Flying into SPG or PIE in the Tampa area?

[DMD3.]

I’m currently staying in Gulfport Fl with family for the Memorial Day weekend, and whenever I hear a piston airplane fly over (which happens often), I get on FF just out of curiosity. In my area the Bravo airspace bottoms out at 3k ft, but in most of the surrounding area it is only 1,200 ft. Many of the single-engine aircraft are flying around at 1k ft, obviously to avoid the Bravo. Is this a safe practice in your opinion? MSL & AGL is virtually the same so near the ocean, so while you’d need to be very quick on decision making in case of engine trouble, 1k ft doesn’t seem like an unsafe altitude (unless I’m in the middle of Tampa Bay). If I wanted to fly into SPG or PIE from the north, is descending under the Bravo perfectly safe? And also just flying around the area and sight-seeing, which seems to be what these other airplanes are doing.


Reading older threads about flying into Bravo areas including Tampa, it seems that if you get Flight Following, you may get vectored around a lot. Would it be foolish to fly under the Bravo and sight-see without Flight Following? I’d definitely keep a lookout for other traffic doing the same thing. I’d also have the radio tuned into whichever airport was closest in case of emergency landing. I ate at the Hangar restaurant located at SPG (I drove there), and they have a Stearman to give scenic rides in. I never met the pilot, but I’m curious whether or not they get Flight Following (they also do helicopter rides as well).

 

[Aviator305]

Going point to point, Tampa approach has cleared me through Bravo more frequently and even spontaneously compared to Orlando or Miami.

On the other hand, if sightseeing along the beach, I would stick to eyes out the window backed up by ADSB traffic alerts. I agree with your reservation about the altitude. Unfortunately, this is the way the airspace was designed.

 

[DMD3.]

Going point to point, Tampa approach has cleared me through Bravo more frequently and even spontaneously compared to Orlando or Miami.

On the other hand, if sightseeing along the beach, I would stick to eyes out the window backed up by ADSB traffic alerts. I agree with your reservation about the altitude. Unfortunately, this is the way the airspace was designed.

There’s a certain area where the bottom is at 3k feet, but others are at only 1,200 feet. Admittedly I’m a bit rusty on radio work, so at best I’d get flight following and just stay under but out of the Bravo. I’d be in a PA28 so I’d be cruising slow, especially if I throttle back. And again just browsing Foreflight, it seems a lot of airplanes are mulling about at 1k feet or lower.

 

[Ed Haywood]

Coming to SPG or PIE from north or south, use the shoreline route. Bravo floor is 6K.

From the east to PIE, use the VFR corridor over the top of TPA. To SPG, duck under the Bravo floor and cross the bay at 1K.

 

[MackMooney]

long as the engine’s running, a thousand feet is fine. Personally, I’d just request flight following and continue on, use a VFR corridor, or adjust my routing enough to stay clear of the lower‑altitude areas.

I almost always pick up flight following. I don't understand why some avoid talking to ATC. At worst, they might give you an extra five or ten minutes of flying time — who cares

 

[Clip4]

I’m currently staying in Gulfport Fl with family for the Memorial Day weekend, and whenever I hear a piston airplane fly over (which happens often), I get on FF just out of curiosity. In my area the Bravo airspace bottoms out at 3k ft, but in most of the surrounding area it is only 1,200 ft. Many of the single-engine aircraft are flying around at 1k ft, obviously to avoid the Bravo. Is this a safe practice in your opinion? MSL & AGL is virtually the same so near the ocean, so while you’d need to be very quick on decision making in case of engine trouble, 1k ft doesn’t seem like an unsafe altitude (unless I’m in the middle of Tampa Bay). If I wanted to fly into SPG or PIE from the north, is descending under the Bravo perfectly safe? And also just flying around the area and sight-seeing, which seems to be what these other airplanes are doing.


Reading older threads about flying into Bravo areas including Tampa, it seems that if you get Flight Following, you may get vectored around a lot. Would it be foolish to fly under the Bravo and sight-see without Flight Following? I’d definitely keep a lookout for other traffic doing the same thing. I’d also have the radio tuned into whichever airport was closest in case of emergency landing. I ate at the Hangar restaurant located at SPG (I drove there), and they have a Stearman to give scenic rides in. I never met the pilot, but I’m curious whether or not they get Flight Following (they also do helicopter rides as well).

How do you know by looking at Foreflight that those aircraft under the B aren’t getting VFR radar services?