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Flight from Austin to San Jose

M

moll780

Well Known Member
Hey fellow aviators.
I have to fly to San Jose from Austin TX on Friday for work on Saturday and I thought I would take the 9A rather than fly commercial. (VFR only)
I'm a little nervous as this would be the looongest XC flight I will ever have taken with some high altitude obstacles along the way to boot (I do have oxy).
I'm starting to plan but wanted to post here if anyone had any advice for places to land en route, best route to take, best airport near SJC for little planes and any other tidbits of info that ya'all would feel free to impart.
Thanks in advance!
Gil
 
Been there, done that

I've ferried lots of smaller planes across the "southern route". It'll be a piece of cake in the 9A. From Austin, I'd recommend AUS-ALM-IFP-RHV. That's three 4-hour legs. (adjust legs as necessary). Reid Hillview (RHV) is the airport you'll want for San Jose, unless you need to be right in downtown.

Bullhead/Laughlin (IFP) is a fun place to stop. Have the FBO call the Riverside shuttle for you (free) and they'll take you to the Riverside Casino/Hotel. Weekday rooms are $29 or $39 on weekends, last I checked. Make sure you fly north a few miles and check out Hoover Dam.
 
Austin to San Jose

I flew from Georgetown (GTU) to Madera (MAE) a couple weeks ago. Best VFR route would be from Austin to Newman VOR (EWM), north of ElPaso, to Lordsburg (LSB) to Casa Grande (CGZ) to Blythe (BLH) to Twenty Nine Palms (TNP) to Palmdale (PMD) to Bakersfield (BFL) to San Jose (SJC). That's 1314 nm. This route keeps you out of restricted areas and in the lower elevations. There are presently wildfires north of Phoenix, so visibility may be of concern crossing south of Phoenix. Turbulence will always be a factor in the hot and mountainous areas.

Use AirNav for fuel stop planning, but Deming, Lordsburg, Casa Grande, Tehachapie typically have lower fuel prices.

Some one from San Jose area can chime in for best RV friendly stop in San Jose
 
I would either go over El Paso or Albuquerque

Those routes are longer I'm sure but every time I have made the trip one of those routes has been open. I have gone into Alamogordo but the restricted areas on the west side and the mountains on the east side are something to consider. I'm just going on memory here - things may have changed. The mountains and restricted areas in Arizona and California are something to consider as well. Which ever way you go it will be a significant trip with all of the associated risks and rewards. Good luck. Do you have the sectionals that you can sit down with and study? If you can get your hands on the two old little brown Flight Guides (Central and Western) or an AOPA airport guide that will help you plan as well.

Bob Axsom
 
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If you take the "southern" route, PMD makes a good turnpoint, but don't plan on landing there unless you're on official Air Force business. If it's a weekend, and you find your route takes you through R-2515 (Edwards AFB), many times you can ask Joshua Approach on 124.55 and they'll clear you through above 6 or 7K.

KTSP is between PMD and BFL, and has the cheapest fuel within at least 50 mi. Also, it doesn't hurt that we're at 4000 ft, so you save almost that much climbing out. Also, if the timing is right, I know a good place for a bed and a bean.;)
 
Awesome information everyone! very helpful indeed.
I dont have the actual paper sectionals but have a 696 and xoom with avilution for sectionals and a garmin 60csx for backup.
I usually use navmonster but now im using aopa and fltplan.com for planning and map searching.
thanks everyone for the info. I know it doesn't substitute for experience but im all about risk mitigation.


longranger said:
If you take the "southern" route, PMD makes a good turnpoint, but don't plan on landing there unless you're on official Air Force business. If it's a weekend, and you find your route takes you through R-2515 (Edwards AFB), many times you can ask Joshua Approach on 124.55 and they'll clear you through above 6 or 7K.

KTSP is between PMD and BFL, and has the cheapest fuel within at least 50 mi. Also, it doesn't hurt that we're at 4000 ft, so you save almost that much climbing out. Also, if the timing is right, I know a good place for a bed and a bean.;)
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route

The Abq route is pretty benign this time of year. A deviation well to the north of ABQ and smaller deviations from the interstate west of ABQ, it is possible to do this entire flight at 8500'. Not recommended but it caan be done. The highest point west of ABQ on the interstate is the AZ divide about 10 west of Flagstaff. 7300' and change. A few years ago I was driving in the area and saw a flight of RV's right at the divide, probably less than 1000' agl. You are ahead of the thunderstorm season but the day/night temperatures change drastically and produce turbulence very early in the day. The goal should be to launch at first light and quit for the dy by noon if the turbulence is too bad. The El Paso route has no real advantage except for airplanes with very limited altitude capabilities.
Temperatures along the river-CA/AZ state line are alreacy bumping 100 by 10 am.
So direct Las Vagas NM, just before Las Vegas thru the gap in the mountains and back to the south to pick up the interstate. Then to at least the Ca line. The options are direct to the bay area, Follow the highway to Barstow and then Mohave, Tehachapi pass, and other options but lots of restricted areas.
 
Flying Friday for work the next day.

That is a red flag to me. I suggest accepting the reality of not being there on Saturday if conditions become marginal.

"That's three 4-hour legs." Maybe your tolerance is better than mine but I would look at TBD legs of three hours duration.....possibly a bit less as you get into California.
 
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I thought of that as well and I'm looking into doing one of the legs on Thursday and two on Friday.

Im seeing also a TON of restricted areas and MOA's. crazy out there!

Ron Lee said:
Flying Friday for work the next day.

That is a red flag to me. I suggest accepting the reality of not being there on Saturday if conditions become marginal.

"That's three 4-hour legs." Maybe your tolerance is better than mine but I would look at TBD legs of three hours duration.....possibly a bit less as you get into California.
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Another point to consider is that if it really takes twelve hours of flying, that is a lot for one day. I did eleven+ hours from FL to CO once but that was with the aid of a wing leveler autopilot. I always had the option of stopping for the day if fatigue became an issue.
 
From KFLG

jrs14855 said:
So direct Las Vagas NM, just before Las Vegas thru the gap in the mountains and back to the south to pick up the interstate. Then to at least the Ca line. The options are direct to the bay area, Follow the highway to Barstow and then Mohave, Tehachapi pass, and other options but lots of restricted areas.
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I have flown this route many times for work and pleasure-
Coming back form Madera as Stu has described, I did the northern route where the very northern edge of R-2505, just south of Owens Lake is Olancha Peak (just west of Olancha and it's pass to the north.) This can be done at 12K then back to 11.5K for a few minutes- then north or south of Kern Peak- You can see Mnt Whitney on this route. Then on to Woodlake (042 has a newly paved runway)- for cheap gas and a great Breakfast- Study Joshua Approach for this route as they can give you crossing directions and allow you to cross much of the restricted area(s) at altitude if R-2505 is not hot. You would absolutely want to hit the northern route extremely early- say a 5AM departure from Laughlin (IFP) as described above and there should be little winds aloft predicted. The risk /rewards for this route is higher- The view is priceless!
 
Whats a margie?
I calculate 3 legs, 1st leg as long as my bladder can hold, 4-4.5 hrs, a second 3 hour and last a 2 hour leg into RHV.
Im still working out the route details with so many good suggestions...
anyone want to fly SIC? hotel paid for if you dont mind my snoring...


bhassel said:
Our fuel prices at KSAF (Santa Fe) aren't good but the margies in town are! :)

Bob
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S route fuel

On the southern route, Casa Grande is probably the cheapest for fuel (CQZ $5.40)

Lordsburg is listed at $5.15 but is an old report.

Deming (DMN) is more at $5.90 but is Full Service and a very quick turn-around - the truck is usually at your plane before your prop stops....:)

Just follow highway 10 to Blythe, cross into the Mojave desert at Twentynine Palms, aim for Fox Field (WJF) and cross the mountains at the visible low spot into the central valley and the direct to San Jose.

This portion of the route avoids big mountains and restricted areas.

Austin to El Paso is also easy, sort of follow 10 again, but go direct from Ft. Stockton to Newman VOR. Again this route keeps clear of the White Sands restricted areas and just north of the El Paso Class C.

From Ft. Stockton to El Paso is an awful lot of nothing W. TX....:)
 
And the headwind can be very strong

az_gila said:
On the southern route, Casa Grande is probably the cheapest for fuel (CQZ $5.40)

Lordsburg is listed at $5.15 but is an old report.

Deming (DMN) is more at $5.90 but is Full Service and a very quick turn-around - the truck is usually at your plane before your prop stops....:)

Just follow highway 10 to Blythe, cross into the Mojave desert at Twentynine Palms, aim for Fox Field (WJF) and cross the mountains at the visible low spot into the central valley and the direct to San Jose.

This portion of the route avoids big mountains and restricted areas.

Austin to El Paso is also easy, sort of follow 10 again, but go direct from Ft. Stockton to Newman VOR. Again this route keeps clear of the White Sands restricted areas and just north of the El Paso Class C.

From Ft. Stockton to El Paso is an awful lot of nothing W. TX....:)
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In 1991 flying from Killeen to El Paso had to land at a private uncharted strip within sight of El Paso because of 60 kt headwinds.

Bob Axsom
 
If you do the "southern route" its always cool to see Edwards AFB along the way. Get yourself to KTNP, then L80, past KAPV to L00 (Rosamond) and turn right, over KTSP and up the valley is a neat flight.

Keep in mind many of those smaller airports in the desert are unattended after 5pm especially on weekends. Some have self-serve, but just call ahead and make for sure they have fuel.

As you mentioned, I too like to start with a long leg and taper down later in the day as the carbon monoxide poisoning, dehydrtion, exhaustion, hunger, boredom and sun-stroke all get worse in the afternoon.

Tj
 
az_gila said:
On the southern route, Casa Grande is probably the cheapest for fuel (CQZ $5.40)

Lordsburg is listed at $5.15 but is an old report.

Deming (DMN) is more at $5.90 but is Full Service and a very quick turn-around - the truck is usually at your plane before your prop stops....:)

Just follow highway 10 to Blythe, cross into the Mojave desert at Twentynine Palms, aim for Fox Field (WJF) and cross the mountains at the visible low spot into the central valley and the direct to San Jose.

This portion of the route avoids big mountains and restricted areas.

Austin to El Paso is also easy, sort of follow 10 again, but go direct from Ft. Stockton to Newman VOR. Again this route keeps clear of the White Sands restricted areas and just north of the El Paso Class C.

From Ft. Stockton to El Paso is an awful lot of nothing W. TX....:)
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On my Georgetown- Madera trip a couple weeks ago I stopped at Deming instead of Lordsburg because of headwinds. I expressed dismay because of the $5.90 fuel price when Lordsburg just down the road was $5.15. Then I remembered from a previous visit that if you pay cash they will discount. I offered cash and he said $5.70, I said $5.50, and he said OKAY.
 
Our Trip Back

We took the northern route on our trip home a couple years ago (gtu e11 sjn tph tvl sjc). Took some advice of a well-seasoned traveler and crossed the mountains by the interstate at Tahoe. We did that in the morning, not sure I'd want to tackle that leg in the afternoon after the winds get a chance to start howling. The bonus is flying over the grand canyon. We second the fuel prices and friendly service at SJN. The first leg is short, but the fuel prices at E11 can't be beat and SJN was a little too far since there is usually a headwind.

Definitely plan this as a two day trip this early in your cross country travels. We had two pilots on board and were still wiped at the end of the day. BVU in Vegas would make a good overnight stop and give you a chance to fly over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on your way out.
 
tjyak50 said:
If you do the "southern route" its always cool to see Edwards AFB along the way. Get yourself to KTNP, then L80, past KAPV to L00 (Rosamond) and turn right, over KTSP and up the valley is a neat flight. ...
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Fuel at KTSP is currently $5.06.
 
And you don't have to descend much to get into Tehachapie.
But it can be windy and have its own weather like Big Bear does.
 
tjyak50 said:
And you don't have to descend much to get into Tehachapie.
But it can be windy and have its own weather like Big Bear does.
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(Hopefully) we're (mostly) past the winter weather for this year. Yes it's windy; we don't even start counting until it gets to 15 knots. That's why there's the many thousands of wind turbines here!;) The upside is that it's almost alway within +/- 20-30 degrees of the runway unless it's in the process of switching. In 15 years of flying my 170 in and out of here, I've only had to land out once due to wind.
 
3 wild fire TFR's in AZ

Have flown coast to coast sveral times and agree with the advice regarding routes in previous posts. I usually follow I-40, Amarillo to Palmdale, then up thru the pass and pretty much direct to San Jose.

We have 3 wild fires TFR's here in AZ this morning. These would be west of Saint John's, a routinely recommended gas stop. One is just south of Payson and another south-southeast of Prescott. I'd guess that both Payson and Prescott are active fire tanker and helicopter bases right now. Yesterday, the heat plume from Payson was visible in downtown Phoenix. Depending on wind direction and speed you're going to have either a well defined, easily navigable plume, or broad area smoke. Shouldn't be a problem for an RV -- easy to go high and around, but wanted you to be aware.

Edit - tonight local wx calling for red flag conditions for all of northern Az thru Saturday with wind gusts to 45 mph.
 
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