Simviation Forums

When planning a VFR flight in a small plane, what is the proper way to plot a course from airport A to airport B?  Is it OK to simply fly direct?  If the route crosses into Class B or C airspace, would you typically want to avoid that in a small plane flying VFR?  If there is a victor airway roughly in the same direction of travel, do you intercept that and follow that in?
I am not a RL pilot, but am having alot of fun learning aviation through FSX.  In the RL however, what are the considerations you have to take in order to plot your course?

If at all possible.. you want to avoid towered airspace.. even fly over it if need be. You can plan to fly through it, counting on getting permission to transition.. but even on a filed IFR flight, you might get re-routed around it.

If you MUST plan on flying through it.. be on VFR flight-following.. then it's just a matter of a hand-off.

If you're flying VFR, it's best to avoid airways, and even close proximity to VORs. They're areas likely to be congested by filed pilots, and you'd just be an annoyance.

[quote]
I am not a RL pilot, but am having alot of fun learning aviation through FSX.

You're thinking of all the right things.

For a true VFR cross-country (no GPS), my general advice is to plot the straight line first. Then look for anything along the route that would make you want to deviate. That could be a number of things. Things you want to avoid: Airspace, mountains, long overwater segments, etc. Or things that would make navigation easier: a highway going in the same direction or an impossible-to-miss checkpoint. There are a few more steps after this before you've got a complete flight plan, but that's the basic idea.

As far as airspace, Class D you will usually be above in cruise and therefore isn't usually a concern. If it's easy to avoid, going around Class C will save you a few radio conversations, but usually it is not a problem to transition the airspace. Class B can be tricky as each one is set up a bit differently. In general, there are transition routes either beneath or through the airspace set up specially for VFR guys. It will save you a great amount of hassle to fly one them rather than try to transition directly through the airspace. Also as Rotty mentioned, there are other types of airspace which cannot be transitioned, and the only option is to go around.

As far as airways, if there is one close to your route an direction, it's acceptable to follow it. At a minimum make a mental note of it. The VOR can be an effective tool in aiding your navigation, especially in times of lowered visibility. The only caveat is that other traffic (IFR and VFR) will be on the same airway, so you have to keep your eyes open. It also means that you should be diligent to stay at the appropriate altitude for your direction of flight.

Just a note:

If you have an ADF, be sure to turn it on and tune it to something suitable.  Commercial broadcast stations, NDB's etc - destination or off to the side for a howgozit check.

Thanks for the help guys.  I am learning alot, and it makes it alot of fun to hop these small rural airports VFR, without using the GPS.
 

[quote]Thanks for the help guys.

You want to really wake up your VFR flight? Get thee to the nearest FBO, buy an E-6B flight computer and learn how to use it. (Takes all of half an hour.) They're pretty inexpensive (I was surprised at how cheap they've become - I got my first one from my Grandfather; a big steel 50's era monster with a guillotine-sharp slide. My new one feels like tin-foil) and having it's rapid-fire calculating at your fingertips really helps the realism, in my opinion. I always have a whiz-wheel when I fly. Always - so I always have one when I fly sim too. That and correct use of an air chart can really open up your flight-sim experience.

The E-6B is one of the greatest tools ever invented!  It's a wonder to work with, and can actually cure boredom in the sim cockpit.  Sitting there watching the gauges can get lonesome and a little tedious when nothing changes, so some realworld weather and the E-6B can certainly liven things up . . . now where did I put mine . . . 

[quote]The E-6B is one of the greatest tools ever invented!

Couple of useful links?

Virtual E-6B
http://www.csgnetwork.com/e6bcalc.html

E-6B pop-up panel included with the Amelia Earhart Lockheed L10E Electra
http://www.simviation.com/fs2004vintage59.htm

Alex