Have you ever experienced that uneasy feeling when flying into bustling and unfamiliar airports? Fear not! Here are some valuable tips to help you get ready for your next trip to a busy Class B, C, or D airport.
What Sets Them Apart?
In these airports, there are increased Air Traffic Control (ATC) requirements, complex taxi routes, and distinct procedural differences that can sometimes seem daunting. However, depending on your destination, it might just be the best or even the only option available.
Increased ATC requirements, complex taxi routes, and procedural differences can make these airports intimidating. But depending on where you’re flying, it might be your best, or only, option.
Secure Flight Following Early on
Once you obtain flight following, ATC comes to your rescue by providing assistance with traffic, weather conditions, and avoiding airspace congestion. They can help find routes that keep you clear of heavy traffic and warn you about approaching traffic that might be a threat to your flight path. It’s still up to you to navigate, and you don’t have to blindly follow ATC’s advice as long as you stay within Class E or G airspace. But following their guidance can truly be a valuable asset.
When you’ve picked up flight following, ATC helps you out with traffic, weather, and airspace avoidance. ATC can help find routes that will keep you clear of heavy traffic. They can also warn you of traffic that’s approaching your flight path. Navigation is still up to you, and you don’t have to accept ATC’s advice as long as you stay in Class E or G airspace. But following their advice can be a big asset.
The best way to interact with ATC effectively in airspace, especially when flying into Class B, C, and D airports, is to be proactive. When you inform ATC of your destination during the initial call, they will coordinate your arrival.
As you approach your destination airport, ATC is likely to hand you off to a local approach control for that specific airport. If you’re flying into a Class C airport and are in two-way radio communication with ATC (they’ve acknowledged your callsign), you’ve been cleared into Class C Airspace. When flying VFR into Class B, you need to hear the words “cleared into the Class B airspace” from ATC.
Understand the Weather Requirements
Class B airspace has some of the most lenient weather requirements. In Class B, ATC is constantly monitoring your every move, such as altitude, speed, and heading. It’s the only type of airspace where this level of detailed tracking applies to all VFR aircraft. Because of this, controllers can allow you to fly in slightly worse weather while still enabling you to “see and avoid” other aircraft.
Class B airspace has some of the most relaxed weather requirements because, in Class B, Air Traffic Controllers are tracking your every move – altitude, speed, and heading. It’s the only type of airspace where this happens for all VFR aircraft, and because of it, controllers can allow you to fly in worse weather and still allow you to “see and avoid” other aircraft.
The requirements are quite straightforward: a visibility of 3SM and being clear of clouds. What does “clear of clouds” mean? It means that your airplane can operate up to a certain distance from a cloud but cannot touch it. It’s a very close call.
Class C minimum weather requirements exist to ensure that you can see and avoid other aircraft. ATC wants you to stay far enough away from the clouds to be able to see and avoid other airplanes, especially the fast-moving jets on approach.
An easy way to remember the VFR weather minimums for Class C airspace is the phrase “3 Cessna 152s”. Day or night, each number in the phrase represents one of the distances: 3SM visibility, 1000′ above, 500′ below, and 2000′ horizontal.
Check Your Equipment Requirements
To enter Class B and C airspace, you’ll need to have a two-way radio, a Mode-C or Mode-S transponder, and ADS-B out installed on your airplane. This allows you to maintain communication with ATC and enables them to track your location and altitude on their radar screens.
In both Class B and C airspace, you’ll need a two-way radio, Mode-C or Mode-S transponder, and ADS-B out onboard your airplane to enter the airspace, so that you can maintain communication with ATC and so that they can track your location and altitude on their radar scope.
<h2Have Your Frequencies Handy
It’s always a good idea to have ATIS, approach control, tower, and ground frequencies loaded in your standby communication equipment. Keep in mind that at many large airports, there may be multiple frequencies for each service, depending on your arrival direction or your location on the ground.
Having ATIS, approach control, tower, and ground frequencies loaded in your standby comm is always a good idea. Keep in mind that at many large airports, there are multiple frequecies for each service, depending on your arrival direction, or your location on the ground.
If you’re using an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), which is highly recommended, load your destination airport page. All the frequencies will be listed and readily available for quick reference.
If you’re using an EFB, which we highly recommend, load your destination airport page. All of the frequencies will be listed and available there for quick reference.
<h2You May Have to Hold or Be Vectored
Flying into a Class C airport is usually a smooth process, but at some Class B airports during busy arrival and departure periods, you might be asked to hold outside the airspace.
Flying into a Class C airport is usually no problem. However, you may be asked to hold outside of the airspace at some Class B airports during a busy arrival/departure block.
If you really need to (or desire to) fly into a Class B airport, it might be a good idea to call ahead. Contact the local ATC Approach Control and ask when a suitable time to fly in would be. This is usually during a period between departure and arrival blocks, or at night. Some airports, such as Salt Lake City and Phoenix, have a significant amount of General Aviation (GA) traffic, with one runway located near FBOs. Others, like Chicago O’Hare or New York LaGuardia, often cannot accommodate you within the normal traffic flow under normal operations.
If you really need to (or want to) fly into a Class B airport, calling ahead might be a good idea. Call the local ATC Approach Control to ask when a good time to fly in might be, which will usually fall between blocks of departures and arrivals, or at night. Some airports like Salt Lake City and Phoenix have a lot of GA traffic, with one runway located near FBOs. Others, like Chicago O’Hare or New York LaGuardia, often won’t be able to fit you into the traffic flow under normal operations.
<h2Study the Airport and Find Your Parking Spot
Before your flight, or at least well before you begin descending, take a detailed look at the airport diagram. Locate the FBO where you plan to park and examine the nearby runways and taxiways.
Before your flight, or at least well before you begin descending, take a thorough look at the airport diagram. Find the FBO where you plan to park, and look at the runways/taxiways nearby. While you can never truly plan out exactly how your approach/taxi will go, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the airport well ahead of time.
While you can never really plan out exactly how your approach/taxi will go, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the airport well ahead of time.
<h2Proceed with Caution and Don't Rush
Airports are designated as Class B or C due to increased traffic, which means busy frequencies and a lot of airplanes that are faster than you. When flying into these airports, there’s no time to dawdle, take pictures, or engage in other distractions.
Airports are usually established as Class B or C due to increased traffic. That means busy frequencies and a lot of airplanes that are faster than you. Flying into these airports isn’t the time to linger, take pictures, etc.
Keep your speed up as best you can safely and anticipate either a long or short approach to landing. This is one way ATC can sneak you in between the faster jets. Don’t rush yourself, maintain a sterile cockpit environment, and keep your eyes focused outside. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to ask. The last thing you want to do is assume you understand an ATC instruction and create a traffic conflict.
Keep your speed up as best you safely can, and anticipate flying either a long or short approach to landing. That’s one way that ATC will sneak you in between faster jets. Don’t rush yourself, maintain a sterile cockpit, and keep your eyes outside. If you need help, ask. The last thing you want to do is assume you understand an ATC instruction and create a traffic conflict.
Live from the Flight Deck
Have You Flown into a Busy Airport?
Tell us about a time when you flew into a busy airport. What steps did you take to prepare? Did anything unexpected happen?
Tell us about a time that you flew into a busy airport. What did you do to prepare? Did anything unexpected happen? Tell us in the comments below.
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