Dunno what the MEA is in that area, but remember that a cruise clearance
only allows you to operate between your assigned altitude and the MEA, not
below the MEA unless you have the field in sight and can descend VFR.

Having said that, I would be amazed if you have any trouble getting in there
VFR.

Bob Gardner

"John Clonts" wrote in message
...
Ron,

Thanks for your reply, see below...

"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote in message
...
On 26 Aug 2005 08:07:24 -0700, "John Clonts" wrote:

I'm planning a flight into Angel Fire, NM (KAXX). I will be coming
in from the south via Las Vegas (LVS) at 10000 feet. If it's IMC I
will land and Las Vegas and drive from there (the only IAP into kaxx is
"out of my reach"). But if it's CAVU, I will fly still at 10k,
up the valley and pass, visually into Angel Fire.

My question is this: Is there a way to fly this last leg and remain
under IFR? E.g. from 30 miles south of KAXX get a cruise clearance?
Contact Approach? VFR-on-top?

By "out of my reach" do you mean you don't have an IFR GPS?


No, I have IFR GPS, I just can't manage the 420 feet/nm climb to 13000 on
the missed approach

Just don't cancel your IFR until on the ground (or with landing assured
and
VMC if you prefer).

I would think you could get a visual approach clearance once you have the
airport in sight.


In my scenario with me at 10,000 the terrain will encroaching into my 2000
feet
within 4nm MIA quite some time before I have the airport in sight. So I'm
wondering
whether I could get a contact approach or cruise clearance prior to that.

I dunno about a cruise clearance -- if you're coming up from the south,
you'd be on a random route, and ATC would need radar coverage and
communications. I think they'd have comm, as there seems to be an RCO on
the ground at KAXX. Here in the NE, cruise clearances are exceedingly
rare, so I don't have much experience with them.

That's what I had heard, and then I got one on my second IFR flight after
getting
my instrument rating!
--
Cheers,
John Clonts
Temple, Texas
N7NZ