On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:38:46 -0700, "Jay Beckman"
wrote in :
Greetings All...
I've been wanting to fly from the Phoenix area to Chino, CA to get a bite at
Flo's and see the Planes of Fame Museum.
You're going to love it. Consider visiting the Robert Pond museum on
KPSP airport too:
http://www.air-museum.org/ . The former has a lot
of arcane aircraft and memorabilia. The latter is chock full of WW-II
war birds in better than new condition!
The Wx looks like it will
cooperate for Wednesday but I have a couple of questions for any pilots who
know this part of the LA Basin and how best to deal with getting through the
Banning Pass.
First, whenever you're within 100 miles of LA burn a landing light to
increase your conspicuity. Traffic can be thicker within the narrow
Banning Pass.
I have flown as far as Palm Springs but beyond the PSP VOR is virgin
territory for me.
So then you're familiar with the Palm Sprints TRSA. Remember, those
TRSA controllers are providing radar traffic advisories on a WORK
PERMITTINE BASIS. I've had them fail to advise me of conflicting
traffic more than once. If they start vectoring you all over the
place, remember you can tell them "Negative Stage Three," and go your
own way.
Do contact SoCal Approach to receive traffic advisories, it makes
transiting any Class B, C or D airspace easier, as they'll clear you
through it.
(I know you're probably aware of these issues, but I'd be derelict if
I failed to mention them.)
First question has to do with actually transiting the Banning Pass. From
the Palm Springs VOR, I see you can hug the right side (going west) via the
DEWAY intersection or you can hug the left side by going via the BANDS
intersection. Is it better to "Keep Right" in each direction?
You can do it direct or any way you like, but I keep to the right when
in the pass. It's best if you have a plan, as it's easier to advise
ATC of your intended route. But it looks like you intend to do that.
Next Issue: Looking at the LA TAC, once you get over or abeam the Banning
airport, there are three flyways. One goes off to the NW to get around
Ontario. One goes to the Paradise VORTAC via Riverside (staying north of
March ARB) and one goes more to the SW directly over March ARB to Lake
Matthews (VPLLM) and then intersects another flyway going NW to the Paradise
VORTAC and then to Chino.
My gut tells me maybe the SW route over March to Lake Matthews might be
better as it gets you off the straightline route through the pass and Lake
Matthews would work as a checkpoint for TOD. I could even go from Lake
Matthews to the Corona airport and get a good approach angle to Chino from
the SSE. This way, I'd also stay SW of the Paradise VOR and maybe help
avoid converging traffic? How active is March these days?
March has been converted to a Reserve base. I've never seem much
activity there.
Trash Haulers?
Fast Movers?
So, maybe my route over would be:
P19 (Stellar Airpark)
GBN (Gila Bend VOR) (Quickest way out from under the Phoenix Class B..They
sometimes will approve an early climb direct to SADLL)
VICKO
BLH (Blythe VOR)
CONES
PSP (Palm Springs VOR)
DEWAY or VPLBP (Banning Pass Reporting Point)
KRIV (March ARB)
VPLLM (Lake Matthews)
KAJO (Corona Airport)
KCNO (Chino)
Check out the ILS Rnwy 26R approach plate he
http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0612/05599IL26R.PDF
I'd go direct PDZ then DEWYE intersection, sort of a left base entry
for 26R. Expect a lot of traffic at KAJO, some NORDO.
Coming back, I could just depart Chino and head direct (or as direct as
possible) to the VPLBP point and proceed on the reverse of the above.
If anyone has thoughts or suggestions, I'm open for them...
I plan to park in the NW corner of transient parking in order to walk to the
museum.
TIA,
Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ
It's a busy chunk of airspace. Stay high as long as is comfortable,
as the traffic density down low can be intimidating.
You're going to love the museums. Have fun.