Greetings:Here are some points of information for those that flew from SBA to SBP on Sat evening. These are by no means intended to be all inclusive, but just a few choice points for future flight operations.
- SBA is a class C airport. Typically at these larger airports you're required to call to clearance delivery for departure instructions even if you're flying VFR.
- The active runways at SBA for light aircraft are typically 15L and 15R
- SBA has a range of mountains directly to the north, so departures northbound are assigned 15R.
- Typical VFR departure clearances for northbound traffic are to fly a slight right turn heading after departure (something like 170 or 180 degrees). There may be altitude restrictions.
- Typical VFR northbound departures will be vectored along the coast westbound for a while and will eventually be able to resume your own navigation. (IFR departures would of course follow the DP.)
- Because Class C has radar services, once you're clear of the immediate airport traffic area, you'll be told to contact Santa Barbara departure. When first contact is made with ATC, be sure to include your altitude. Because you're being handed off from another ATC controller, all you need to say is "Santa Barbara Departure, <full callsign> with you at X feet".
- Once you're clear of SBA's Class C airspace, you'll be handed off Los Angeles Center. Once again, because you're being handed off from another ATC controller, all you need to say is "Los Angeles Center, <full callsign> with you at X feet".
- ARTCC will reply radar contact if they have you and will give you the altimeter setting for the nearest airport.
- ARTCC may at this point ask you to report your altitude.
- About 10nm out from your destination, ARTCC will usually terminate flight following and tell you to contact your arrival tower. When you contact tower, you need to report where you are and the ATIS information designation. For example, "San Luis Tower, <full callsign>, <location, location in relation to the airport or VFR reporting point>, <ATIS designation>, <other instruction like touch and go's if applicable>."
- Once you contact the tower (they'll assume you're landing if you only report ATIS). You'll be told how to enter the pattern, your sequencing (if any), and where to report again or you'll be cleared to land (if you're cleared to land, you won't have to report again). Typical secondary reporting points at KSBP are abeam the tower, on the 45-entry to downwind, and 4 mile final.
Some suggestions:
- We should fly these flights using real weather. This way the altimeter settings will work properly, and winds (ATIS) will dictate which runway is active.
I guess that's about it. If you have any questions or anything you'd like to add, please reply to this thread.
Until next flight!
Ben
-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Ben Chiu
-OLR.PL v1.80-