From Monterey to Concord above the Golden Gate

vbazillio · March 30, 2019

Let's continue these short hops to be as-real-as-it-gts on Califonia. These flights on Prepar3D are real trainer for me. I can practise Foreflight mobile app on my iPad. In France, I use Skydemon, so because I plan next month to be in California, I need to be current with Foreflight. And as I'm not using anymore paper chart, I had to be efficient.

Thanks to Orbx, I choose to depart from Monterey (KMRY) and FBO Monterey Jet Center FBO. My plan is to fly along the coast and below the class Bravo airspace. To do so, let's use the FLY chart on the San Francisco TAC (Terminal Area Chart) :

This chart is unusual for me. I'm french and I'm not use to have a official chart which explains me how to fly below a specific airspace. With big blue arrows, it shows how to interfere with the Bravo airspace which protect big airport, like here San Francisco International KSFO. So, let's fly around the San Francisco Bay, by the west coast, from Half Moon Bay via the Golden Gate to end at Concord Buchanan (KCCR). If I want to be out of contact of anyone, let's fly below 6'000 feet, then after Half Moon Bay, let's descend below 4'000 feet, then a left-right to descend below 2'000 feet because we are right in the KSFO departure (if 28 in service) :

Then, we can climb 3'000 to overfly the Golden Gate. Or we can stay lower.

If I want I can to straight northbound (see the empty magenta arrow), there is a VFR transition named Coastline VFR Transition. But it requires an ATC clairance. And this clairance process is not delivered by the pretty much old ATC under FSx/Prepar3D.

The route as seen from Foreflight with Navlog on top

... and the navigation log automatically generated by Foreflight... That I don't use.

Let's continue with the same plane. I take N4975F (with the A2A C172 Trainer). The author of the previous texture has enhanced (better resolution) his work.

We'll be 2 on board. I top-off and few luggages. N4975F is a 180 hp and we are far from the max weight. chevaux et on est loin de la masse max. As in my last trip in Monterey, I depart from Monterey Jet Center (Orbx KMRY) :

I enter quickly the route in the Flight1 GTN 650. Just in case of. Just to have a backup. And to read some ETA :

Taxi clairance is for holding point November, runway 28L. I draw it in green with annotate tool in Foreflight

Taxi at Monterey.

At the holding point, I wait 10 minutes. Ultimate Traffic Live is great... but at 100% it creates the same issue as in real. You wait

I also look at arrival from the Foreflight map which display AI traffic from P3D. It helps understanding the ATC work :

Then, it's time to take-off ! There is a FEW at 2'500 feet. The plan is to turn right after departure.

Right turn on initial climb toward Half Moon Bay

Local advice as seen from the FBO

Cloud are here. I had to slalom to stay VMC

Look at the beautiful brand new hi-rez texture of N4975F !

Santa Cruz is far away, I head north over the Monterey bay

From Foreflight in the middle of the bay

Overt Half Moon Bay

And if we look closely at the chart... we are just few miles from KSFO

Here is a real screen shot... I mean a screen shot taken during a real life flight Look at the ADSB traffic displayed (and visible) by the app. ADSB antenna are strong there Is there more or less traffic than my PC can generate with constant framerate with Ultimate Traffic Live ? ;)))))