Flying from San Fran bay area to San Diego ...

[Guest neeraj.pendse]

Hi,I am going on an RW flight from Oakland (KOAK) to Montgomery Field in San Diego (KMYF). Any tips? I was thinking of avoiding the Central Valley route over Tejon pass, and instead flyKOAK SNS PRB RZS FIM VNY SLI OCN KMYF at 9,500.LAX should give me the "LA Coliseum Transition" through Bravo airspace at 9,500 according to the terminal chart, which goes VNY-SLI direct.Anyone experienced in RW Socal flying who can give me a tip or two?- Neeraj

[Jeff Nielsen 1,386]

I would consult a local flight instructor if you're not sure.If I remember right from my days coming from the central valley though, everyone went over tehachapi (spelling), not over Gorman, for small aircraft.The central valley though might afford you more emergency landing airports if needed.Remember the PSA crash quite a few years ago in Paso Robles? I visited that site years ago...not a good area to go down in if things go bad.

[Cessnaflyer 56]

Along with talking to a flight instructor make sure you reference the TAC charts and the AFD.

[Guest neeraj.pendse]

Absolutely, I have the charts, I am talking to an instructor who has flown there from here and I am talking to a SOCAL pilot ...Just wondering if someone here has done these routes.Coastal route was recommended when you KNOW there is no fog- and these days fog has been burning off.Right about the landing options, but central valley is >100 deg right now which means high winds and performance degradation too ... plus mountain wave. Tehachapi/ Mojave are off the route by many miles- so I figured Tejon pass (I-5) would be a good way to go ... but still too close to the mountains if there is wave and high temps ...Thanks for the input folks ...- Neeraj.

[Jeff Nielsen 1,386]

It sounds like you've answered your own question, but either way, if you're not comfortable flying due to the turbulence, then don't go.There's not too many other ways you can go other than the ones you've already mentioned.If you can clear Tejon by about 2-4K you might be ok, just expect to get beat around a little.It sounds like it's coming down to your own personal mins.Good luck and have fun!

[Geofa 108]

Probably too late-I just saw your post...I flew roundtrip ifr from ksee to reid hillview on the same day a few years ago-spent lots of time plotting around the busy LA airspace before hand- they changed my clearance and I was sent right over it (seal beach-tejon pass)-they seem to like that routing.It is very spectacular and I got lots of nice shots from downtown LA, to the hollywood sign, and the snow covered pass (was December).At the time they were forecasting mod/sev turbulance over the pass but it was calm as silk. With very strong winds aloft though-it took me 2.5 hours to get up-and only one and some change to get back-they starting me descending over Los Angeles for San Diego-very cool.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg