Flight Following Blythe-Yuma-Tucson-El Paso

I was wondering if anyone has any experience recently using flight following in the Blythe-Yuma-Tucson-El Paso-Pecos area?

I've read that VHF and radar becomes erratic occasionally in these areas and that using higher altitudes such as 7500' and even 9500' (of course considering terrain) are better for reception and flight following.

Any tips, experiences and general wisdom appreciated.

Thanks!

How recently?

About 5 weeks ago I had FF from Ft. Stockton to Tucson via El Paso at 6500 to 8500 with no problem, except for the failure of Tucson's terminal radar, which was stated on the ATIS and simply removed the Class C area.

The day before I did have trouble at 6500 in the area of Van Horn and Alpine. A climb to 8500 fixed the communications but lost several knots, which seems a common problem travelling westward in the East TX area.

Approaching Tucson low from the Benson area following I-10 there is a blind spot for the Tucson Class C approach, but it fixes itself when you pass the Rincon mountains.

I have found the ABQ controllers to be very aware of their "no comms" areas and will usually warn you and ask you to call back in xx minutes when you leave the bad area.

One time in the past from Ft. Stockton to El Paso I even abandoned FF and did the trip at 1500 AGL but kept monitoring ATC and listening to the airline bitch about the ride at 38,000 ft or so.

Seeing the E. TX country I think is a prod for getting a 406 ELT.

Gil,

Thanks for the info! Exactly the recent experience that I was looking for.

Planning soon to go the other way Blythe-Yuma-TUS-ELP-Pecos 7500-9500'
and the plane has a 406Mhz Mode S Txp.

Appreciate the tips! Thanks.

All airlines monitor 121.5 while inflight. So if you have a problem just transmit a mayday and many will come to your aid. Also consider following a major highway along your route just in case. Good luck and have fun on your trip.

Top Cat said:

I was wondering if anyone has any experience recently using flight following in the Blythe-Yuma-Tucson-El Paso-Pecos area?

I've read that VHF and radar becomes erratic occasionally in these areas and that using higher altitudes such as 7500' and even 9500' (of course considering terrain) are better for reception and flight following.

Any tips, experiences and general wisdom appreciated.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Top Cat,

The middle of March, I ferried my CTSW from San Jose to Tampa. Part of that route was from Blythe-E77 (San Manuel)-Demming.

My average cruise altitude for the entire route was 7,500. At times I did have to climb a little higher, but I never got above 9,000.

For the entire route, the only time radar contact was lost, while flight following, was between P-33 (Cochise Co.) and SSO ((San Simon). My route stayed north of those two airports, but south of the Pinaleno Mountains (10,000+).

That radar outing, with Albuquerque Center, only lasted about 35-40 min. at the max., at 110 KIAS.

As I headed east from E77, I just picked my way through, choosing to overfly the lower terrain features. Sky was clear entire route but it was turbulent.

I did avoid the two peaks of the Pinaleno Mountains though (Mt. Graham). That part of the route was very turbulent. I stayed well south of that.

Other than that, I had radar surveillance the entire way.

Hope that's helpful.

Drift down

Drift down,

Thanks very much, appreciate it!

To all, thanks for the tips and pointers!

Top Cat said:

Gil,

Thanks for the info! Exactly the recent experience that I was looking for.

Planning soon to go the other way Blythe-Yuma-TUS-ELP-Pecos 7500-9500'
and the plane has a 406Mhz Mode S Txp.

Appreciate the tips! Thanks.

Click to expand...

Unless you need a stop at Yuma, I always use Blythe to the VICKO intersection and then to just short of Buckeye and then turn SE to the Tucson area.

This route keeps you much closer to civilization and misses the big Restricted area SE of Blythe. If you turn before Buckeye you stay clear of the PHX Class B but are sort of following I-10.

At 9500 I think you will have no problem with radar contact.

Note that the monsoon season started in S. AZ and NM right on time on July 3rd, so the probability of afternoon thunderstorms are very high - fly early and quit at noon.

In the El Paso area I often use the Newman VOR as a way point, but the El Paso Class C guys are always helpful crossing through their airspace. You might want to top up on fuel before you reach the wastelands of E. TX, and 5T6 seems to be now the cheapest fuel in the area, requiring a crossing through the Class B.

Stay clear of the balloon cable S of Deming.

az_gila said:

...At 9500 I think you will have no problem with radar contact.

Click to expand...

I fly from Palmdale to Chandler often, so I pass right through the Blythe/Buckeye area. Never had a problem with ABQ Center seeing me. I'm anywhere from 7,500 to 10,500 usually.

az_gila said:

Note that the monsoon season started in S. AZ and NM right on time on July 3rd, so the probability of afternoon thunderstorms are very high - fly early and quit at noon.

Click to expand...

...this is a great point. I was trying to make Chandler on the evening of July 3rd, and despite the forecast of great weather, I got stopped by that "out of nowhere" thunderstorm/dust storm. I was just starting my descent into Chandler and Center "strongly advised" that I find someplace else to land. I was texting my buddy on the ground and he was reporting calm and clear- then 2 minutes later it was 50 MPH winds and 200 feet vis in blowing dust. So with the sun setting on my tail, and a 15 mile diameter dust storm parked right on my destination airport, I did a 180 and ran for Blythe.

I've flown this route many times in the Summer and I've never seen a thunderstorm pop like that!

Haboob

Toobuilder said:

I.......this is a great point. I was trying to make Chandler on the evening of July 3rd, and despite the forecast of great weather, I got stopped by that "out of nowhere" thunderstorm/dust storm. I was just starting my descent into Chandler and Center "strongly advised" that I find someplace else to land. I was texting my buddy on the ground and he was reporting calm and clear- then 2 minutes later it was 50 MPH winds and 200 feet vis in blowing dust. So with the sun setting on my tail, and a 15 mile diameter dust storm parked right on my destination airport, I did a 180 and ran for Blythe.

I've flown this route many times in the Summer and I've never seen a thunderstorm pop like that!

Click to expand...

Tucson just got a big thunderstorm (0.7 inches in 30 minutes at our house) that day but Phoenix got a full blown haboob from the same storm. The local papers had some great shots of the incoming dust cloud.

I usually follow the Victor routes when I go through SE AZ. Just check any L-chart for minimum enroute altitude and you'll be pretty much OK for comms. I have never had any problem communicating even in the most remote areas of AZ when I was at or above the MEA. There is a huge junk of AZ in that region that is restricted for bombing ranges and it straddles V66 between Gila Bend and Yuma. There is also an aerostat balloon near Yuma in the restricted area with a nearly invisible cable that ruin your whole day. The trip has some magnificent sightseeing with the Salton Sea, Colorado River and dune area.

az_gila said:

... The local papers had some great shots of the incoming dust cloud.

Click to expand...

Yep! That's what I saw from 9,500. I thought for a brief moment about trying to sneak around behind it and land after it passed Chandler, but it kept throwing off new cells to the south. Though I had plenty of fuel and could (in theory) pull the power back and orbit in the clear waiting it out, my courage was waning as quickly as the sunlight. Turning around and running for home was the right choice for me.

Just to provide a post trip update. The advice offered here was extremely helpful and I thank you all.

The route I took from Vans was south over Medford stopping at Redding, Merced for fuel and Bakersfield for fuel/overnight.
Next morning the Gorman Pass area was gray with high overcast and rain sprinkles but it was short lived and I was well clear of any clouds and soon through to clear skies. Stopped at Blythe for gas and then into KTUS.
Million Ait there was hugely disappointing?no tie downs and(IMHO) high fees for a little airplane. I elected to continue to El Paso knowing there would be turbulence. I wasn't disappointed and got an uncomfortable ride.
Cutter at KELP was excellent and extremely helpful. After a great overnight I flew over Pecos the next morning, after an early start, and landed at Sweetwater. After a (to me as a newbie to Rotax) oil reading just below the flat part of the dipstick I added a half quart and contacted Vans just to be sure. Spent the night and after talking with Vans felt happy with the engine and oil level.
Flew home through Tyler Texas, greenwood MS, Columbus GA and home to SC.

Turned out to be a demanding, very hot, and often turbulent trip but in the end it was both a learning experience and an enjoyable one.

Had you told me you were coming to KTUS, I would have given you a flight escort (and suggested a better place to stay at)...