Anybody fly it lately? I'm planning a flight from KCRQ-PRB. Due to the high terrain at the North end of it, Seems like the way to go since Northbound transition thru it is 9,500. Thanks Ed
I haven't flown VFR through that area in years, so I can't be too helpful. But maybe this is helpful: https://www.lawa.org/-/media/lawa-w...cfrpart150_finalnemreport_lax-appendix-h.ashx "The Coliseum Route takes VFR aircraft northwest to southeast and vice-versa from Van Nuys to Miles Square Park at altitudes between 8,500 and 9,500 feet MSL east of LAX over the L.A. Coliseum. This route may not be available when LAX is in its east flow operation."
They may give you the Hollywood Park Route. I’ve been denied the Coliseum Route a few times. Just be prepared for both But they’ll ask you pretty far out “how do you intend to navigate the LA airspace”. I have however been vectored to join the transition like an airway or localizer so just have your GPS waypoints and VOR radial set up/ready to rock if you have them.
I've had no issues getting the Coastal Route going between KSMX and KMFY in either direction but haven't tried for the Coliseum. Coastal usually a couple of minutes quicker than the Coliseum Route in planning. As mentioned SOCAL will ask how you intend to navigate the Bravo airspace prior to entering.
For KPRB, I'd use the Coastal Route at 6500. Once past LAX VOR, if there isn't anyone on the IRNMN as you are passing through, you're reasonably likely to get own nav. 124.1/128.1 will ask you how you want to transit, but either 127.2 or 134.9 will clear you. Actually, the northbound Colosseum and Hollywood Park routes are 8500, as you are generally westbound. You go 9500 on the way back South. They are keeping you above LAX arrivals that are between 7000-8000. Hollywood Park is workable when LAX is east flow, but I think Colosseum is not. I nearly always get own navigation to join and join at the appropriate point. To PRB? There might be MVA issues there over RZS.
Just cancel once through the bravo. IFR in the L.A. basin is easier, IMO. He can also run the SFRA which is nice and easy.
I nearly always fly IFR, but 1) I don't agree that IFR is easier (or harder) and 2) the OP is VFR only.
northbound Colosseum and Hollywood Park routes are 8500 Yes, your right. Thanks for catching that. I have not put the plan on paper yet and it was a quick guess on the direction. I appreciate that.
California's geographical orientation is deceiving. You can easily travel west from a coastal city to an inland one. KSAN-KSMF is a 330 heading direct.
Didn't do the Coliseum route but I did the LA SFRA crossing. It takes you right over LAX at 3500 or 4500 (depending on the way you are going), uncontrolled. There was only one other aircraft on the advisory freq and I found it a pretty easy way to do this.
If I'm not stopping in the LA basin I always just go over the top of their airspace. If I'm stopping in LA I use the special flight rules transition. I call them up when I'm going over, but I rarely get vectored around when I'm above 10K.
