Travis Airspace, A-682, what happens there ?

[P S]

How does one cross an alert area safely ?

I'm planning a route going from APC to SAC, going through A-682.
In which, there is Travis AFB. Going around the entire area is
a long way, and hopefully not necessary. I found some information
about the Travis airspace on www.whittsflying.com. Would like to
learn if anyone has had any encounters with planes doing 250kts at
low altitudes. Can you trust Travis Approach to direct the GA traffic
away from the military activities ?

Or are there always frequent military flights around the Travis AFB ?
In which case going around the entire area would be prudent.
[Once a USAF 172 or 182 cut in in front of me and took the runway
without even radioing their intention. Maybe we can not trust the
military
pilots to see and avoid.]

[Jay Beckman]

Post by P S
How does one cross an alert area safely ?
I'm planning a route going from APC to SAC, going through A-682.
In which, there is Travis AFB. Going around the entire area is
a long way, and hopefully not necessary. I found some information
about the Travis airspace on www.whittsflying.com. Would like to
learn if anyone has had any encounters with planes doing 250kts at
low altitudes. Can you trust Travis Approach to direct the GA traffic
away from the military activities ?
Or are there always frequent military flights around the Travis AFB ?
In which case going around the entire area would be prudent.
[Once a USAF 172 or 182 cut in in front of me and took the runway
without even radioing their intention. Maybe we can not trust the
military pilots to see and avoid.]

Alert areas are supposed to be "See and Avoid" for all aircraft.

From the Aeronautical Information Manual:

Chapter 3 Section 4

3-4-6. Alert Areas

Alert areas are depicted on aeronautical charts to inform
nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot
training or an unusual type of aerial activity. Pilots should be
particularly alert when flying in these areas. All activity within an alert
area shall be conducted in accordance with CFRs, without waiver, and pilots
of participating aircraft as well as pilots transiting the area shall be
equally responsible for collision avoidance.

[John Clear]

Post by P S
How does one cross an alert area safely ?
I'm planning a route going from APC to SAC, going through A-682.
In which, there is Travis AFB. Going around the entire area is
a long way, and hopefully not necessary. I found some information
about the Travis airspace on www.whittsflying.com. Would like to
learn if anyone has had any encounters with planes doing 250kts at
low altitudes. Can you trust Travis Approach to direct the GA traffic
away from the military activities ?

I fly through that area regularly, I flew from SAC to PAO on
Saturday. Just contact Travis Approach and they'll take care of
you. Norcal will hand you off to Travis if you are talking to
Norcal first.

Travis is mostly C-5 and C-17 traffic, so they are easy to spot
from 100 miles out, just watch out for wake turbulence.

John

[P S]

Post by John Clear

Post by P S
How does one cross an alert area safely ?
I'm planning a route going from APC to SAC, going through A-682.
In which, there is Travis AFB. Going around the entire area is
a long way, and hopefully not necessary. I found some information
about the Travis airspace on www.whittsflying.com. Would like to
learn if anyone has had any encounters with planes doing 250kts at
low altitudes. Can you trust Travis Approach to direct the GA traffic
away from the military activities ?

I fly through that area regularly, I flew from SAC to PAO on
Saturday. Just contact Travis Approach and they'll take care of
you. Norcal will hand you off to Travis if you are talking to
Norcal first.
Travis is mostly C-5 and C-17 traffic, so they are easy to spot
from 100 miles out, just watch out for wake turbulence.

I plan to fly either at 3000 ft MSL or 3500 ft MSL VFR going east
across
that airspace.

It will be nice to see them in the air, from above their flight path
preferably :-). But if I can't get flight following, I will definitely
stay out of
that space.

Thanks for sharing the information.

P S

[three-eight-hotel]

I have also been over Travis on several occaisions. I've always been
talking with NORCAL first, as I am typically flying from the Sacramento
area, and then get handed off to Travis approach.

Once, on the way back from Half Moon Bay, I had to inquire with Travis
approach about the C-5 that we seemed to be converging with (seen from
very far away, like John mentioned), but they told me that it would be
passing underneath me. I wish I had my camera!!!

As long as you are talking to ATC, you should be handed off
appropriately, and it should be un-eventful.

Best Regards,
Todd

[P S]

Thanks a lot for this information. I think I'll take my camera next
time I go through there. This time (if the weather clears up) will
focus on not screwing up anything, no matter how small/easy the
task is.

P S

Post by three-eight-hotel
I have also been over Travis on several occaisions. I've always been
talking with NORCAL first, as I am typically flying from the Sacramento
area, and then get handed off to Travis approach.
Once, on the way back from Half Moon Bay, I had to inquire with Travis
approach about the C-5 that we seemed to be converging with (seen from
very far away, like John mentioned), but they told me that it would be
passing underneath me. I wish I had my camera!!!
As long as you are talking to ATC, you should be handed off
appropriately, and it should be un-eventful.
Best Regards,
Todd

[Robert M. Gary]

Its common to see C-5's doing tngs in the pattern there. A pattern for
a C-5 extends well beyond the class D airspace so flight following is
recommended.

-Robert, CFII

Post by P S
How does one cross an alert area safely ?
I'm planning a route going from APC to SAC, going through A-682.
In which, there is Travis AFB. Going around the entire area is
a long way, and hopefully not necessary. I found some information
about the Travis airspace on www.whittsflying.com. Would like to
learn if anyone has had any encounters with planes doing 250kts at
low altitudes. Can you trust Travis Approach to direct the GA traffic
away from the military activities ?
Or are there always frequent military flights around the Travis AFB ?
In which case going around the entire area would be prudent.
[Once a USAF 172 or 182 cut in in front of me and took the runway
without even radioing their intention. Maybe we can not trust the
military
pilots to see and avoid.]

[P S]

I guess those planes are very hard to turn and go on straight lines
:-).

I'd defintely get flight following.

Thanks.

P S

Post by Robert M. Gary
Its common to see C-5's doing tngs in the pattern there. A pattern for
a C-5 extends well beyond the class D airspace so flight following is
recommended.
-Robert, CFII

Post by P S
How does one cross an alert area safely ?
I'm planning a route going from APC to SAC, going through A-682.
In which, there is Travis AFB. Going around the entire area is
a long way, and hopefully not necessary. I found some information
about the Travis airspace on www.whittsflying.com. Would like to
learn if anyone has had any encounters with planes doing 250kts at
low altitudes. Can you trust Travis Approach to direct the GA traffic
away from the military activities ?
Or are there always frequent military flights around the Travis AFB ?
In which case going around the entire area would be prudent.
[Once a USAF 172 or 182 cut in in front of me and took the runway
without even radioing their intention. Maybe we can not trust the
military
pilots to see and avoid.]

[P S]

Just want to let you folks know I flew over Travis Airspace quite
uneventfully. There was no traffic at the Traffic AFB. Travis approach
was not busy either.

Funny that I now wish I had seen a C-5 or any other big birds
in the air there :-).

P S

[John Clear]

Post by P S
Just want to let you folks know I flew over Travis Airspace quite
uneventfully. There was no traffic at the Traffic AFB. Travis approach
was not busy either.

Yeah, Travis Approach is usually really quiet. When I call in, I
always start with a nice slow "Good Afternoon.. Travis Approach..
Cherokee ......" to give them a chance to put down their coffee
and start listening. The controllers there also sound really young,
probably fresh out of AF training, so I try and use proper phraseology.

Post by P S
Funny that I now wish I had seen a C-5 or any other big birds
in the air there :-).

I've only seen them a few times. I guess I need to work on my timing.

John

[P S]

Post by John Clear

Post by P S
Just want to let you folks know I flew over Travis Airspace quite
uneventfully. There was no traffic at the Traffic AFB. Travis approach
was not busy either.

Yeah, Travis Approach is usually really quiet. When I call in, I
always start with a nice slow "Good Afternoon.. Travis Approach..
Cherokee ......" to give them a chance to put down their coffee
and start listening. The controllers there also sound really young,
probably fresh out of AF training, so I try and use proper phraseology.

Indeed. I will prepend the greetings the next time talking into a
silent frequency.
When there is silence for 2 seconds after the transmission, I tend to
think
my radio didn't work, or the frequency was wrong.


P S