3-2-2013… ‘Beautiful, clear, 80 degree Arizona day… so it’s a great day for a breakfast flight to Tucson (from Phoenix). Upon reflection, even a typical food hop flight can have its challenges.
It starts with the flight planning… there’s a NASCAR event in town, and a Stadium TFR to deal with. But the FAA doesn’t report them, so it’s up to me to find/verify the dates/times. Heck with that, we’ll just fly straight through Class Bravo (Sky Harbor, KPHX). And it’s quicker that way.
KDVT is the busiest GA airport in the USA, so things are plenty busy at 8:30am. We’re about 5 planes back, waiting for take-off. After 10 minutes, we get our chance to launch from the North Runway. Because we’re heading South, we’ll have to wait for the controller to call our turn across the South runway traffic. She’s pretty busy, but eventually gets back around to us, seconds before we crack Scottsdale’s Class D airspace (KSDL), she calls our turn. We are told to switch to the South Runway frequency, and are quickly given permission to switch again to Phoenix Approach. After a few radio exchanges, we’re cleared through the Bravo transition corridor at 4,500ft. Halfway through, the controller asks us for an immediate 45 degree turn to avoid traffic they’ve got coming from the opposite direction.
After being released back to VFR flight by the controller, we’ll be traveling through the busy area South of Phoenix. Besides lots of training traffic, there’s the weekend warriors, and two significant fly-ins on our path. And four areas with parachute jumpers (civilian and military), 4 busy un-towered airports, and a busy glider port. ‘Plenty of frequency switching, radio monitoring, position reports, and looking for traffic. We give the iPad a good workout, while switching between WingX and Foreflight.
As we position ourselves for arrival at KRYN (class D), with associated frequency switching and communications, we’re surprised by what looks like aerobatics happening between us and the airport. It turns out that it’s not distant aerobatics, but really close RC model airplanes. The point is clear when a rather large model airplane comes up about 100 feet away at our 2 0'clock, does a hammerhead turn, and dives out of site. The model airplane flying park is in an awkward position pretty near the airport, in the approach area where pilots are dropping down to pattern altitude. Of course, it’s not on the chart, or noted as an obstacle. Several times a year, they use this same spot to launch rather large amateur rockets. For those events, at least tower will give you some warning.
After a great brunch buffet (ugh! full) and a nice visit with Roger and Lynn, its back to KRYN and a run back through the gauntlet to Phoenix. Of course, it’s the desert, so our smooth ride down becomes a bumpy trip back as things warm up. After a dozen frequency switches, watching for traffic, parachuters, and associated position reports, we’re back in Phoenix for a class Bravo transition. Except for an urgent request to climb 500ft to avoid oncoming traffic, our trip through Bravo is normal. KDVT is busy, as normal, so they couldn't accommodate our request for the North Runway, which means more delays and several frequency changes between Ground and the Two Towers, as we get clearance to cross the busy runways and make it back to the hangar.
It was a fun flight… 2.6 on the hobbs... but that Saturday afternoon nap sure felt good!
SPOT Track