Flight Plan help - CYTZ to CYQA

[skybaron]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if any of you can assist me with info in regard to planning a flight from Toronto City Centre to Muskoka. It will be the first time that I commence an xc flight in southern Ontario, so I looked in the back of the CFS to see if there is a preferred route, but to no avail. The CFS illustrates a (local) "don valley" route, but this I don't think will be any use to me heading up to Muskoka - considering that I'll cross several airspaces along route (Pearson, Downsview, Buttonville etc). Therefore, I don't imagine a direct route is possible - I figure my set heading point has to be a bit east of Toronto, then head Northwest to Muskoka...

If anyone is familiar with this route, your input would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers :ugh:

[VeRmiLLioN]

Try a set heading point of Bluffer's Park. Then travel up the East side of Lake Simcoe, with a checkpoint of Beaverton.

CYQA is due north from there...

Check the weather...CYQA is notorious for snow squalls.

Have a good flight!

[skybaron]

Bluffers Park is an excellent suggestion :ok: for a SHP. My main concern for this trip is Buttonville's airspace which is capped where Pearson's begins - at 2500'. I know that either way, I'll have to announce my presence to Buttonville, but was uncertain as to whether or not "passing through" was common practice.

Thanks for your help. :)

[VeRmiLLioN]

Passing through is normal, but if you set a heading from Bluffer's to Beaverton you'll bypass Buttonville's CZ. Just be sure to make your radio calls in the Clairmont training area.

[Frankie_B]

I recommend departing via the DVP corridor: you have to maintain 2000 ft. or below. Just prior to crossing 401 & DVP, call Butonville on 124.800 and ask for transit towards Newmarket along the 404. Stay on the West end of the highway (due to arriving traffic to Buttonville from the north using Woodbine Ave. which is next street to the East). You can climb up to 2400 in the Buttonville Control Zone. Once clear of that, continue to New Market, you can climb up to 3400 there. The tip of the 404 (just East of New Market) is a good SHP. From there, you can go to CYQA without altitude restrictions (Clear of Terminal Area). Follow the East shore of Lake Simcoe to its North End, and you can see the airport from there. It's an easy, fully-visual route!

Bluffer's Park is a good suggestions, but there's a few points to it:
- You will be going along the lakeshore with virtually no forced approach sites (DVP has lots of straight roads, the highway (hmm, don't consider that, it's a big 'parking lot' these days), and some parks/fields., plus CYKZ, for possible land sites)
- Going from Bluffer's Park direct, I think you'd still touch Buttonville's Control Zone. If not, then you'll be pretty close to Claremont Training Area (CYA, can be a LOT of activity on a good day). I don't like flying through that!

Hope this helps.

[Pilot DAR]

Follow the DVP/404 north, talk to Buttonville, they're nice people, and it's good practice. Tell them what you'e doing, they won't give you a hard time. Once north of Newmarket, you can fly to the east shore of Lake Simcoe (where I am) but the lake is very hard now, and a pretty sight. You can safely fly up the middle. A forced landing would be perhaps a little better on the ice than in a field, were it to be necessary.

Although, if it is poor visiblitly, always keep a shoreline in view for visual reference - avoid whiteout!

Pass over Orillia, and up the center of Lake Couchiching to Washago. You'll pass by Casino Rama - you can't miss it!

Then follow highway 11 to Muskoka airport. Two safety reasons for this. Snow squalls are a possability, and the highway gives you a reference while you turn around. Also there are few suitable emergency landing areas east of highway 11, so being closer to the highway is a good idea.

Take note that the mandatory frequency at muskoka is managed by Timmins flight service, and the intended procedure is that you contact them 5 minutes before you enter the area.

When landing on runway 36, if the wind is from the west or northwest, there is the chance of mechanical turbulance close to the ground.

Have a safe flight. Pilot DAR

[RatherBeFlying]

Does Toronto Terminal accommodate transits these days or is everybody stuck below?

[Frankie_B]

I find it directly dependant on the workload.

Sometimes I'd get direct routing, requested altitude, traffic updates, and other info, but from time to time they just don't answer my calls at all.

Weekends and 12pm-2pm 'break' periods are usually good for dealing with TML :)

[skybaron]

Well folks, thank you all for your input, as it is all appreciated.

My Nav Log:

CYTZ - SHP (Pickering Power Station / Docks)
SHP - CYQA.
Done.


The main change I made to all the above suggestions is clearly the SHP. I decided to opt for the Docks because it basically provides you with a direct track straight to Muskoka, AND, virtually unlimited climbing ability for the enroute portion of the trip. Another advantage of this route is avoiding Buttonville, and Muskoka all together, while at the same time being just outside Pearson's airspace. Also, this route brings you right to the eastern edge of Lake Simcoe, and thus avoiding the "gliding distance" to shore bit. (I wouldn't consider the Lake a "safe" alternate to for a landing spot-albeit due to global warming :sad: ).

I highly recommend this route for simplicity purposes; however, if you feel the need to practice your radio work, then any of the above suggestions will do the job - either way, it comes down to individual preference and fuel. :ok:

[Frankie_B]

be carefull though, don't pass near YSO VOR above 7000 ft! It's a standard arrival corridor into Pearson and, when landing on 23-24s, they are going to be crossing YSO at around 8000-10,000, descending further as they pass it.

[Pilot DAR]

Hey Skybaron,

If you are flying to CYQA (as the destination, I presume) you can avoid talking to Buttonville, but you will have no choice but to talk to Timmins Flight Service, it's a mandatory frequency for landing at CYQA.

Though I appreciate your caution with respect to flying over the ice of Lake Simcoe, and I certainly am not proposing that you land on the ice, I have done so recently, and global warming, though a valid long term concern, has not affected the safety of the ice this season. (It was later forming though).

Were the worst to happen, and I was looking for an off airport landing site, I'd be looking at the ice, before the snowy fields. If you touched down into the snow around here on wheels, you'll be on your back for sure. On the ice, you might make it okay - I'm not promising though, you're still better off keeping it to the runway!

I fly the east shore of Lake Simcoe to CYQA at least once a week.

Enjoy you flight planning!

Cheers, Pilot DAR

[FlyinLow]

'Cross Wasie level 10000 ft keep it below 220'