Need help planning long U.S. cross country from CZBB
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
Need help planning long U.S. cross country from CZBB
Hello, I am a student pilot working on CPL at Boundary Bay in Canada.
I've already done my 300nm cross country to Edmonton City Center and Spring Bank.
I am now planning for a long cross country to the States.
Unlike places in Canada, I simply don't know where to go because I don't know places in the States.
I am planning for a trip total of three days. I am thinking one day of flying to get to somewhere, one day of relaxing, and the last day to come back.
It will be nice to experience differences of US air spaces to Canada.
I prefer to spend less for overnight stay.
Any good suggestions for my trip planning?
Good airports to visit, to stay one day, or to overfly to experience class B airspace...etc?? (never been to class B)
I've already done my 300nm cross country to Edmonton City Center and Spring Bank.
I am now planning for a long cross country to the States.
Unlike places in Canada, I simply don't know where to go because I don't know places in the States.
I am planning for a trip total of three days. I am thinking one day of flying to get to somewhere, one day of relaxing, and the last day to come back.
It will be nice to experience differences of US air spaces to Canada.
I prefer to spend less for overnight stay.
Any good suggestions for my trip planning?
Good airports to visit, to stay one day, or to overfly to experience class B airspace...etc?? (never been to class B)
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: UK, US, now more ɐıןɐɹʇsn∀
check out SkyVector: Flight Planning / Aeronautical Charts for rough idea of airports (not for official planning) and AirNav to see the facilities.
I spent two summers in Oregon's McMinnville (KMMV) airport. Evergreen Aviation museum with Spruce Goose and SR-71 and nextdoor aquapark with 747 'parked up on the roof' and you can take a water slide from inside.
Friendly FBO, nearby Salem airport got buncha Blackhawks and you'll probably see some in the air. Various mixed traffic to KMMV, including jets and helicopters, so listen to CTAF and keep eyes open. Nearby Aurora is also busy. Obviously, you can just stop by and then head on further South.
If stopping by for fuel earlier, and then filling up coming back, make some sort of deal with the school/rental company as fuel in US is cheaper, so you're giving away cash if you present fuel bills and they just credit it to the account and you pay ordinary Canadian 'wet rate'.
Also, if you get stuck like some Canadian pilots I witnessed, remember Northwest Air Repair for troubleshooting. Examples would be a guy not knowing how to start the engine properly when hot (DUH moment) or one with badly mistimed magnetos/sparks firing.
Regarding Bravo airspace, make sure you got all the legalities sorted. Seattle can be quite busy, so maybe not overhead overfly (done so over Charlie PDX back in 2008 in small R22, watching 747 take off 11 o'clock below). You can always fly below the class B of Seattle or on the edge within the airspace and directed by ATC.
You can plan part of the route over the scenic coast, but watch out for all the seaside related weather.
I spent two summers in Oregon's McMinnville (KMMV) airport. Evergreen Aviation museum with Spruce Goose and SR-71 and nextdoor aquapark with 747 'parked up on the roof' and you can take a water slide from inside.
Friendly FBO, nearby Salem airport got buncha Blackhawks and you'll probably see some in the air. Various mixed traffic to KMMV, including jets and helicopters, so listen to CTAF and keep eyes open. Nearby Aurora is also busy. Obviously, you can just stop by and then head on further South.
If stopping by for fuel earlier, and then filling up coming back, make some sort of deal with the school/rental company as fuel in US is cheaper, so you're giving away cash if you present fuel bills and they just credit it to the account and you pay ordinary Canadian 'wet rate'.
Also, if you get stuck like some Canadian pilots I witnessed, remember Northwest Air Repair for troubleshooting. Examples would be a guy not knowing how to start the engine properly when hot (DUH moment) or one with badly mistimed magnetos/sparks firing.
Regarding Bravo airspace, make sure you got all the legalities sorted. Seattle can be quite busy, so maybe not overhead overfly (done so over Charlie PDX back in 2008 in small R22, watching 747 take off 11 o'clock below). You can always fly below the class B of Seattle or on the edge within the airspace and directed by ATC.
You can plan part of the route over the scenic coast, but watch out for all the seaside related weather.
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: delta
boeing field
Best idea is to clear customs at boeing field, that's what I have always done. Then fly down the coast to Astoria, (Columbia river) make a stop and to go all the way to coos bay Oregon, it was 300 nm. I think if you followed the coast all the way you could make it to San Francisco in a day.
