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In rec.aviation.piloting Shane wrote:
I live in the UK and am considering a trip from the San Diego area to Las
Vegas at the end of the year.

I'm yet to get my hands on the charts, and being low on hours I was
wondering if anyone had any advice on how easy the trip would be to make.
or any other relevant advice they could share with me.

I learned to fly in the U.S. so I'm not tooo! worried about that aspect)

Thanks

Shane
(60 hr PPL).

I'll pitch in and give some advice on flying that route. I will
also assume that you will be flying below FL180, in a turboprop or
lighter, and wanting to make the trip as convenient as it is enjoyable.

#1. Don't fly the coastal route. Going off the NACO approach
plates (http://www.myairplane.com), from San Diego Lindbergh, you're looking
at PEBLE3.SLI.V394.POM.V394.DAG.CLARR2 into Las Vegas. Below FL180, this
will throw you into the thralls of the major SOCAL traffic in the LAX
basin, including all the TEC (Tower Enroute) routes between SAN, the
Coast area (LGB, SNA, SLI, TOA), LAX, the CIVET/MITTS corridor (Civet4
and MITTS2 arrivals into LAX), then the HEC/DAG corridor (HEC VOR is
the VOR used mainly for arrivals into the LA Basin from the Northeast,
while DAG is used for northeasterly departures). You'll find that
highly congested, and unless you're looking for the thrill and wanting
to run circles around the traffic, rather taxing.

#2. While more scenic, the coastal route will take you out of
the way. I don't know if time or money is a constraint, but it would be
out of the way. Routing wise, once again, from Lindbergh, I'd go
BRDR5.JLI.V514.TRM.V514.TNP.CLARR2. Once again, refer to myairplane.com
for the arrival chart for Vegas (CLARR2 serves McCarran, North Las
Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City). This route will will take you
across more land, but will be less congested. You will fly over the
Coachella Valley (Palm Springs), out into high desert, across the San
Bernardino mountains, before joining the bottom fringe of the Sierra
Nevada to join the arrival. It's scenic, especially with the vew of
Redrock Canyon during the final stages of the arrival.

#3. If you fly the trip during the winter months, it may not be
an issue. But read up on Density Altitude. It will help you, should you
ever try this trip during the summer. Also, be familiar with Class B
airspace. SAN, LAX, and LAS are all Class B, with the exception of VGT
and HND, which are class D.

#4. If cost is not a factor, by all means, land at McCarran.
Signature and Eagle Flight Support are damned good, will offer good
rates, and make sure your needs are well met. Otherwise, for ease of
access, fly into VGT. There is a local FBO, supply shop (full charts),
and flying club there, should you have any questions.

Have a good flight.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
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Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
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