"Antoņio" wrote in message
oups.com...
Today I flew into KBFI (Boeing field) which is class D and has
extentions that underlie the Class B that require close attention to
altitudes and headings so as to stay clear. Today the winds were
favoring 31L (and 31R) and I came in from the west on the Vashon
approach--the most common approach from the west.
I was on a left downwind for 31L and the tower told me I was number
three following an Arrow on about a 2 mile straight in final (Valley
approach?). I acknowledged the traffic, and was waiting for it to come
up on my 9 o'clock before turning base so as to allow enough spacing.
The controller suddenly told me that I was too far south and said
either that I had busted into surface B or was about to. (I never did
clearly hear which).
Unless one turns a fairly close in base here--within about a half mile
or less--you end up in class B surface.
My questions:
1.Assuming I busted B; who is reponsible if the controller asks me to
follow an aircraft that is too far out on a straight in? I mean, I can
reduce speed, s-turn, and the like but I can't turn base until the
aircraft on final is a safe distance away, right?
2.Is the controller supposed to arrange things so that I *can* turn
base and not be in conflict with other aircraft?
3.How would you resolve the problem if it were happening to you ?
Any thoughts would be appreciated...
Antonio
If you're VFR, as we are assuming you were, you are responsible for
following the tower controllers instructions up to the point that they cause
a potential for collision. ATC in class D is responsible for separating IFR
from IFR traffic only. If an instruction sends you towards another
aircraft, you'd deviate as necessary. That wasn't an emergency, it was
see-and-avoid. You'd notify ATC that you'd deviated, and why, and because
no metal hit and no loss of separation occurred, no harm, no foul. The
controller may be ****ed that the traffic flow is now messed up...oh well.
Now if you proceed into class B airspace, you're entering an area of
positive separation of everyone from everyone...that's why you need a
clearance. Bust class B without a clearance and you could very well cause a
loss of separation...bet your butt you'll get a call about that.
Here's the thing: the tower controller knows you're not cleared into class B
and is expecting you'll avoid it on your own. If the aircraft you're
following does something unexpectly (i.e. extending downwind too long) than
the controller expects you'll do whatever's necessary to 1) avoid hitting
other airplanes, 2) avoid busting class B. His instruction was provided to
sequence aircraft, not to keep from hitting each other.
If this thread was on rec.aviation.piloting, Jay Honeck would probably chime
in at this point mentioning how much class D airspace sucks. It's fine as
long as all pilots in the airspace understand the roles and responsibilities
of ATC and themselves. Then again, maybe Jay has a point.
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