3
$\begingroup$

I went to go fly around DFW today, wanted to do some sight see of the city and such. When I got in the air I contacted approach to get VFR flight following and was going to remain outside of the class B airspace anyways for most of it. When requesting to go closer I was told I would need to have an LOA with KDAL (Dallas-Lovefield), which I did not so I remained outside the Bravo, what is an LOA and or how is the best way to be inside the class B for sight seeing?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4
$\begingroup$

Letters of Authorization (LOAs) are authorization to conduct various types of commercial flights in certain airspace. They are defined and governed by FAA Order 8900.1 and can be obtained from the regional Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) for that area. It is not necessary for non-commercial general aviation operations. I suspect (and I don't know the full details as to how you contacted Ft Worth Approach) that the controller thought you were a commercial operation requesting to start doing some sightseeing over the Dallas Ft. Worth Area without having done this paperwork.

Usually as a GA pilot, you can simply contact approach control for a Class B airspace and request a transition through Class Bravo. This request may or may not be granted depending on commercial traffic congestion that day, etc. They may also want you to stick to existing VFR traffic transition routes and not deviate from that. Class B, as a general rule, is not very accommodating for sightseeing and other leisure flying.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you where can I find the VFR traffic transitions? And can a GA pilot option an LOA so they are able to conduct these types of operations. $\endgroup$
    – iqueqiorio
    Jun 4, 2018 at 2:14
  • $\begingroup$ @iqueqiorio, if you don't know how to get a clearance I would suggest you get some instructor time on the ground to go over it. You want to make sure you get it right or you could lose your ticket. $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Jun 4, 2018 at 7:39
  • $\begingroup$ VFR transition routes are listed on the backs of terminal area charts, if they are published, or check the chart supplements for that region. $\endgroup$
    – Carlo Felicione
    Jun 4, 2018 at 21:07
  • $\begingroup$ Most TRACONs have canned "tours" you can request; ask a local CFI/FBO or phone TRACON yourself for a list. They might approve minor deviations in the air, depending on traffic, but it's unlikely they'll approve anything novel. $\endgroup$
    – StephenS
    Jan 12, 2019 at 17:51

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .