The flight into the LA basin via Banning is fine, you'll be out of the
way for traffic into LAX and SNA; ONT isn't that busy. Stay high in
the desert before PSP and you'll stay on radar, the turbulence/wind
and traffic is lighter in the mornings as well.

-lance smith


"Scott Schluer" wrote in message news:xMgSc.26111$Uh.25928@fed1read02...
Thanks for the tip on expecting to get dropped by Palm Springs and
reestablishing flight following after flying through the pass. It's local
knowledge like this that helps me anticipate what's going to happen on
flights into unfamiliar territory like this.

Another poster suggested going north towards Apple Valley. Coming from KLAS
that makes sense, but from Phoenix, it takes me well north of my intended
route, so I think I'll stick with the Banning Pass. If anyone has other tips
on what to expect flying through the LA basin, it would be appreciated. I
did some early training in the San Francisco area, but even that is fairly
mild compared to LA. It'll be good experience if nothing else.

Thanks!

"Dan Thompson" wrote in message
...
It's a no-brainer. Fly the Banning Pass (Palm Springs-Riverside route).
Save the $100. You can get flight following, but expect Palm Springs
Approach to abruptly drop you, then you have to reinitiate it with Socal
Approach when you get through the pass. They can be busy and it can be
frustrating.

"Scott Schluer" wrote in message
news:EW8Sc.24898$Uh.10443@fed1read02...
Hello All,

After a year long flying hiatus, it's time to jump back in. There's a
family
function in the Los Angeles area (landing KEMT, El Monte, California)
that
I
plan on flying VFR to from Glendale Muni (KGEU), in western Phoenix.
I've
looked at a couple different route options, including flying north of
the
LA
area through Victorville, towards Palmdale VOR, and then south to El
Monte
thereby skipping the entire LA basin area, although it would add a
little
more than an hour round trip (which translates to another $100). I don't
have unlimited funds for this so saving $100 would be nice. The more
direct
route would be this:

KGEU - BXK - BLH - PSP - RIV - PDZ - POM - KEMT

This would take me over Palm Springs, then west through the Los Angeles
basin. I plan on flying 8,500 feet past Palm Springs, so I'd be well
above
the congested mix of airspace beneath me. However, this will be my first
trip into the Los Angeles Basin in a Cessna 172 (or any light plane for
that
matter). I will obviously be taking full advantage of flight following
if
they can accomodate me. Are there any LA locals who can provide some
advice
on this proposed route? Would it be wise to take the northen route given
my
year off from flying and my inexperience in LA? I'm not adverse to
navigating airspace (in fact, I enjoy a more challenging flight) but I
thought I'd pick some brains here first.

If you were going to go north, what route would you take given the
oxygen
requirements and limitations imposed on my aircraft by density altitude
in
the summer near Big Bear and the restricted areas near Twentynine Palms?
I've looked at a couple options but none of them seem to justify the
added
expense just to save some flight time over a congested area.

Thanks for any advice you might be able to give.

Scott
PP-ASEL