Flying back from the ND oil fields to Minneapolis on Friday we ended up diverting to Jamestown, ND (KJMS) when we noticed an issue with one of the fuel caps in the TN Bonanza. We were clipping along at 9,000' when we noticed it and gave ATC a heads-up of our change in plan. We started an immediate descent since we were only about 30 miles out and had to get below 3,000 for the approach. My instrument student did a commendable job on the GPS approach to rwy 13 with a nice transition to landing after a minimums approach under the hood.
After a quick taxi back and reseating of the fuel cap we were back in the air headed to KFCM. I called Mpls Center and asked if we could pick up a pop up IFR to Mpls. The controller said I'd have to call FSS and file the plan. We were climbing out of 3,000' so I punched KJMS KFCM into ForeFlight, hit the File and Brief button, changed the Souls on Board number and hit File. Within seconds it announced that I was "Filed!" My phone chirped seconds later with the e-mail confirmation.
So, less than a minute after being told to contact FSS I called up the controller and said, "You should have a plan on file for us." She said, "Let me check..." then came back five seconds later with a "Cleared as filed, climb and maintain niner thousand on your current squawk code."
I think that has to be one of the quickest, easiest pop-up clearances I've gotten in awhile. I love what technology is doing for our flying!
After a quick taxi back and reseating of the fuel cap we were back in the air headed to KFCM. I called Mpls Center and asked if we could pick up a pop up IFR to Mpls. The controller said I'd have to call FSS and file the plan. We were climbing out of 3,000' so I punched KJMS KFCM into ForeFlight, hit the File and Brief button, changed the Souls on Board number and hit File. Within seconds it announced that I was "Filed!" My phone chirped seconds later with the e-mail confirmation.
So, less than a minute after being told to contact FSS I called up the controller and said, "You should have a plan on file for us." She said, "Let me check..." then came back five seconds later with a "Cleared as filed, climb and maintain niner thousand on your current squawk code."
I think that has to be one of the quickest, easiest pop-up clearances I've gotten in awhile. I love what technology is doing for our flying!