Put the Bravo Back in Your Class B Performance

Class Bravo airspace presents you with four choices: around, over, under, and through. GA pilots in the vicinity of Class Bravo frequently opt for one of the first three options, but for that reason, refreshing yourself on going through it is a good idea. 

Today, let's consider a VFR flight through Class B.  

Remember these requirements: 

• Equipment: Radio and Mode C transponder (ADS-B Out)
  
  
• Aircraft-specific clearance: You can’t fly in the airspace until a controller gives you, by name, clearance to do so. In this case, "name" is your tail number. Pilots used to Classes C and D can and do forget this.
  
  
• Taking off: When departing an airport within the Class B area, you must follow that airport’s ATC instructions, then communicate with the Class B ATC when directed to change frequencies by your original controller. If departing a pilot-controlled airport, contact Class B ATC immediately after departure and follow their instructions.
  
  
• A private pilot certificate or higher: Not a student or recreational pilot cert. If you are one of these and want/need to fly in Class Bravo, ask a CFI for Class Bravo training to receive the required endorsement.

How to prepare: 

• Study: Listen to live ATC feeds and talk to pilots and CFIs familiar with the specific Class Bravo you’ll be flying through.
  
  
• Confess and unable: If you become uncertain at any time, let ATC know right away. If you aren’t certain you can follow an ATC instruction, say “unable.” This helps you and the traffic around you remain safe. If you hear exasperation in the controller’s voice, don’t worry about it until you’re on the ground. You, and they, will get over it.
  
  
• Caution wake turbulence: You’ll have big jets all around you. Remember the rules for taking off short and landing long, and remember that wake turbulence vortices sink, so large aircraft flying above can affect you.
  
  
• Eyes open, head moving: Just because ATC is directing you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fly defensively. ATC might make a mistake, a 777 pilot might make a mistake, or you might make a mistake and not realize you’ve put yourself into the path of another aircraft.

Quiz

It's a crisp winter day and the perfect time to fly your C-172 from KSMO, Santa Monica, CA, east to L35, Big Bear Lake, California. Skies are clear, winds are calm, and you and your three passengers are ready to roll.

You've filed a flight plan, dialed it into ForeFlight, fully charged your tablet and your trusty ADS-B In antenna, and all that is left to do is climb aboard and turn the key.

Today's flight will take place initially in KSMO's Class D airspace, which extends to 2,700' MSL. Directly above it and extended to 4,499' MSL is Class E airspace. Immediately above that, Los Angeles Class B, from 5,000' MSL to 10,000' MSL.

At some point along your route, you will be entering Los Angeles Class B airspace and must have a clearance to do so. ATC will have complete control of sequencing and separation, and you will be expected to comply promptly and accordingly with its instructions. You must hear that you cleared into the city-specific Bravo before entering any class Bravo airspace.

Your aircraft must also be equipped with two-way radios, navigation equipment appropriate for any type of IFR flight, and an ADS-B Out transponder.

Tower gives you clearance for take-off on Runway 21, with a left downwind departure, and up you go. As you complete crosswind and downwind, Santa Monica Tower tells you to contact SoCal Approach. You do so and are instructed to maintain VFR, which in this case means staying below the Los Angeles Class B airspace beginning at 5,000' MSL directly over KSMO.

As you head farther east towards downtown, you know the ceiling drops to 2,500' MSL, so you maintain 2,000' MSL for now. As you approach downtown, SoCal Approach instructs you to contact SoCal on another frequency. You do so and are then instructed to climb and maintain 7,500' MSL. However, you have not heard the magic words, "Cleared into the Los Angeles Class Bravo airspace."