Do you take your students into Bravo?

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I've been hearing a lot at the school about CFIs for whatever reason never takes their students into Bravo Airspace. I personally did some of my Private training out of Bravo so I grew accustomed early. But I’ve heard of commercially rated pilots, whom are scared or uncomfortable going into Bravo.

So do you take your students into Bravo airspace during their training? Even if an endorsement to fly solo in that airspace is not given, it’s good for a student to know and have training on procedures. To me it was just cool flying with the big dogs. I personally plan to give my students training with the airspace. Maybe not towards the endorsement, but just for the experience. Seeing commercially rated pilots timid to fly into bravo is a tad disturbing to me.

Fly safe,
TA

 

[crowbar]

Do you believe everything you here?

 

[pilotman2105]

Do you believe everything you here?

He may not believe everything he "heres," but perhaps if he "hears" something, he'll think about it.

Personally, I think that at least getting some training at a place where larger aircraft frequent is a good thing. Maybe Class B is a pretty big helping of airliners, but perhaps C is a bit more reasonable.

 

[Flywrite]

I did most of my instructing at an airport under the CLT class B. Many times when I was doing pattern work with a student who had hit a learning plateau and was getting frustrated I would tell them to leave the pattern and head for CLT. I did all the radio work and most of the time the experience of landing at a big airport broke the tedium of touch and goes and gave the student a new and exciting experience during a rough spot in their training. I always did this during a slow period so that the student wasnt overwhelmed by having to come down final at red line while trying to listen to a constant stream of ATC. Even when it was quiet I briefed the student that I could take the airplane if they felt overwhelmed and they could watch, learn, and enjoy the view.

The CLT controllers were (and are) a great bunch who helped us out in every way possible. Pretty much every student I did this with loved the experience and made good progress on the next lesson.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Yup.

I teach underneath the Denver Class B. I take my students into Bravo airspace during flights to the north (they usually offer the clearance at some point).

And during the night cross country, especially in the summer when we have to do it really late, we usually have a "problem" on one leg which requires a diversion. The circumstances of the diversion make the Class B primary the best choice. We are almost always able to arrange at least a touch-n-go, but once they turned on the lights for an unused runway and let us come to a full stop.

 

[johnpeace]

I'm just finishing up PPL and my first solo XC was to Class B at HNL.

The first time I went there was with my CFI to take the written test, he showed me the ins and outs of what to expect from the controllers.

After that, he gave me Class B endorsement and sent me there for my first solo XC. It went pretty much the same way it had on my flight with him, except they gave me arrival procedures I was unfamiliar with and had to snap at me to change my heading...followed by vectors (typical student pilot screw-up: if you are unclear of an instruction given by ATC, ASK FOR CLEARER DIRECTIONS!!) to final.

I'm not even a PPL yet and I'm already comfortable flying in busier airspace and talking to 'center' on the radio. That's been a really good thing for my training.

I'd be embarassed for a comm pilot who is afraid of class b.

 

[pilotman2105]

I did most of my instructing at an airport under the CLT class B. Many times when I was doing pattern work with a student who had hit a learning plateau and was getting frustrated I would tell them to leave the pattern and head for CLT. I did all the radio work and most of the time the experience of landing at a big airport broke the tedium of touch and goes and gave the student a new and exciting experience during a rough spot in their training. I always did this during a slow period so that the student wasnt overwhelmed by having to come down final at red line while trying to listen to a constant stream of ATC. Even when it was quiet I briefed the student that I could take the airplane if they felt overwhelmed and they could watch, learn, and enjoy the view.

The CLT controllers were (and are) a great bunch who helped us out in every way possible. Pretty much every student I did this with loved the experience and made good progress on the next lesson.

What airport by CLT? I did my primary training just outside of GSO. Loved going into GSO and dealing with the "big" planes.

 

[Midwest]

Under the IAD bravo and in the ADIZ. The students around here generally don't have too much of a problem dealing with airspace and busier airports.

 

[TDTURBO]

I'm not sure about Denver class B but around here, you'll never fly into ORD class Bravo, even IFR. I know after 20 years of flying under it, I never once recieved a clearence through it.

 

[huskerfan]

I usually have my guys pick up flight following though class B at least 5 times before they get their privates. I think its a valuable exercise. I also give them the option of doing some touch n goes at hobby airport. I'm under the 2000' ring of houston class B and about 3 miles south of the surface area. I make sure my students know how to communicate for the just in case scenario.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I'm just finishing up PPL and my first solo XC was to Class B at HNL.

HNL is the tamest Class B you'll find. To me, it's more like your average class C. I'm not saying that to discount your experience...the rules still apply, but when you go into Dallas, Denver, LA, Bay area, etc, you'll see the difference.
Any CFI that doesn't take his/her student through class B airspace is derelict.

 

[Flywrite]

What airport by CLT? I did my primary training just outside of GSO. Loved going into GSO and dealing with the "big" planes.

EQY, Monroe, NC. I did a lot of cross-countries up towards INT/GSO though.

 

[340drvr]

In this neck of the woods, and many others out west, it's not always practical. Though I agree in principal that B time should be part of a PPL syllabus, it may not be feasible.
From my home base, it's 2 1/2 hours to the nearest B, 2 hours to the nearest C, and 100 nm to the nearest D. I usually take students to the Class D for all the dual X-c, but it'd be unreasonable to require a long trip to Class B. Yes, their experience is limited when they get their PPL, but, then, a pilot training in the busy eastern seaboard gets a license with zero high-density altitude or mountain experience. I always spend time explaining this to new "fledglings," and encourage them to seek further training in the future.
Commercial students, if they haven't had any Class B time, then it's reasonable to require that experience as part of the dual X-C flights.
.............Just another side of the story.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Always expose to Class C, try for Class B. I don't waste lessons trying to get clearance thru Class B. If I can get thru one on a cross country, great. Though the area I fly in has a pretty low success rate of getting thru there as a VFR pilot. Sometimes Bravo just isn't practical.


Mr. I.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Always expose to Class C, try for Class B. I don't waste lessons trying to get clearance thru Class B. If I can get thru one on a cross country, great. Though the area I fly in has a pretty low success rate of getting thru there as a VFR pilot. Sometimes Bravo just isn't practical.

Ya gotta do what's practical. It's the folks who are purposefully avoiding it who are derelict.

 

[johnpeace]

HNL is the tamest Class B you'll find. To me, it's more like your average class C. I'm not saying that to discount your experience...the rules still apply, but when you go into Dallas, Denver, LA, Bay area, etc, you'll see the difference....

Oh, no doubt...

I'm sure there will be a lot of differences about flying on the mainland (going to Atlanta to finish training). I'm just glad my CFI wants me to experience it, and there's things I learned that will be transferrable I bet:
a) Class B controllers are faster and less patient.
b) there are published procedures you should be familiar with.
c) you have to have 'cleared into the bravo' to proceed.

 

[Jmmccutc]

i've been in Bravo since the first XC, had to go through CLE to get there...i fly through CLE and PIT on a regular basis...PIT is a good one to learn in, nice controllers there...

 

[Jmmccutc]

But I’ve heard of commercially rated pilots, whom are scared or uncomfortable going into Bravo.

are these commercial pilot that are without an instrument rating? i just can't imagine a commercial pilot or even an instrument rated pilot, not commercial rated being scared...but hey like i said i have had alot of exposure to it, so that could just be me...

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

Re: Re: Do you take your students into Bravo?

are these commercial pilot that are without an instrument rating? i just can't imagine a commercial pilot or even an instrument rated pilot, not commercial rated being scared...but hey like i said i have had alot of exposure to it, so that could just be me...

Yes, these people are Instrument rated.