Flight through A-292 to get to KPNS

[jcolgan]

I am planning a VFR flight from North Alabama down to KPNS, Pensacola, which means I have to fly through Alert Area 292.  Thursday around noon.
No way to avoid it.  Never been in an alert area before, other than flight following and keeping my head on a swivel any words of wisdom?

[Fly Boomer]

11 minutes ago, jcolgan said:

I am planning a VFR flight from North Alabama down to KPNS, Pensacola, which means I have to fly through Alert Area 292.  Thursday around noon.
No way to avoid it.  Never been in an alert area before, other than flight following and keeping my head on a swivel any words of wisdom?

I have never encountered an Alert Area, but these two statements from an FAA publication don't sound expecially threatening.  Head on a swivel sounds reasonable:

"Only those activities that do not pose a hazard to other aircraft may be conducted in an alert area."

and

"Alert areas do not impose any flight restrictions or communications or ATC clearance requirements on pilots either operating within, or transiting the area."

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/pham_html/chapter_26.html

 

 

[Skates97]

Also from the same publication:

"Alert areas are established to inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that contain a high volume of pilot training operations, or an unusual type of aeronautical activity, that they might not otherwise expect to encounter. Pilots are advised to be particularly alert when flying in these areas."

So... we need to be alert when in those areas and relaxed in other areas? 

I've never transited one but sounds like they're trying to say there may be more going on than you would expect in a particular area. 

[EricJ]

We have some Alert Areas around here.   They're kind of a step down from MOAs, which you are not prohibited to fly in.   There's really no issue with flying in one, other than exercise some additional caution.

For example, the main Alert Area near here is associated with Luke AFB, which is typically closed on the weekends.   Even during the week it's not a big deal and you can fly in it, but on the weekends when Luke is closed it is a total non-issue.

[redbaron1982]

I haven't fly through an alert area (yet), but whenever that happens I will do it with flight following. 

[Ragsf15e]

3 hours ago, jcolgan said:

I am planning a VFR flight from North Alabama down to KPNS, Pensacola, which means I have to fly through Alert Area 292.  Thursday around noon.
No way to avoid it.  Never been in an alert area before, other than flight following and keeping my head on a swivel any words of wisdom?

Flight following certainly helps.  Expect the controllers to be busy though because it’s pretty tight between all the MOAs and the military airspace off the coast.  I’ve flown through that one before and I just stayed high because it was in the middle of my xc from Tx to eastern Florida.  I think I went through at 9500 or maybe 11,500 and it was no issue.  Obviously you’ll need to come down to get to kpns, but staying higher when possible keeps you away from most of the training activities.

[MountainGoat]

That's where about half of navy primary flight school is.   Keep an eye out for young mavericks and gooses learning their trade in t-6 texan 2s quite possibly doing aerobatics and formation flights and some young rotorheads doing whatever helicopter pilots do.  Well be less busy on weekends. 

[201Mooniac]

We have A-682 around here which is Travis AFB.  Never an issue to fly through.  I always talk to the controller, they are really helpful and pleasant so no reason not to.

[jcolgan]

The flight through A-292 was a non-event. Didn’t see any traffic until hitting the C airspace, which was quite busy. 

next adventure is flying down to Wet Wingologist in Ft Lauderdale for my July tank reseal. That looks to be busy airspace. plan on trying for an 8 AM arrival before things get crazy busy. 

[Hank]

 

10 hours ago, jcolgan said:

The flight through A-292 was a non-event. Didn’t see any traffic until hitting the C airspace, which was quite busy. 

next adventure is flying down to Wet Wingologist in Ft Lauderdale for my July tank reseal. That looks to be busy airspace. plan on trying for an 8 AM arrival before things get crazy busy. 

I went there a few years ago, Edison did a great job. 

Things to expect:

• In Florida, VFR altitudes are North/South rather than East/West
• If IFR, you'll go down V3; I joined around Daytona.
• Palm Beach vectored me over the Everglades at 4000, then I had to descend to 2000. Nothing out the windows except swamp, grass and gators.
• Ft. Lauderdale sent me several miles out to sea before turning me inbound. At 2000'.

But the flight was a non-event. Went V3 both ways in my Mooney, and on the airlines. Right down the east coast and near the Shuttle facility.

It's still the furthest South I've taken my Mooney. Have fun, and enjoy yourself!

[jcolgan]

I’m VFR and planning on flying right down the center of the state. Considering making it an early flight, around 6 AM to enjoy reduced traffic.

Using airways never occurred to me. 

[Hank]

16 minutes ago, jcolgan said:

I’m VFR and planning on flying right down the center of the state. Considering making it an early flight, around 6 AM to enjoy reduced traffic.

Using airways never occurred to me. 

Just be prepared for the almost-overlapping Bravo airspace of Tampa and Orlando.

[jcolgan]

My plan.  Just occurred to me that there might be quite a bit of traffic squeezing between those two bravo class air spaces.

[Fly Boomer]

7 minutes ago, jcolgan said:

My plan.  Just occurred to me that there might be quite a bit of traffic squeezing between those two bravo class air spaces.

I don't know about that corridor but, in general, higher is less congested.

[Yetti]

It's like "No littering in Park"   as if it is OK to litter outside the park

[Hank]

1 hour ago, jcolgan said:

My plan.  Just occurred to me that there might be quite a bit of traffic squeezing between those two bravo class air spaces.

Just be prepared for ATC to move you over the Atlantic coastline. Your plan may work, but it may not.

[RoundTwo]

6 hours ago, jcolgan said:

My plan.  Just occurred to me that there might be quite a bit of traffic squeezing between those two bravo class air spaces.

Okeechobee is usually a great stop for cheap fuel before Lauderdale.