If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
IAP through class G
Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack a surface
Class E to protect the approach? HIE LOC 10 has Class G below 700' AGL, but the MDA is well below that height. A plane can legally fly VFR just below a 700' ceiling along the final approach course, with no way for it to see and avoid an approaching IFR plane, or vice versa. --Gary |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
In article p_ySc.132920$eM2.100919@attbi_s51,
"Gary Drescher" wrote: Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack a surface Class E to protect the approach? It's a regulatory thing. In order to have controlled airspace to the surface (what's known as a "surface area"), you need to have approved weather reporting. Interestingly enough, HIE has an ASOS, which I thought would have counted as "approved weather reporting", but maybe not? HIE LOC 10 has Class G below 700' AGL, but the MDA is well below that height. A plane can legally fly VFR just below a 700' ceiling along the final approach course, with no way for it to see and avoid an approaching IFR plane, or vice versa. Yup. Big sky, small plane. If that sort of stuff scares you, stick to places with surface areas. Of course, there's nothing to prevent somebody from flying IMC illegally without a clearance, even when there is a surface area. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Gary Drescher" wrote in message news_ySc.132920$eM2.100919@attbi_s51... Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack a surface Class E to protect the approach? HIE LOC 10 has Class G below 700' AGL, but the MDA is well below that height. A plane can legally fly VFR just below a 700' ceiling along the final approach course, with no way for it to see and avoid an approaching IFR plane, or vice versa. Controlled airspace at the surface requires surface weather observations and radio communications capability with ATC down to the runway surface. If you do not have both of those an airport with an SIAP will have Class G airspace from the surface to 700' AGL. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
That's just one of the gotchas in instrument flying...if you shoot an
approach into a field where controlled airspace stops at 700' agl you have to be extra alert just in case. Odds are against anyone doing pattern work in such conditions, but Murphy's Law always applies. Bob Gardner "Gary Drescher" wrote in message news_ySc.132920$eM2.100919@attbi_s51... Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack a surface Class E to protect the approach? HIE LOC 10 has Class G below 700' AGL, but the MDA is well below that height. A plane can legally fly VFR just below a 700' ceiling along the final approach course, with no way for it to see and avoid an approaching IFR plane, or vice versa. --Gary |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack
a surface Class E to protect the approach? In fact this is the case for the great majority of non-towered airports. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
hlink.net... Controlled airspace at the surface requires surface weather observations and radio communications capability with ATC down to the runway surface. HIE has both ASOS and a clearance deliveray frequency. I guess they just want to be able to do pattern work or scud-running under a 700' ceiling. --Gary |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"Barry" wrote in message ...
Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack a surface Class E to protect the approach? In fact this is the case for the great majority of non-towered airports. Often, though, the only available approaches have an MDA that's still within Class E. In that case, there's no problem seeing and avoiding VFR aircraft in the uncontrolled space underneath. Not so at HIE, however. --Gary |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Often, though, the only available approaches have an MDA that's still within
Class E. In that case, there's no problem seeing and avoiding VFR aircraft in the uncontrolled space underneath. Not so at HIE, however. Pilots should be aware that HIE is not at all unusual in this regard - it's very common to have an MDA below 700 AGL with no surface Class E. There are also ILS approaches with DH at or near 200 and no surface Class E. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Gary Drescher wrote: "Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message hlink.net... Controlled airspace at the surface requires surface weather observations and radio communications capability with ATC down to the runway surface. HIE has both ASOS and a clearance deliveray frequency. I guess they just want to be able to do pattern work or scud-running under a 700' ceiling. --Gary As Steve said, not only does the airport have to have approved weather reporting service and communications, the regional FAA office has to determine a need for a Class E surface area. AOPA fights these tooth and nail as an "airspace grab," so the FAA policy is to not establish them except under certain circumstances. The regional FAA Flight Procedures Office is in the best position to explain that policy to you. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message ...
As Steve said, not only does the airport have to have approved weather reporting service and communications, the regional FAA office has to determine a need for a Class E surface area. AOPA fights these tooth and nail as an "airspace grab," so the FAA policy is to not establish them except under certain circumstances. The regional FAA Flight Procedures Office is in the best position to explain that policy to you. Thanks, perhaps I'll ask them. So far all of my IMC approaches have been to Class B, C, or D airports, so I haven't been very concerned about this issue. But it does seem to me that the safety of being in controlled airspace during the approach until below the MDA would outweigh the usefulness of being able to fly VFR under a 700' ceiling (especially at HIE, surrounded by hills and mountains). --Gary |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Must the PLANE be IFR-equipped to fly over17,500? | john smith | Home Built | 11 | August 27th 04 02:29 AM |
Meigs Class D Airspace | Defly | Instrument Flight Rules | 0 | July 19th 04 02:53 PM |
Transiting KCLE Class B | dutch | Instrument Flight Rules | 6 | April 22nd 04 03:17 AM |
vfr corridors through class B airspace | [email protected] | Instrument Flight Rules | 26 | November 2nd 03 11:28 PM |
IA to Class E | Sydney Hoeltzli | Instrument Flight Rules | 6 | July 14th 03 02:29 PM |