Understanding my airspace

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03-13-2010, 03:18 PM

#11

USMCFLYR

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Joined APC: Mar 2008

Position: FAA 'Flight Check'

Posts: 13,837

Quote:

Originally Posted by abelenky

I sat down with my instructor to go over my airspace questions, and learned some interesting things, summarized here:

Where a segmented blue Class D line isn't visible, its assumed to follow a higher level (Class B or Class C) boundary above it.

The "Class D" around SEA (SeaTac) really implies, "If you want to fly beneath our Class B space, staying clear is NOT enough. You have to establish 2-way comms as well." Unlike most Class D spaces, they won't let you to the airport. Instead, they just want to be able to talk to low-level VFR craft in close proximity to their space.

The boundaries on the map of airspaces can be, and in this case, are quite different from what the controllers understand and go by. Even though BFI's airspace goes right next to Renton's field, if you get that close to Renton without contacting them, they will likely get mad at you. Even though the map shows a dividing line between BFI and RNT out in the water, both towers seem to operate as if the shoreline separates their airspaces.

Overall, it seems the map is a guide, but no substitute for local knowledge and talking with experienced pilots and controllers, who may only be going by the maps in a loose sense.

Or might it be....that the maps are the *official* answer and the towers operate on some type of MOU or even just a handshake between the controllers?

Glad you came across those other answers though. Thanks for sharing.

USMCFLYR

03-16-2010, 01:26 PM

#12

pilot1278

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Joined APC: Mar 2009

Posts: 124

"I'm particularly interested in whats known as the Valley Arrival, from the south, since a little too far east, and you're over Renton's field, and a tiny bit too far west and you're in Seattle's Class B. It looks like a very narrow "gate" for a new VFR pilot to hit."

With the "Valley Arrival", you are basically following the train tracks inbound and report over Kent. If it's a south flow, you'll want to stay slightly east of the tracks, where you'll join left downwind for 13L. If it's a north flow, you'll stay on top of the tracks.