The Arizona Flight Training Workgroup needs comments from flight instructors and others who fly and train regularly in the southeastern Phoenix metropolitan area.
The AFTW is redrawing its popular chart depicting practice areas over the PHX area, and your comments will be used to help increase safety over airspace that both commercial jet traffic and training flights currently share. Continue reading
Popularity: 41%
The blue tracks indicate VFR aircraft squawking 1200, red tracks depict large turbine aircraft arriving or departing IWA, and white tracks represent other aircraft being provided air traffic services by Phoenix TRACON.
The ad-hoc Phoenix Airspace Users Working Group recently issued some stunning graphics showing just how congested the airspace in and around IWA in the southeastern Phoenix metropolitan area is becoming.
“Pilots operating in the airspace near IWA should be aware of the density of air traffic operations in the area,” writes Phillip D. Thornton, Air Traffic Manager, Phoenix Terminal Radar Approach Control, in a Jan. 18, 2012, Letter to Airmen. The letter becomes effective in 30 days . “Approximately 800 aircraft operations a day transit the airspace depicted above at or below 5,000’ MSL (excluding Phoenix Sky Harbor traffic).”
Download the Letter to Airmen, which contains more graphics indicating the airspace issues. (PDF, requires Adobe Reader.)
Permalink, where you can discuss this: http://aftw.org/wp/2012/01/iwaairspace/
Popularity: 35%
In a legal opinion, Luke Air Force Base’s top lawyer says that civilian use of the practice ILS approach at AUX-1 airfield northwest of Phoenix is “unauthorized” and measures should be taken to prevent its use by anyone other than military pilots.
“The Air Force does face potential liability connected with this practice,” wrote Capt. Bradley J. Sauer, chief of Operations and Administrative Law, in a Nov. 14 memorandum to Luke officials. The USAF’s Staff Judge Advocate, Lt. Col. Thomas L. Cluff Jr., also signed off on the memo.
Popularity: 36%
The AFTW’s recommended Practice Area Reporting Points for the Phoenix area are now up for review and discussion.
The frequencies and points outlined on the Phoenix Terminal Area Chart are those that the group have generally agreed work best to improve safety in the intensive flight-training environments around the Valley.
Downloads (both web-friendly and very large TIF format) are available on the next page. (Click “continue reading” for the download links.)
This chart has been assembled by Matt Miller. Thanks Matt!
Popularity: 100%
The ATCA aerobatic training area waiver has been renewed for another two years.
The training area, on the west side of the Estrella Mountains, is displayed in the Airport Facility Directory, and has cautions on the sectional and terminal charts for intensive aerobatic activity.
The area is primarily used by the German Air Force for initial flight training that includes high performance maneuvers, spin training, and formation flying.
Frequency 128.92 should be used when in this area. The ATCA flight ops number is (623) 932-1650 for hours of operation.
Download a copy of the Airport Facility Directory description of the training area here. (588 KB PDF, requires the free Adobe Reader.)
Popularity: 42%
As discussed in at our last meeting. The FAA does not agree with our previously published CGZ GPS approach instructions. I received a certified letter from them today. In general this has to do with when to be on CTAF and when to be on the Practice Area frequency 122.85.
I’ve removed our recommendation at the request of the FAA. However, I have great concern on this topic. I’m concerned on what people are ACTUALLY doing. As we discussed, this area needs to be COMPLETELY evaluated for REAL world safety concerns. I’ve invited the FSDO to our next meeting, they have not yet accepted.
I’ve attached their letter here for your review and comments. I believe an open and honest conversation on this topic is warranted.
Popularity: 57%