Many pilots fear flying into controlled airports in class
D/C/B airspace. For many, who blast around with no radios, operating off of grass
strips and mountain valleys, their backcountry skills are top notch but visits
to controlled airspace can be few and far between. Often pilots become rusty, begin
to doubt their abilities inside controlled airspace and begin to avoid it.
This is sad because even though romping through the
backcountry and gently touching onto a grass runway behind the farm is
incredible, there are also many great experiences located inside these
airspaces. Great airfield restaurants, museums and attractions are often
collocated on these fields or a short courtesy-car ride away.
Here are some tips to help when talking with approach and tower so you can enjoy all flying has to offer.
Be familiar with the rules and requirements of each type of airspace.
This requires breaking out the FAR/AIM from time to time. Many pilots throw the
thing in the junk box after getting their private ticket and become very rusty
on the rules of the air. Remember what it takes to enter class C airspace? A
great way to help hone your knowledge is to visit www.aopa.org. They have great
interactive classes and quizzes to help you identify trouble spots in your
knowledge. They even have tests to help better your vernacular when talking
on the radio.
Practice what you will say before you get in the airplane or
write down long phrases you know will be required. Here is an example:
“Pueblo approach, Piper 12345 is VFR (Location) _______ from the
field at (Alt)_______ with (Current ATIS)______. Request to enter a downwind
for runway______, full stop.”
Now as you near the airspace and receive ATIS, just fill in
the blanks and read to approach when you call. This helps eliminate the “errs,”
“umms,” and awkward pauses as you check your location. Nothing frustrates
controllers and other pilots more than a guy who keys his mike and then stumbles and
dawdles through his sentences. It ties up the radios and causes a loss of
situational awareness for those controllers. Know what you will say before you
key the mike so your transmissions are quick, accurate and to the point.
If you are unfamiliar with the area, do some studying on the
map before departing. Have a general idea where major landmarks are around the
airport as many controllers will have you turn and maneuver based off these
landmarks. Check the airport directory for information about specific VFR
checkpoints the tower will use so you know what to look for.
Make sure your radios are operating correctly. A radio
cutting out and only transmitting half your sentences can cause you to focus
only on the radio. This can shrink situational awareness and lead to
navigational issues and improper clearing. If you know your radio can have
problems, call the tower ahead of time and let them know where you will be
entering their airspace and at what time. This way if there are any problems,
they will know where to look for you.
Consider a GPS. A GPS can make navigation within the
airspace much easier and will provide you with quick information to pass to the
controllers about your location as well as to points the tower wants you to
navigate towards. It doesn't need to be a fancy, 10 inch, wired monstrosity that takes up the entire cockpit. A small battery powered GPS can be a great navigational aid. Just ensure you know how to operate the GPS, otherwise this
could be one more distractor overflowing your bucket.
Above all, relax. Though it does not always seem like it,
controllers are there to help you. They would not have a job if no one visited
the airport. Be polite and professional on the radios and if you are getting
confused, just talk in plain English, as if you were sitting across the table
from them. Your safety is their top concern and controllers will help you out
if you let them.
This clip is a great example of a pilot who was lost, struggling and confused but was open and forthcoming with the controller.
Anyone have any good stories about struggling in controlled
airspace?
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