DC SFRA
Hi Tony, this post is a great idea as radio calls and calling ATC are my week point.
Others may be able to answer this also, but the question for you is:
If I am on a VFR flight plan w/ flight following that will take me through the DC SFRA how should I activate my DVFR flight plan? Do I tell the controller I need to switch frequencies to call the FSS to activate it? Or can the controller providing flight following do it for me? What would the controller prefer? Is there another way? I assume it will not be activated automatically. I?ve taken the FAA training but never actually done it.
And how about getting clearance through the class B at nearly the same time? Do I call the terminal controller?
This is a busy airspace with lots of opportunity for a low time VFR pilot like me to screw something up and brake airspace.
Hi Michael,
Let me see if I can help out with your question. Since I fly out of an airport in the DC SFRA and have experience doing this since the initial DC ADIZ, I have knowledge and experience in this area.
The DC SFRA is not an ADIZ as defined in the AIM regardless of what others around the country seem to believe. When you say DVFR this refers to a Defense VFR rules that apply to flying in an ADIZ. In other words, what you need to file is a SFRA flight plan, not a DVFR flight plan.
If you are using flight following through the SFRA, you must still have a seperate SFRA plan on file. Specific to your question, while on flight following and about 10nm from the SFRA, let the controller handling you know that you have an SFRA plan on file. They'll take care of it from there. Keep in mind that you should not ask for a "clearance" to enter the SFRA because no clearances are given. When you tell the controller that you have a plan on file, until they have you on radar, they will tell you to remain clear. When they have you they'll give you "proceed on course to......, remain clear of bravo airspace".
While in the SFRA, the controllers will generally not let you change frequencies to open a VFR SAR flight plan. This begs the question as to why would you want to have a VFR flight plan when you are on flight following anyway? While in the SFRA the controllers generally give you traffic advisories when the volume allows them to. On a busy weekend morning....forget it.
As to a bravo clearance, if you ask the controller you are working with he will either work with you directly or if it is one of the SFRA controllers will give you one of the PCT (Potomac Consolidate Tracon) controllers frequencies to make your request. Good luck getting one though
Now...if you are already at a higher altitude that will put you through the bravo you stand a better chance of getting a bravo clearance but don't be shocked if they tell you to remain clear of bravo.
I took off from IAD (Dulles) on Saturday which is 19nm SW of GAI. They routed me West to clear the bravo then said stay clear of it to GAI so I had to make a huge semi-circle around the North side of the bravo airspace and a short 10 minute flight took 30 minutes.
Just remember that if you are going to be flying VFR within 60nm of the DC SFRA you
MUST take the online course. This will answer many of your questions about operating in the SFRA environment as well.