Looking for East Coast tips/tricks/recommendations

[KSMooniac]

I probably should've started this earlier, but we're launching tomorrow for a trip to DE from KS, and will likely head to NYC on Monday.  I've got my route to DE and through the DC SFRA pretty much planned, but I'm looking for advice on the best routing up the coast from DE to NYC.  I'm fine talking on the radio, but have no experience in that part of the country.  I know in some Class B areas (like DFW) it is common to get denied Class B clearance for transient flights, and they even get pissy if you go over the top VFR.  I'm thinking I should literally just head up the coast?  Initial plan is to fly the Hudson corridor and land/park at White Plains, then take public transportation back into the city.  Is this reasonable?

 

I've taken both SFRA web classes so I'm familiar with the procedures, at least academically.  I'll probably go IFR to DE for easier handling around DC.  Unsure about what I should do for the DE--> NYC leg.

 

How about departing White Plains and heading back west?  VFR, IFR, routing, etc....all tips appreciated!  I'm also open to suggestions for the NYC airport with considerations of cost and convenience...weighted more towards cost since I'm a frugal Mooney guy. 

[Oscar Avalle]

I would consider flying into Caldwell NJ. KCDW. Nice airport, not to expensive.

[John Pleisse]

A few things strike me.

 

1) Eastern KY and and Western WVA, not many places to put it down. This is "ripply" mountainous terrain with few long, wide valleys (Hank?) mostly river beds and an occassional strip mine. I would avoid it at night and IMC. It goes on for a while.

 

2) IFR for DC SFRA. Monitor guard.

 

3) If you are IFR through the Philly area, they almost always want you at 5 and 6 msl,

 

4) There are constant TFR's for the VP's residence in Wilmington, mostly weekends. He also likes the beach and will use KGED, occasionally.

 

5) Leaving Westchester, I have always gotten direct East Texas, thence.

 

6) NYC, I stopped using Teeterboro years ago (zoo). I always use Morristown. Easy car rental and I am through the Holland Tunnel and in Tribecca in under 30 mins.

 

7) Don't be surprised, a month or two after returning to KS, to have usage fee bills arrive from the Ports Authorities of NY and NJ.

 

Hope you get a big fat tail wind.

[Hank]

There are few decent emergency landing sites in E. KY or anywhere in WV. Altitude is your friend! Southern and eastern PA and western MD are similarly wrinkled. I've only been past East Texas VOR on one trip; watch the variable Camp David TFR near there, but IFR should take care of that.

Let me know when you're coming through--I'm on the Ohio River at the WV/KY border, about 30 Mooney minutes east of Sportys. Maybe my nose gear will be back together by then. :-)

[KSMooniac]

I'm planning to go moderately high, or higher if there are tailwinds to be had.  I even dug out the O2 bottle this week and might give it some exercise!

 

First cut at the plan is a Thursday afternoon departure with an overnight stop somewhere in route... thinking Madison, IN currently as it is on the route and has reasonable fuel prices.  Initially I thought Cincy or Louisville would be fun, but I'm not fond of $7.XX+ fuel!

 

John, we're not going to get a rental car, so does that change your airport recommendation?  Friends live in Battery Park so we need to find our way there ultimately.

[gjkirsch]

There is a corridor for flights right up the coast over long island at 6000 and 7000 feet.  I have gone up and back from Baltimore to Boston and it is really easy.  Out of BWI, It is swann3.swann, OOD, Davys, brand, rbv, laurn, jfk, kbos.  Actually, stopped at Northwood (owd) just outside of Boston.  Logan is nuts for what they want for GA to land there.  Pretty flight and not a lot of water.

[Marauder]

I'm planning to go moderately high, or higher if there are tailwinds to be had. I even dug out the O2 bottle this week and might give it some exercise! First cut at the plan is a Thursday afternoon departure with an overnight stop somewhere in route... thinking Madison, IN currently as it is on the route and has reasonable fuel prices. Initially I thought Cincy or Louisville would be fun, but I'm not fond of $7.XX+ fuel! John, we're not going to get a rental car, so does that change your airport recommendation? Friends live in Battery Park so we need to find our way there ultimately.

Scott -- you are bound to hit severe hot VFR this weekend. I will monitor for you and keep you posted. Where in in Delaware are you staying? Delaware is a SMALL state and if you are close, let's grab a meal -- my treat (including family if they are coming as well). If you are on the northern side of Delaware, you can fly outside of the Philly Class B and head up to northern Jersey VFR. In northern NJ, I would let my esteemed colleague Mike (aka 201er) tell you about the NYC area and corridor.

[John Pleisse]

Scott....subway trains are close to Morristown, Westchester, etc. Do Teeterboro if you like. They sheared my nose wheel stops twice and were dicks about it. Teeterboro is the closest (right by Hoboken). You can be in the city with a 15 minute cab ride at the right time of day. Don't discount it. Westchester is 30 mins outside of town. Call Signature or somebody at Teeterboro first and see if it would work for you. Incredible views of the city. Also watch out, close intersecting runways (shallow X config). Also, 201'er Mike is at Linden (by Newark), maybe you should ping him as well.

[Bob_Belville]

If I can piggyback on KSMooniac's thread for similar info, we're flying from KMRN to KIWI (Western NC to Wiscasset ME) either Friday or Saturday. I think I'll fuel at KMFV or near there and my question is preferred routing IFR over/through NY. Years ago I often went right over KJFK @ 9000 so I'm looking at KMFV-CYN-JFK-HFD-KIWI. Will I get that routing?

 

Last year I stopped in Lancaster PA for the same trip but east of DC is shorter if NY center is cooperative. 

[Danb]

Scott,, I,m based at Kilg and often go west and back, heading to Ilg from Wva I would go MRB..Hagerstown and stay north of dc bwi area last few times I got direct MRB v-166 dqo dir. Recently no problem weather and depending landing at bwi may lead to SWANN. If Vfr cancel and stay on 166 to kilg.Philly control sucks so make sure they let u down soon enough ..Also Vfr to say Caldwell stay east of I-95 to stay out of philly easy to get to Caldwell this way. Hudson will be cool if Wx breaks good luck. Mooney 423ps. Dan

[201er]

head up to northern Jersey VFR. In northern NJ, I would let my esteemed colleague Mike (aka 201er) tell you about the NYC area and corridor.

Don't fly IFR coming into NYC if you can help it. They'll route you back to Kansas before turning you inbound. If you're sightseeing. follow the coast. If you just wanna get there, fly the corridor between philly and mcguire by using KVAY as a waypoint. If sightseeing, fly the hudson VFR at 1100ft. If just trying to get there, talk to Newark tower on 127.85 when you're in the vicinity of the VZ. Remember there's a speed limit on the lower deck, I think 140kias! So don't forget to bring the power way back and slow down as much as possible to sequence with the skyhawks and cherokees. I prefer the bravo transition skyline route cause it's actually much easier. There's a ton of helicopters and crazy VFR pilots down in the exclusion zone.

 

I can't recommend an airport cause I'm based here and drive. Whiteplains is ok. Republic is a zoo, Linden a crime zone, and teterboro a nightmare. Carry cash with you but not too much. Lock your doors. LOL

 

NYC controllers are actually the best I've encountered in the country. Short, sweet, and to the point. I guess they can come off rude if you don't know what you're doing. But if you are on top of things, it's no problem. Whenever I say "NY Approach, Mooney 4361H off Linden 800 for 1500, request Hudson North Bound" they come back to me with "Mooney 4361H direct VZ, Hudson northbound approved, cleared into Bravo." I really don't remember the last time I was denied bravo transition VFR and if I have it was very clear that workload was insane. I couldn't believe how comparatively workfree bravos like Phoenix deny everybody!

 

I'd show you around but I'll be gone till weds next week. If you're still around let me know and we can get pizza or something. PM me if you have specific questions about the airspace or things to see. Can't help you too much on the airports though.

[Alan Fox]

When you transition New York , Be at 5500 heading north/east , I have never been denied clearance to New York , Use Macguire for following and a handoff ...They are VERY busy , expect about 3 to 5 minutes before they get back to you .....You will be amazed how busy they are........

[jackn]

I second flying the Hudson VFR corridor then direct to HPN. Can't remember which FBO(maybe Signature) has a van that will take you to the train station. half hour to Mid-Town Manhattan.

[PTK]

If you just wanna get there, fly the corridor between philly and mcguire by using KVAY as a waypoint. I

 

 

Scott, if you do fly this VFR drop into VAY! We'll have lunch on me!

[KSMooniac]

Thanks for all the tips!  more are always appreciated.

 

Slight change of plans...we're unable to launch today due to workload, so next plan is an early Friday departure from KS to KGED in Delaware with a fuel/food stop enroute.  For the folks in the vicinity of Delaware, we could possibly be available for a lunch or dinner on Sunday.  N4352H/John will be in the area and we've already talked about meeting in person at some point.  Saturday is completely wiped out with an all-day party boat cruise up and down the coast.     Monday could possibly work as well, but I assume those not on vacation would not be available...

 

My first plan for NYC was to indeed fly the Hudson Corridor and stop an HPN, presuming the weather is good.  I'm on the fence about tangling in the exclusion zone and mixing it up with everyone, or taking the Skyline Route in the Class B.  *IF* my fancy new GDL 39 + ADS-B OUT in the plane is functioning as expected, I should see every bit of traffic on my tablet and that might make me more comfy in the exclusion zone.  We'll see.  I'll carry more than enough fuel in case we get the run-around treatment in any case.

 

BTW, I'm not scared of heat... y'all are making national news with temps in the 90s!  Sheesh.  We hit 107 here recently, and it ain't a dry Arizona heat either!     (I have an ice chest A/C, and some new fancy cooling towels to wrap around heads and necks as needed, just in case)

[Marauder]

Well, the good news is the weather will be breaking over the weekend as a cold front finally makes it way down from Canada. Temps next week are expected to be in the mid 80s.

[Danb]

Scott..right on climb out from GED contact Dover approach and they will work with u cross the bay and get ac approach along up the coast for the best views..,Dan. kilg

[201er]

*IF* my fancy new GDL 39 + ADS-B OUT in the plane is functioning as expected, I should see every bit of traffic on my tablet and that might make me more comfy in the exclusion zone.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! ROFLMAO

 

Your GDL will blow up when it realizes how much traffic there is on the Hudson in the middle of a busy weekday. They will be piled on top of each other so much you'll be entirely forced to ignore it and keep your eyes out. Seriously, it's so busy that ADS-B traffic is useless. And you don't need out. I fly with just -in and there's always someone out there with out to get the traffic link going around here.

[fantom]

There will be a TFR in Wilmington, DE on July 19 and July 21. Please check NOTAMs.

 

Guess who  OK...nevermind:

 

[fantom]

....you'll be entirely forced to ignore it and keep your eyes out.

 

Novel concept

[Marauder]

There will be a TFR in Wilmington, DE on July 19 and July 21. Please check NOTAMs. Guess who OK...nevermind:

And don't forget his tiny home TFR just north of Wilmington. Guess he doesn't rate... 1nm, 1500' tops...

[KSMooniac]

And don't forget his tiny home TFR just north of Wilmington. Guess he doesn't rate... 1nm, 1500' tops...

 

I wish my ass could fit out the vent window as I go by...

[John Pleisse]

And don't forget his tiny home TFR just north of Wilmington. Guess he doesn't rate... 1nm, 1500' tops...

 

FANTOM , on 18 Jul 2013 - 3:48 PM, said:

There will be a TFR in Wilmington, DE on July 19 and July 21. Please check NOTAMs.

Guess who OK...nevermind:

 

 

 

 

 

HEY!!!!! THAT WAS POLITICAL!!!!!

[fantom]

OK...nevermind:

HEY!!!!! THAT WAS POLITICAL!!!!!

Then nevermind

Fair skies, Scott.

[Hank]

 

FANTOM , on 18 Jul 2013 - 3:48 PM, said:

There will be a TFR in Wilmington, DE on July 19 and July 21. Please check NOTAMs.

Guess who OK...nevermind:

 

 

 

 

 

HEY!!!!! THAT WAS POLITICAL!!!!!

 

 

Most of our current TFRs are political, except out west during fire season. Sometimes politics cannot be avoided.