cpt chris

Another pilot asked me a good question the other day. He asked: If you are on an IFR flight plan and under ATC control, are you required to continue the heading assigned if you enter into class G? I assumed no because class G is uncontrolled but then I got to thinking, what would be the process that would take place there. Would ATC cancel your flight plan or could you keep it open and pick it back up on the other side of the class G if you were simply transitioning. Anybody have any info on this subject?

blastoff

I think the fact that you're on an active IFR flight plan and being handled by a controller supersedes the fact that you're in Class G. If you don't like his vectors, cancel IFR. ATC doesn't have to keep you out of Class G to still own you, but you must be owned by ATC before you leave Class G if its IMC.

jmcmanna

Are there any areas of useable radar coverage in class G airspace?

ATC can't vector an IFR airplane in class G airspace (which is why we say "entering controlled airspace fly heading...). In a terminal radar environment, controllers can vector airplanes as low as the minimum vectoring altitude. To go below that, and then descend into class G airspace, an IFR aircraft has to be on some sort of approach.

The reason I ask the first question in this post is because for an IFR aircraft to go into a non-radar area, they are usually required by ATC to go onto a non-radar route (i.e. airways, which are class E airspace).

I think most of the class G areas between 1200' agl and 14500' msl are in areas of little or no radar coverage.

It's hard for ATC to separate IFR aircraft in a non-radar area on random (not on airways) routes because there are no reporting points, etc... to know where these airplanes are, so I'm not sure of a time when an aircraft would be in class G airspace, under IFR, not on an approach.

If anyone's got more information, hopefully with some sources, I would love to see it regarding IFR in class G airspace.

joepilot

There are many uncontrolled airports, mostly in mountainous areas, that have no radar or radio coverage, and a large amount of altitude between the ground and the MEA. Many of these have no instrument approaches, or instrument departure procedures. You are perfectly legal to file IFR and depart with a telephone void time clearance (at least Part 91), but you are really, really, on your own. It is up to you to design your own terrain avoidance departure plan, including plans for an engine failure. The Feds want absolutely no part of this type of operation, and since it is conducted in uncontrolled airspace, they can avoid it.

For approaches to these airports, of course, if you are not VMC by the MEA, you go to your alternate.

Joe

rickair7777

Actually it does not. ATC does not have the authority nor the resources to control you in class G, and they should terminate such control prior to your entering class G. It really is "Uncontrolled Airspace"

if you start IFR in class G with the intent of entering controlled airspace, you should file a flight plan so ATC knows when and where to expect you. Contact them before entering controlled airspace under IFR.

You can fly under IFR in class G, obeying all the usual rules (terrain clearance, route, equipment, currency, etc). Traffic separation is do-it-yourself..."Big-Sky, Little-Airplane" theory. In places where there is a lot of class G IFR (Alaska) the locals use air-to-air advisory freqs and report their positions frequently to avoid midairs.