GA Tuesday

The Pilot Club

“Great Potatoes, Tasty Destinations”

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

Not a TPC Member?! Click here to join!

• Recommend airplane: single or twin engine 100-130kts
• Set the weather as you like. Most use live weather with time set back a few hours.
• Moving map GPS: ForeFlight, FltPlan Go, Garmin Pilot.
• Bring your camera and share your pictures in our Discord.

Suggested add-ons & charts

1. Salt Lake City sectional chart
2. IFR Enroute Low Altitude chart (L-11, L-13)

Flight plan

Alternative flight plan

In case the weather doesn't cooperate for a visual flight here is an IFR route you can file with VATSIM. Plan for your altitude to be 15,000 ft.

Use the briefing section to visualize the route in your electronic flight bag (EFB). The challenge of VFR is to not become Children of the Magenta. The Flight Ops team wants you to understand the flight plan and special rules with certain airspace; then execute the plan. Use your charts as reference instead of a crutch.

ESTO PERPETUA!

US Tour

Every first Tuesday of the month we will embark on touring the United States one state at a time. The goal is to visit the capital and/or famous landmarks of each state.

Standard briefing

In order to help alleviate departure we are introducing two separate departure airports. Choose between Bruce Meadows or Warm Springs Creek.

Bruce meadows airport departure

For those starting off at BRUCE MEADOWS AIRPORT (U63) head northeast after takeoff and head to the valley between RUFFNECK PEAK and CAPE HORN MOUNTAIN. When the river forks turn southeast and continue between the valleys until you reach STANLEY AIRPORT (2U7).

Warm springs creek departure

For those starting off at WARM SPRINGS CREEK AIRPORT (0U1) depart until you come across SOUTH FORK RIVER. Follow the river east until it forks. Continue east and climb about 11,500 ft to clear the mountains and head towards STANLEY AIRPORT (2U7).

The remaining legs of the trip

From Stanley Airport continue NE following the highway in the valley while climbing to 9,500 ft to clear the mountains. Once you’ve cleared the mountain range you can follow I-93 southbound  towards MACKAY AIRPORT (U62).

Continue following I-93 southbound until you’ve reached ARCO-BUTTE COUNTY AIRPORT (AOC). The highway forks east and west after the city of ARCO. Follow the highway 20 eastbound staying clear of the NSA on our way to our destination of IDAHO FALLS REGIONAL AIRPORT (IDA).

As part of the standard briefing, weather conditions should be monitored. Here’s a list of reports to consider:

Adverse conditions

Convective

Convective SIGMETs (WST)

Convective Watches (WW)

Graphical AIRMETs

Synopsis

Weather charts

Surface Analysis

Daily US Weather Map

Current conditions

METARs

NWS RADAR Site

PIREPS

SATELLITE

En route forecast

GFA Tool

Low Level SIGWX Progs

Destination forecast

TAF decoder

TAFs

Wind and temps aloft (FB)

By region

Aviation notices

Special Use Airspace

NOTAM Search

Notices to Airmen

ATC delays

National Airspace System Status (FSS Command Center)

A bit of realism

We aim to interject real world parameters to the VFR flights. Read and understand the procedures prior to flight. Any questions or comments contact the Flight Ops team.

1. Read § 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General.
2. Read § 91.215 ATC transponder and altitude reporting equipment and use.
3. Read Section 6. National Security and Interception Procedures
4. A National Security Area (NSA) is a designated airspace through which flight is discouraged for reasons of national security. Flight through NSAs is not prohibited and no special advance clearance or authorization need be obtained to enter them.

Airport information

Take a few minutes to become familiar with the airport, the runway diagrams, etc. Most of the information can be found on Skyvector’s site. Each airport links to their respective pages.

Departure

Arrival

Idaho Falls Regional Airport is two miles north-northwest of downtown Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is locally known as Fanning Field. It is the second-busiest airport in Idaho after Boise Airport. The first airline flights to come to Idaho Falls were on National Parks Airways in 1934–35.

VATSIM

One of the goals during the flight is to have air traffic control support from real people through the VATSIM network. Register for a free account at vatsim.net and complete the new member orientation in order to join the network.

When filing a flight plan with VATSIM make sure to add the following remarks to help support the club and increase our presence on the network.

Flight Ops General Aviation Team

• Paul, TPC25
• Cody, TPC991
• Miguel, TPC83
• Marc, TPC444
• Willy, TPC306

For more information about this organization visit thepilotclub.org. There is also good information on the Standard Operating Procedures page. We also have a very active Discord server.

References

1. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/vfr/
2. https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/ 
3. https://www.thinkaviation.net/notams-decoded/ 
4. https://www.aviationweather.gov/briefing 
5. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=146586 
6. https://sloganshub.org/idaho-slogans/