VFR Transition Routes

jtsastre

jtsastre

Well-Known Member
I haven't flown VFR in a while, and especially using a VFR transition route. I'm flying with a student down to San Diego through LAX Class B airspace, and I was curious, if we were using one of the VFR transition routes, would the student be advised to include it on his VFR flight plan that he files? Or as we are on flight following, would we request the specific route? Or would ATC know which route we're taking based on our flight plan and altitude and clear us accordingly? Thanks in advance for the help.

Jtsastre
 
I think you need to start with looking at the LA TAC and reading about the trasnition routes themselves. For example, one of the them, the "Secial Flight Rules" area doesn't involve clerarances nor communication with ATC. As I recall from my one time there, if you are on flight following, you will be expected to leave flight following for self reporting before you enter.

For flight plan purposes, it doesn't matter much - ATC doesn't see VFR flight plans.
 
I believe all "VFR Transition Routes" require ATC clearance.

In places like San Diego & New York, "VFR Corridors" are, in a sense, holes through the class B and do not require a clearance. It is my understanding that the LA Special Flight Rules airspace used to be a VFR corridor.
 
I'm referring to the magenta arrows transitioning through Class B airspace. For example, the Coliseum Route (8,500'-9,500'). Underneath it reads "ATC approval to enter". I'm assuming we'll get cleared like anytime through Class B airspace, however we'll be at 9,500' feet over VNY and use the route. I just wasn't sure how to let ATC know we're using this specific route. "So Cal approach request Class B transition via the Coliseum Route"?

Jtsastre
 
You don't have to include the requested transition route in the VFR flight plan and even if you do ATC will most likely not know about it. If you're on flight following when you're approaching LA ATC will ask you how you would like to transit the LA class B airspace. Then you tell them which transition route you want to use and they will probably approve what you requested. You will stay with Socal all the way thorugh the airspace as you normally do with flight following.

One exception is the special flight rules transition where ATC will terminate flight following so you can make radio calls on the appropriate air-to-air frequency listed on the LA terminal chart while flying over LAX. On the other side you have to request flight following all over again.
 
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