Flying the Owens Valley

[207WF]

Good article in the current issue of Flying Magazine by Sam Weigel about that. It gives me renewed appreciation, Ed, for the flying world that Charlie Tango inhabits. I high risk, high return enviornment! Beautiful, but potentially perilous around Mamoth Lakes. Check it out. WF

[Roger Lee]

Ed does get some beautiful country and certainly a wide range of flying conditions to be proficient at.

[Ed Cesnalis]

A few Owens Valley Images:

 

 

Mt Whitney and Alabama HIlls

 

 

 

[josjonkers]

Just wondering about the airspace restrictions in this Valley. On the map it shows a lot of restricted airspace. Is that airspace open to go through there?

[Ed Cesnalis]

The various MOAs are open yet in most places avoided by most pilots. Flying the Sierra I'm usually in a MOA because they are practically unavoidable.

[chanik]

Almost never around China lake. Sort of a pain when I fly down to Phoenix. BTW, I always carry a sleeping bag and my survival kit when I cross the Sierras.

[Doug G.]

I call the controlling center listed on the sectional. (Is that info available on my 696? I've never looked.) With the sequester they (MOAs and restricted areas) often don't have any activity. If they do, center will let you know.

[chanik]

That is how to check. The controlling info is not in any flight software or GPS moving map that I know of, certainly not in my 496, but you can always get it from FSS in the air. Some R areas are frequently open like the one over Pendelton down near San Diego. China is seldom open but I have transited it a few times. Others, like Groom Lake area are open 0.0% of the time. But you can always ask

[Doug G.]

Fortunately the restricted areas (with the exception of a quite small area) here have a minimum 8,000 ft base. No problem going under them. There is also a standing "T"FR that requires you to contact Grand Forks ATC and be given a transponder code, but then the UAVs avoid you - evidently.