Black Friday Trip to Willows (KWLW)

[katzhome]

Got to do a Black Friday 2nd Solo in N43CA.  Actually went somewhere versus just getting gas!

I decided to head to Willows, a 3 hour drive, and it was a 52 minute flight with a tailwind!  Got to have a “$100 Egg brunch” and bring a blackberry pie home for the family.  6 more hours before I can take people with me.

Also got to see and hear the radio calls from a KC-135 taking off from Travis AFB.  He was just off my back left shoulder as I flew past.
Wonderful flying day.

 

Willows was a really nice airport, there were about 3-4 other planes there during the time I was there, a Baron, a 172, an experimental if I recall correctly.  A little bumpy on the taxiway, where I had to worry about prop ground clearance!  The fuel dock worked just fine and the price was much better than in the Bay Area.  Nancy's Airport Cafe is a great little restaurant right on the field.  Very slight variable winds, I landed and took off via runway 34.  The Baron and Cessna used 16. 

 

As always NorCal, Travis and Oakland ATC were efficient and helpful for flight following.

 

Really loving flying this airplane!

Edited November 26, 2022 by katzhome
Added photos.

[MooneyMitch]

You’re livin’ the life!!! Thank you for sharing your excitement!! 

[katzhome]

On 11/26/2022 at 9:29 AM, MooneyMitch said:

You’re livin’ the life!!! Thank you for sharing your excitement!! 

Thanks @MooneyMitch, I am really starting to feel capable with this plane.  Does anyone have recommendations for other spots to visit?

[MooneyMitch]

I believe Harris Ranch was mentioned as a nice destination, narrow runway.

San Luis Obispo, lunch at on field Spirit restaurant.

Paso Robles, excellent 29er diner on field.

Oceano.  2 block walk to beach.  2315 foot runway.  Proper approach speed and stable approach and the Mooney does just fine.

Santa Maria.  Mexican restaurant on field…….8,000 foot runway so you can make multiple landings and take off on one pass…. Lol.  
 

Beautiful Santa Inez……. walk to Chumash Casino.

Have a blast!! 

[Skates97]

1 hour ago, MooneyMitch said:

I believe Harris Ranch was mentioned as a nice destination, narrow runway.

San Luis Obispo, lunch at on field Spirit restaurant.

Paso Robles, excellent 29er diner on field.

Oceano.  2 block walk to beach.  2315 foot runway.  Proper approach speed and stable approach and the Mooney does just fine.

Santa Maria.  Mexican restaurant on field…….8,000 foot runway so you can make multiple landings and take off on one pass…. Lol.  
 

Beautiful Santa Inez……. walk to Chumash Casino.

Have a blast!! 

We like going to Santa Inez, catch an uber into Solvang, wander around and find some good food. Lot's of options for eating.

[ZuluZulu]

22 hours ago, katzhome said:

Thanks @MooneyMitch, I am really starting to feel capable with this plane.  Does anyone have recommendations for other spots to visit?

Visit SMO before it closes after 2028.  Plus: AVX (Catalina), MYF (San Diego/Montgomery) or SEE (San Diego/El Cajon), HII (Havasu), L35 (Big Bear), CMA (Camarillo--Waypoint Cafe), SBA (Santa Barbara), SEZ (Sedona).

[carusoam]

Go somewhere several states away… because you can!

NJ is just to the East…

-a-

[katzhome]

13 hours ago, MooneyMitch said:

I believe Harris Ranch was mentioned as a nice destination, narrow runway.

San Luis Obispo, lunch at on field Spirit restaurant.

Paso Robles, excellent 29er diner on field.

Oceano.  2 block walk to beach.  2315 foot runway.  Proper approach speed and stable approach and the Mooney does just fine.

Santa Maria.  Mexican restaurant on field…….8,000 foot runway so you can make multiple landings and take off on one pass…. Lol.  
 

Beautiful Santa Inez……. walk to Chumash Casino.

Have a blast!! 

@MooneyMitch

I have done Harris Ranch in one of my school's C172...not ready in the Mooney yet.  Maybe another month!  Oceano I probably need to practice short field landings a bit more, but the beach and town would be fun.

SLO would be fun.  I have been to Paso Robles, but again in a C172...would be fun to go back.

I was reading comments on Santa Maria, the airport looks nice (BIG runway), but there were concerns about criticism from controllers...looks like most of those were several years ago.

Santa Inez also looks cool. @Skates97

[carusoam]

+1 for controlling energy…. Short field technique.

The big difference between the trainers and the Mooney….

The Mooney doesn’t slow as easily….  And takes a bit to get used to…

Best regards,

-a-

[katzhome]

2 hours ago, ZuluZulu said:

Visit SMO before it closes after 2028.  Plus: AVX (Catalina), MYF (San Diego/Montgomery) or SEE (San Diego/El Cajon), HII (Havasu), L35 (Big Bear), CMA (Camarillo--Waypoint Cafe), SBA (Santa Barbara), SEZ (Sedona).

@ZuluZulu Those look pretty cool.  Catalina of course...not ready for that one yet!

Anyone on this thread done LAX or San Diego Bravo transitions?  I've been starting to study those.

Santa Barbara is one I can do pretty soon.

I'll probably go back to Paso Robles, then stretch out to SLO and Santa Barbara.

[katzhome]

1 minute ago, carusoam said:

+1 for controlling energy…. Short field technique.

The big difference between the trainers and the Mooney….

The Mooney doesn’t slow as easily….  And takes a bit to get used to…

Best regards,

-a-

Hey @carusoam, yes and it was a different feeling on those approaches versus the C172, a very different angle of view and descent.

[carusoam]

Important rule of thumb to consider…

+10kts fast = +1k’ of float….

If your short field is only 2k’ long…

and 1k’ gets by without touching the ground…

It is a set-up for another mistake… forced nose wheel landing, and bad bounces…

Go arounds are free….

PP thoughts only, not a CFI…. 

-a-

[ZuluZulu]

5 hours ago, katzhome said:

@ZuluZulu Those look pretty cool.  Catalina of course...not ready for that one yet!

Anyone on this thread done LAX or San Diego Bravo transitions?  I've been starting to study those.

Santa Barbara is one I can do pretty soon.

I'll probably go back to Paso Robles, then stretch out to SLO and Santa Barbara.

Never a bad idea to bring a local CFI along when visiting SoCal.  You can get recommendations on here, or PM me if you'd like some suggestions.

I'm not God's gift to aviation and have made plenty of errors but here is what I've learned flying in SoCal the last several years as a newer pilot.

Catalina can be done with proper planning and landing proficiency.  Be disciplined enough to go around when needed instead of trying to save a bad landing and you'll be fine.

Has anyone done the LAX and San Diego Bravo transitions: yes.  Suggestion: Study the TAC supplement for LA ahead of time and pre-program user waypoints into your GTN 750 to help guide you.  My most often used are the Coastal Route and the LA Special Flight Rules Area.  As for San Diego, ATC is quite generous with Bravo transitions direct to KSEE, just expect some step-down altitude instructions from about Carlsbad-Palomar on.  Many times I've simply exited the LAX special flight rules area heading southbound and -D-> KSEE with flight following from there, and I've never needed to deviate other than accepting some altitude instructions and some occasional vectors around KSNA traffic.  If they haven't offered the Bravo to you by the time you're south of KSNA's Charlie, just ask for it and you'll probably get it.  Sorry, not much KMYF experience, but study the sectional and get flight following.  And know where Mount Soledad is.

Santa Barbara is also easy.  Most of the time, expect to follow the 101 as your right base into 15R coming from the west or left base into 15L coming from the east.  Departure is the same, 15L or 15R, they will keep you low over the ocean (~ 1500') until you're far enough out not to interfere with airline traffic, then they'll let you climb.  But if flying low over the ocean makes you nervous, you can ask for 25 instead and you'll usually get it.

[Skates97]

10 hours ago, katzhome said:

@MooneyMitch

I have done Harris Ranch in one of my school's C172...not ready in the Mooney yet.  Maybe another month!  Oceano I probably need to practice short field landings a bit more, but the beach and town would be fun.

SLO would be fun.  I have been to Paso Robles, but again in a C172...would be fun to go back.

I was reading comments on Santa Maria, the airport looks nice (BIG runway), but there were concerns about criticism from controllers...looks like most of those were several years ago.

Santa Inez also looks cool. @Skates97

I was in and out of KSMX a couple times in the past few months to drop my plane off for paint and pick it up. The controllers were great. Maybe they are different than the ones there a few years ago. Or... if it is like KFUL where one of them is grumpy and the others are great maybe I just got a couple of the good ones. 

9 hours ago, katzhome said:

@ZuluZulu Those look pretty cool.  Catalina of course...not ready for that one yet!

Anyone on this thread done LAX or San Diego Bravo transitions?  I've been starting to study those.

Santa Barbara is one I can do pretty soon.

I'll probably go back to Paso Robles, then stretch out to SLO and Santa Barbara.

I'll echo what @ZuluZulu said about the transitions. I use the Special Flight Rules over LAX all the time. It is easy but keep your eyes out for other traffic. I haven't used any of the other transitions through the LAX Bravo, but the SoCal controllers are great. My experience in San Diego is the same as he mentioned, most of the time I get a Bravo clearance. Even without there is a section where you can go 3,500 or 4,500 and stay out of the Bravo.

Catalina is fun, one of the favorite destinations when I ask if people want to go fly. For us it is just 20 minutes from KFUL. Read all the info on it and be aware of the illusions. Fly a standard pattern and know that the normal visual cues go away on downwind when you go from 1,000 AGL  to 2,600 AGL as you leave the island and are over the ocean. If you are looking for visual cues you will think you are high, but just fly your standard pattern and you will be fine. There is a hump in the middle of the runway so it looks shorter than it is, but there is plenty of runway there. They recently redid the runway, but it is still very bumpy, they didn't grind the transitions between the concrete slabs smooth. I treat it as a soft field landing and takeoff.

[MooneyMitch]

40 minutes ago, Skates97 said:

I was in and out of KSMX a couple times in the past few months to drop my plane off for paint and pick it up. The controllers were great. Maybe they are different than the ones there a few years ago. Or... if it is like KFUL where one of them is grumpy and the others are great maybe I just got a couple of the good ones. 

Lol…… yes on both accounts…… there are some new controllers at SMX and the grumpy ones are still perched in the tower 

 

[MooneyMitch]

5 hours ago, ZuluZulu said:

Santa Barbara is also easy.  Most of the time, expect to follow the 101 as your right base into 15R coming from the west or left base into 15L coming from the east.  Departure is the same, 15L or 15R, they will keep you low over the ocean (~ 1500') until you're far enough out not to interfere with airline traffic, then they'll let you climb.  But if flying low over the ocean makes you nervous, you can ask for 25 instead and you'll usually get it.

I always requested 25 for departure.  I didn’t care to be sent out of 15 over the beautiful Pacific, lingering at low altitude waiting for clearance to head west towards terra firma.  A suggestion…. certainly don’t request 25 if you see or hear airliners taxing to 25, or holding for 25.  You probably won’t get the 25 request honored…. at least for awhile.

Expect a hefty fee for parking at one of the FBO’s.  Unfortunately these days, ga parking is only at one of them. Days gone by, we had the Elephant Bar (restaurant) for parking and non-restricted airport access.  Now SBA is secured by the overly zealous TSA.

[ZuluZulu]

4 hours ago, Skates97 said:

I'll echo what @ZuluZulu said about the transitions. I use the Special Flight Rules over LAX all the time. It is easy but keep your eyes out for other traffic. I haven't used any of the other transitions through the LAX Bravo, but the SoCal controllers are great. My experience in San Diego is the same as he mentioned, most of the time I get a Bravo clearance. Even without there is a section where you can go 3,500 or 4,500 and stay out of the Bravo.

One more thing to add about using transitions: knowing which one you are going to use is part of your preflight planning. Expect that a sector controller will ask you once you get closer: “3CA, SoCal Approach, how do you plan to transit the Los Angeles class Bravo.” Sometimes I’m asked even before I get to KSNA when heading north. They will be looking for “LA Special Flight Rules area,” or “Coastal Route,” or whatever you’ve decided on. And you’ll get, “you can expect that,” or, “roger, you can request that from the next controller.” Just don’t get caught off-guard when they ask. (LASFR is not an ATC-issued transition, but if you give it as your intention without being at the proper altitude, they might ask you to confirm. I usually just throw in, “ready to descend VFR to 4,500 whenever convenient for you” so they don’t have to waste breath asking.) 

Okay, two things to add. Make sure you read the entire chart. Sometimes people miss that the LASFR has a speed restriction: do not exceed 140 KIAS. In a J you will often need to slow down to comply. (And now you know why I prefer the Coastal Route if I’m not landing somewhere in the LA basin.) Even at 140 KIAS you WILL overtake the typical C-172, PA28, and CRUZ traffic using the LASFR. Once I had to pass two 172s at the same time. So be ready to pass them on the right. You’re technically supposed to follow the SMO 132° radial, but in my experience ATC will not notice as long as you remain inside of both the ocean shoreline and the eastern thresholds of the LAX runways. I have seen other aircraft WAY off the radial and nothing ever seemed to happen to them as long as they were within the boundaries I mentioned. Once my friend accidentally tuned the VNY VOR instead of SMO and we were pretty well off course. I was imagining getting intercepted by an F-22 or the dreaded phone number to copy but nothing happened because we were still inside of the shoreline and the runway thresholds. Stray outside of that “box” and you likely will be noticed. So stay on the radial unless you need to pass! Again: not a CFI! Talk to one for help instead of listening to Some Internet Guy!

[carusoam]

Great insights shared gents!

Go MS!

Best regards,

-a-

[Skates97]

20 hours ago, ZuluZulu said:

Okay, two things to add. Make sure you read the entire chart. Sometimes people miss that the LASFR has a speed restriction: do not exceed 140 KIAS. In a J you will often need to slow down to comply. 

My ferry ride from dropping the plane off and going to pick it up at KSMX was in my friend's Harmon Rocket, I had to remind him to slooooowwwww down. 

[ZuluZulu]

5 hours ago, Skates97 said:

My ferry ride from dropping the plane off and going to pick it up at KSMX was in my friend's Harmon Rocket, I had to remind him to slooooowwwww down. 

Which makes sense!  Sometimes it feels like I'm making calls into the blind with not a single soul in the LASFRA with me, but other times it can be very busy.  On the day I passed those two C-172's there were also a couple other planes farther toward the shoreline, and every single plane seemed to have a radically different interpretation of where the 132º radial actually is.  Almost like we were all trying to fly the world's worst and most spread-out formation.  It's damn unsafe to scream through such a congested area, honestly even 140 knots is pretty fast for making see-and-avoid decisions bunched so close together, especially when people insist on flying so far east of the radial that I can't pass them on the right like I'm supposed to without leaving the shoreline-threshold box I mentioned earlier.  Lots of slow training traffic uses the LASFRA.  And dear God, who wants a midair a few thousand feet above LAX of all places.  No thanks.

[katzhome]

20 minutes ago, ZuluZulu said:

Which makes sense!  Sometimes it feels like I'm making calls into the blind with not a single soul in the LASFRA with me, but other times it can be very busy.  On the day I passed those two C-172's there were also a couple other planes farther toward the shoreline, and every single plane seemed to have a radically different interpretation of where the 132º radial actually is.  Almost like we were all trying to fly the world's worst and most spread-out formation.  It's damn unsafe to scream through such a congested area, honestly even 140 knots is pretty fast for making see-and-avoid decisions bunched so close together, especially when people insist on flying so far east of the radial that I can't pass them on the right like I'm supposed to without leaving the shoreline-threshold box I mentioned earlier.  Lots of slow training traffic uses the LASFRA.  And dear God, who wants a midair a few thousand feet above LAX of all places.  No thanks.

Thank you all very much.  I’ve been reading up on the transition routes and listening to LiveATC for the SFRA and the nearby approaches during my commute.  It’s great to hear real-life experiences from those that have done it as well.  @ZuluZulu @Skates97

[ZuluZulu]

2 hours ago, katzhome said:

Thank you all very much.  I’ve been reading up on the transition routes and listening to LiveATC for the SFRA and the nearby approaches during my commute.  It’s great to hear real-life experiences from those that have done it as well.  @ZuluZulu @Skates97

It's not on the chart but you might hear slower traffic call "North Complex" and "South Complex" over LAX.  The Mooney is too fast for that, so I just say I'm above LAX.  By the time you finish the call you might be over Imperial Highway.

Also be sure to note the maroon box between KSNA and KAVX on the sectional, which tells you what frequency to contact for flight following after you exit the LASFRA to the south (127.2).  And if you're ever departing KSMO intending to fly south via the LASFRA, you can squawk 1201 even on the ground.  The controllers are very familiar with the LASFRA and will know exactly what that means: a right climbing 270º turn for the Special Flight Rules.  A friend who knows the controllers told me they appreciate it.

Edited December 2, 2022 by ZuluZulu

[JamesMooney]

On 11/30/2022 at 12:16 AM, katzhome said:

@MooneyMitch

I have done Harris Ranch in one of my school's C172...not ready in the Mooney yet.  Maybe another month!  Oceano I probably need to practice short field landings a bit more, but the beach and town would be fun.

SLO would be fun.  I have been to Paso Robles, but again in a C172...would be fun to go back.

I was reading comments on Santa Maria, the airport looks nice (BIG runway), but there were concerns about criticism from controllers...looks like most of those were several years ago.

Santa Inez also looks cool. @Skates97

I'm based (recently - just moved from the east coast) at SLO (KSBP). The restaurant I'm told is amazing. Every weekend I fly AWAY from that airport to go somewhere else, just as everyone else is flying TO it. Judging from the inbound weekend morning traffic, the SBP restaurant is fantastic!

I have a few other suggestions I've slowly created - will share in a post later down.

[JamesMooney]

All the suggestions above are fantastic! I'm a newbie to the region too, but I've started to check some off the list (and I have a story to share - below).

On my list right now, besides all the ideas suggested above, are: O22 (Columbia CA), MRY (Monterrey), CNO (Chino), SZP (Santa Paula), CMA (Camarillo), HAF (Half Moon Bay) - all have restaurants in walking distance or on the field. I also recently did breakfast at Bakersfield Municipal. Food was amazing, but I was a lonely single airplane for 90 minutes on a weekend.

Ok, so the story. We flew up to KSTS (Santa Rosa) intending to take a rental car 15 minutes to Healdsburg for lunch in a beautiful town. Near Monterrey, NORCAL App gave me a new routing that would have taken us 17-25 miles out over the water, at 8,000. I carry life jackets (east coast pilot used to flying near the Great Lakes), but not a raft, and not planning to go for a swim. I initially asked for an alternate routing. They said "please wait" and never came back. I then called back 15 minutes later and offered a suggestion ("Deviate 30 degrees right for 15 miles, then resume direct ABCDE fix to rejoin the Vxxx airway"). They ignored the deviate request, and gave me direct the fix - still 15-25 miles into the ocean. I protested, and they told me to wait my turn with all the landing planes at MRY (its busy - but its not DCA, IAD, JFK, LGA, SFO, LAX.... c'mon....). By this point, I had been negotiating with them for over 30 minutes and at least 60 miles. I was starting to approach the Monterrey peninsula and was running out of land. My assigned course would have taken me at least 15 miles outside gliding range of the Mooney at 8k. So, I keyed the mic, and refused. I said "Unable to comply with assigned routing due to single engine over water. As explained, alternate routings offered including 30 degree deviate right or direct VWXYZ fix." ATC was annoyed and simply told me to turn 90 degrees right and fly for 30 miles. It wasn't a great exchange, but I felt I did all I could - I respectfully asked 4 times for alternate routings, gave them options, and was mostly ignored by an over-worked controlled who I respect and feel for. But, the point is, around water (or mountains, or whatever your consideration is), feel comfortable saying NO. Only the PIC is responsible: no one else - for the safety of the aircraft and those around it. We carried on and had an amazing time in Healdsburg, and a lovely flight back with NORCAL, Oakland, and Santa Barbara app.

As a side note, I find SOCAL controllers to be much friendlier, more relaxed, and more on the ball compared to NORCAL. Maybe its a staffing thing, because it certainly isn't a volume issue.