B/C/D class endorsement - suggestions for a training plan?

[drseti]

flight following in ARTCC system should automaticaly clear you to transit all intermediate class D spaces.

It's true that flight following will coordinate your airspace clearances for you -- but with one important exception. VFR radar services should not be counted on to keep you clear of TRFs. If you happen to bust one, "I was vectored there on flight following" is not a defense. If you bust the DC SFRA without proper clearance, for example, you will be subject to license suspension, no matter who you were talking to. Be careful out there, folks!

[billgr1]

plan flight for when times are slow.

[tu16]

It's true that flight following will coordinate your airspace clearances for you -- but with one important exception....

Thanks, Paul! Very good point to keep in mind.

Do you have an advice on how to transit adjacent class D airspaces w/o flight following? Do you ask tower A to help in a handoff to tower B on a specified heading/altitude when requesting transition through A? - or you have to request freq. change from tower A in its space to request transition from Tower B in a rapid succession (considerring that you have max 5mi to fly before barging into adjacent class D)?

-Alex.

[roger lee]

Your choices are to go around, go through and talk to the tower or fly over their air space and then you don't have to talk to them, but I always do as a courtesy.

[zaitcev]

If two D spaces are abutt or very close like under Denver's shelf, I request frequency change while deep in the first one. The controller is already counting on you continuing on course and will release you (usually). You probably could ask tower A permission to circle at the edge of their space or something, although I never had to do that. At 78 hours my actual experience is going from B to C and back between KABQ and AEG, but I had to do that often; makes one practice radio pre-tuning and picking AWOS/ATIS quickly.

[drseti]

Do you have an advice on how to transit adjacent class D airspaces w/o flight following? Do you ask tower A to help in a handoff

Alex, whenever two Class D airspaces abut or are close, the two towers will have a Letter of Agreement on how to handle transiting aircraft. It's different in every case, but exists in writing. Before you venture between two such airspaces, you should probably call the tower chief at the first one on the phone, and ask him or her what the recommended procedure is. If you know in advance what clearance they're going to give you, it makes it a whole lot easier to understand and comply!

[tu16]

Thanks, guys!

I've met a Seattle Center controller (who is also a pilot) at FAA Safety seminar last week and also e-mailed him my question regarding the commincation for a suggested flight plan above ( http://skyvector.com/?ll=47.47231741065 ... 9:V.K1.PAE ) .

Here's his reply:

Since I'm not a tower controller I'm basing my answer on pilot experience. The key is you don't want to be forced to go northeast right after leaving Renton.

I would tell Renton ground that you want a SeaTac transition AND flight following over the sound to AWO. The controller will get you a code for both. Once you pass SeaTac they may put you on BFI tower frequency but more likely they'll put you on SEA departure frequency for your BFI transition. Either way, if BFI has a lot of traffic they may not be able to let you fly that route. They may make you climb to 2500 or more or make you fly west over Vashon before turning north. Either way you'll get nice views.

If you find that every time you do this the controllers can't accommodate you due to traffic then I'd ask Renton ground for a SeaTac transition and flight following to Bremerton. Once SeaTac Tower sends you to SEA departure, check on to departure frequency, wait for a lull, and then say you are changing your destination to AWO.

Looks like arranging via RNT ground for a handoff to a Departure for a flight following at the end of Class Bravo transition with SEA Tower may be the best chance to attempt that transition with a least of a hassle.

[tu16]

Just to round this subject off - got my endorsement yesterday ;) woo-hoo...

Crossed SeaTac and then picked up flight following home. By the time I finally got flight following I was out of all Class D airspaces :) So I dropped my Napoleonic plans for scenic transitions and just happilly flew home.... :)

Wrt "flight following should clear you through intermediate Class D airspaces" there was in interesting incident on the way that says - DO NOT assume so, be smart about it.

On the way home Approach hands me off to a Center just few miles before Class D ahead. The first thing I hear from a Center after reporting in - "Paine Field Tower wants to talk to you" and approves a freq. change. ?! What's that supposed to mean? Am I handed off to tower or not? Or I'm busted? GPS shows that I'm probably already stuck my nose into Tower airspace. I'm making hard right to avoid further penetration into their space while trying to raise Tower which is totally busy. Assuming that I'm being hand off - I'm telling her that I'm "with her"... She never heard of me, I have to fully id myself, explain the whole story about Center, flight following etc. and get the transition happily approved....

Morale of the story probably is that some flight following handoffs can be awkward and may not allow to arrange for some class D transitions. This needs to be accounted for.

Happy flying!