Originally Posted by
ToiletDuck
Today I had to fly the Merlin to SAT. While waiting on Mrs. Bossman the Bossman and I started talking. As usual he just starts grilling me on everything.
We got onto the topic of airspaces. He asked me what airspace I thought SAT was in. I said Class C. He bet me a 6pack of beer on it that it was Class D. I'm looking at the sectional and it still says C yet he tells me to keep reading my books. Am I missing something? Please don't tell me that it's class D up to 2500agl and 4nm of the airport then surrrounding space is C.
Secondly he asked if a transponder was required. I said that it is required when operating above or within Class C. So after some BS calls and a second 6pack of beer bet he starts asking me if a C-172 without a transponder could fly in. We argued back and forth for awhile however we never came to a conclusion. As usual the FAR's always have loopholes. Such as, "except if authorized by ATC" before the transponder req. FAR 91.216.
What say you?
Tony feel free to toss on in. I need something concrete. Hopefully in my favor. There's a 12pack of Budweiser I've been eyeballing at the store for the past 3 months I'd like to get my hands on.
Don't know about SAT, but I would assume that if the sectional and afd both say it's class C, and there aren't any NOTAMs to the opposite, then your boss owes you some beer.
As for the transponder, 91.215 says that a transponder is required in and above class C up to 10,000 feet, and that it's required above 10,000 feet anywhere (excluding at and below 2,500 AGL). However, here's your loophole: 91.215(b) says "Unless otherwise authorized or directed by ATC." The 172 could get in, but it would be required to send in a request at least one hour before it wants to come in (91.215(d)(3)).