MAKG1
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2012
- Messages
- 13,411
- Location
- California central coast
- Display Name
Display name:
MAKG
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Well, that's what I feel like anyway.
I'm in LA with nothing to do 'cause of a stupid security fiasco at work, so I thought I'd go flying. Went off to an old FBO that checked me out in a Warrior like three years ago. They agreed to rent me a 172 with 180 HP conversion, no trouble and no checkout (thanks!).
The forecast was questionable -- AIRMET SIERRA for mountain obscuration and TANGO for moderate turbulence below 18000. Plus scattered clouds at 2000 on the coast and MVFR (haze) inland. All a lie. I could see the southern mountains and there were a couple of little tiny puffy cumulus clouds over the highest part and nothing else. So I decided to pop across the basin.
The outbound trip went without a hitch. Got cleared to the Coastal Route and SoCal piped up that I was crossing the requisite radial just as I was turning onto it, thinking that I might be overshooting. They cleared me for an uncharted VFR descent south of LAX VOR. No prob. Contacted Torrance Tower and made a nice landing. As for MVFR, I could clearly see the high mountains north of the City, for at least 30 miles vis. Not a cloud in the sky and only insignificant chop over the highest mountains. About 10 knots wind straight down the runway.
On the departure, I had planned the Hollywood Park route, as I wanted the 7000+ foot altitude to cross the San Gabriels anyway and the airspace is considerably simpler up there. SoCal thought I was screwing up and suggested the Mini route. Mistake #1: I said OK. I'm not prepared for that route. As far as LAX and across the Class B, it's all fine. At the end, I get handed off to Santa Monica Tower and told to squawk VFR despite the request for flight following. So, I transition Santa Monica and then try to contact SoCal to get flight following back. Now, I'm getting into Sepulveda Pass, and it's getting turbulent -- I'm really too close to the terrain for conditions. So, I look at the chart; Class B floor is 5000, so I start climbing to 4500 and call SoCal. SoCal answers with my tail number and immediately tells me to remain clear of Class B and C and stand by, and then blasts off a whole string of approach instructions into Burbank to other aircraft. He gets back to me, and informs me I'm in Class C. CRAP I didn't look at the Class C ceiling, and it's not the usual 4000, but rather 4800, and I'm at 4200 climbing. Then he says "it's OK, no traffic around there." No phone number to call, but I feel STUPID. Yes, I did the ASRS thing. If the FAA wants me to take some remedial airspace training, I'll do it (heck, I probably won't wait for it -- that wasn't acceptable), which is why I'm not posting this anonymously. I have no desire to hide that mistake or any consequences (self imposed or otherwise), and I hope some people can learn from it. Even if they want a 44709 ride (which seems unlikely).
Yes, that's my first airspace bust. I hope it's the last. My position was directly on the extended centerline of VNY, so this could have been a lot worse. But it seems no one flies IFR jets out of there on a nice Sunday afternoon (?).
Well, that's what I feel like anyway.
I'm in LA with nothing to do 'cause of a stupid security fiasco at work, so I thought I'd go flying. Went off to an old FBO that checked me out in a Warrior like three years ago. They agreed to rent me a 172 with 180 HP conversion, no trouble and no checkout (thanks!).
The forecast was questionable -- AIRMET SIERRA for mountain obscuration and TANGO for moderate turbulence below 18000. Plus scattered clouds at 2000 on the coast and MVFR (haze) inland. All a lie. I could see the southern mountains and there were a couple of little tiny puffy cumulus clouds over the highest part and nothing else. So I decided to pop across the basin.
The outbound trip went without a hitch. Got cleared to the Coastal Route and SoCal piped up that I was crossing the requisite radial just as I was turning onto it, thinking that I might be overshooting. They cleared me for an uncharted VFR descent south of LAX VOR. No prob. Contacted Torrance Tower and made a nice landing. As for MVFR, I could clearly see the high mountains north of the City, for at least 30 miles vis. Not a cloud in the sky and only insignificant chop over the highest mountains. About 10 knots wind straight down the runway.
On the departure, I had planned the Hollywood Park route, as I wanted the 7000+ foot altitude to cross the San Gabriels anyway and the airspace is considerably simpler up there. SoCal thought I was screwing up and suggested the Mini route. Mistake #1: I said OK. I'm not prepared for that route. As far as LAX and across the Class B, it's all fine. At the end, I get handed off to Santa Monica Tower and told to squawk VFR despite the request for flight following. So, I transition Santa Monica and then try to contact SoCal to get flight following back. Now, I'm getting into Sepulveda Pass, and it's getting turbulent -- I'm really too close to the terrain for conditions. So, I look at the chart; Class B floor is 5000, so I start climbing to 4500 and call SoCal. SoCal answers with my tail number and immediately tells me to remain clear of Class B and C and stand by, and then blasts off a whole string of approach instructions into Burbank to other aircraft. He gets back to me, and informs me I'm in Class C. CRAP I didn't look at the Class C ceiling, and it's not the usual 4000, but rather 4800, and I'm at 4200 climbing. Then he says "it's OK, no traffic around there." No phone number to call, but I feel STUPID. Yes, I did the ASRS thing. If the FAA wants me to take some remedial airspace training, I'll do it (heck, I probably won't wait for it -- that wasn't acceptable), which is why I'm not posting this anonymously. I have no desire to hide that mistake or any consequences (self imposed or otherwise), and I hope some people can learn from it. Even if they want a 44709 ride (which seems unlikely).
Yes, that's my first airspace bust. I hope it's the last. My position was directly on the extended centerline of VNY, so this could have been a lot worse. But it seems no one flies IFR jets out of there on a nice Sunday afternoon (?).
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