Planning the Bay Tour
Last Thursday Tradewinds sponsored a Wings seminar that focused on flying the Bay Tour safely. I picked up a few pointers that I thought I'd post here. The Bay Tour starts from KRHV with a hand off to San Jose Tower, which usually makes you cross mid field at or above 1500 feet. You then fly west of the 101 BayShore all the way up North and usually get vectored towards the coast, up the cost. Around Golden Gate Park you can usually fly at your own discretion. 3500 feet is generally considered a safe altitude that also affords some spectacular views of Alcatraz, Angel Island and the city. After checking out the Bay continue East, but well North of the Bay Bridge and head back down the East Bay.
Check the weather at:
Web Cams for KON4 and KPIX are in and all around San Francisco. Add itional Web cams are searchable at Earthcam WebCam Network. Of course also check all the usual sources you'd use to be safe and comply with regulations.
Check TFRs for AT&T Park, Cow Palace and Candlestick, which may have events going on.
Have the VFR Terminal Chart out and open during your flight and be prepared for a lot of radio work. Several hand offs as you cross several Norcal frequencies. Be mindful of class Bravo Airspace and never enter without a clearance. Fully read back all clearances. Passengers should be given a special briefing regarding the need for them to keep conversation to a minimum at least until you reach the Golden Gate.
The hand off from KRHV to San Jose can get kind of tricky. Usually tower approves a frequency change at 200 feet after takeoff from KRHV. Do not cross the 680 freeway without contact to San Jose Tower. The tower must call your tail number. "Aircraft calling Reid Hillview" does not give you permissing to enter Class C. If you run out of room after take off from 31R just skirt class C along 680 until tower gets back to you. Takeoff from 31L gets really tight. Just climb on the downwind pattern and fly a few S curves shaking your tail at San Jose and they'll get back to you. When in contact, hang a right turn and head back up towards the field.
On the way up check out Moffett, Palo Alto and San Carlos which are your searest safety fields. Around San Francisco the beach and Crissy Field are just about the only emergency spots.
We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow we'll check the weather and if the fog burns off soon enough we'll head up to San Francisco on the Bay Tour.
Additional information about the Bay Tour is available here.
Check the weather at:
Web Cams for KON4 and KPIX are in and all around San Francisco. Add itional Web cams are searchable at Earthcam WebCam Network. Of course also check all the usual sources you'd use to be safe and comply with regulations.
Check TFRs for AT&T Park, Cow Palace and Candlestick, which may have events going on.
Have the VFR Terminal Chart out and open during your flight and be prepared for a lot of radio work. Several hand offs as you cross several Norcal frequencies. Be mindful of class Bravo Airspace and never enter without a clearance. Fully read back all clearances. Passengers should be given a special briefing regarding the need for them to keep conversation to a minimum at least until you reach the Golden Gate.
The hand off from KRHV to San Jose can get kind of tricky. Usually tower approves a frequency change at 200 feet after takeoff from KRHV. Do not cross the 680 freeway without contact to San Jose Tower. The tower must call your tail number. "Aircraft calling Reid Hillview" does not give you permissing to enter Class C. If you run out of room after take off from 31R just skirt class C along 680 until tower gets back to you. Takeoff from 31L gets really tight. Just climb on the downwind pattern and fly a few S curves shaking your tail at San Jose and they'll get back to you. When in contact, hang a right turn and head back up towards the field.
On the way up check out Moffett, Palo Alto and San Carlos which are your searest safety fields. Around San Francisco the beach and Crissy Field are just about the only emergency spots.
We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow we'll check the weather and if the fog burns off soon enough we'll head up to San Francisco on the Bay Tour.
Additional information about the Bay Tour is available here.
posted by Alex Hammer | 8:10 PM
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