safer. It helps to use a transponder out there, too, even if you'e not talking to ATC. Those who (quite legally) fly without one or without using one, have a responsibility to keep a sharp eye out, especially on airways, because ATC will have no clue they are there.

What really makes Class G "free" airspace is that the only requirements for VFR flight is one mile vis (day, 3 night) and "clear of clouds". Good thing, too, because as Brett points out, in most class G you're probably not going to be there unless you're already in trouble.

To address another point in this thread: because I am not instrument-rated and never file IFR (in RL), I have always carefully avoided controlled terminal airspaces, even Class C and D, unless it's absolutely necessary. I'll generally go under only the outer tier of a Class B, though- scooting under a typical 1500-foot shelf means flying low over a city... not very smart. There are lots of possible flight plans that really won't work without transitioning a controlled space, but I've generally been able to take a detour of a few minutes to avoid adding to the workload of controllers and IFR pilots (not to mention my own workload!). I'm quite comfortable dealing with terminal controllers, but  I just don't like to go "in there" unless I'm landing, or a detour around, under or over is not practical.

In the sim, I tend to do the same for VFR flights.