Class B airspace for beginners

[MXMiles]

I will soon (hopefully) have my ppl and I have some relatives who live in the Atlanta area. I was planning on flying over there as often as possible for several reasons really. One, of course, to visit friends and family, and also to build my hours and experience because I plan on making aviation my career. I was just wondering if there was any advice and tips for me when it comes to flying in such busy airspace in a lowly 172 that you can only gain from experience.

 

[garf12]

Really its no different than flying anywhere else. Just make sure you hear the magic words, "cleared into class bravo" and the radios will most likely be alot busier than you are used to.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Make sure you have a Terminal chart, and THINK.
You'll do fine!

 

[User546]

Also, along the lines of the Terminal Chart.

Don't get intimidated by what you see. A lot of people initially will get intimidated, and will try to fly underneath the shelves just to save having to talk to Approach. Bad idea, especially if your not comfortable with Class B shelves. Chances are if you do that you will bust airspace somewhere and you could end up in big trouble for that one, especially a place as busy as Atlanta!

Study the charts way ahead of time (before you even leave on the trip) and figure out what direction you'll be coming from and what route you'll most likely take to your destination. Then become familiar with the various shelves in that area, and it never hurts to mark on your map where you should make your initial callup to Approach.

After you've done it once or twice and see how it works, you'll probably be just fine and not need to do all that. But it never hurts to be prepared, and you'll feel a lot more confident about it when you do!

 

[wxman13]

Keep your radio transmissions short, pay attention to radio calls, and keep a really sharp scan for traffic. Have a backup plan in mind if ATL approach refuses to clear you into the Class B. Going under/around can be a pain, but it will definitely be worse (and risk busting airspace) if you're caught off guard and trying to figure things out by the seat of your pants.

Peter

 

[urflyingme?!]

OH ya, if you have one of them newfangled gps thingys in your plane you can dial up VFR reporting points!

 

[MXMiles]

thanks for the advice guys. i will most likely be going to gwinnett county airport (KLZU) which is actually outside the class b airspace but since its on the eastern side and i'll be approaching it from the west i will most likely fly thru the bravo airspace. is there anything particular about briscoe field that i should know. how's the fuel prices if anybody's been there?