Will be flying SF bay area to KVGT next week. Will arrive from the west.
Haven't been into Las Vegas area in over 20 years but have heard it is busy.
Any suggestions to keep it simple. Would I do better to file IFR to North
Las Vegas or just come in VFR and deal with Las Vegas Approach.
Thanks in Advance]
Howard
C182P

Can't give a comparison, but I flew VFR into KVGT about 7 yrs ago.
Vegas approach was fine to deal with; they did hand me over to Nellis
(AFB) approach for the fight into North Las Vegas.

Howard,

If you come down the valley from the northwest, just stay below the
Class B and talk to VGT tower direct. It's easy. The training area is
towards the right (southern) side of the valley.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Howard Nelson wrote:
> Will be flying SF bay area to KVGT next week. Will arrive from the west.
> Haven't been into Las Vegas area in over 20 years but have heard it is busy.
> Any suggestions to keep it simple. Would I do better to file IFR to North
> Las Vegas or just come in VFR and deal with Las Vegas Approach.
> Thanks in Advance]
> Howard
> C182P
>
>
I'd highly recommend that you plan your arrival during daylight. If you
have a good moving map with current airspace you can certainly avoid the
Class B and simply deal with KVGT tower.

In article <gMN%f.31442$bm6.7948@fed1read04>,
Sam Spade > wrote:
>Howard Nelson wrote:
>> Will be flying SF bay area to KVGT next week. Will arrive from the west.
>> Haven't been into Las Vegas area in over 20 years but have heard it is busy.
>> Any suggestions to keep it simple. Would I do better to file IFR to North
>> Las Vegas or just come in VFR and deal with Las Vegas Approach.
>> Thanks in Advance]
>> Howard
>> C182P
>>
>>
>I'd highly recommend that you plan your arrival during daylight. If you
>have a good moving map with current airspace you can certainly avoid the
>Class B and simply deal with KVGT tower.

I actually find Las Vegas approach to be very helpful. I've flown into
Las Vegas (all three airports: LAS, VGT, and HND) many many times, and
have *always* called up Las Vegas approach when arriving VFR. It's *busy*
airspace around there, and it pays to have that extra set of eyes looking
out for you and making sure you don't cross the approach paths of the heavies.
I don't ever recall being denied a clearance into the Class B on approach.

I personally think that the Las Vegas approach controllers are some of the
best around, as they have bundles of experience in dealing with a wide variety
of aircraft. They almost always ask if you're familiar, and if not, they
happily provide vectors and altitudes.

As Las Vegas usually has very good weather, I would recommend going in VFR
and contacting approach about 40 miles out.

-- Dane

"Dane Spearing" > wrote in message
...
> In article <gMN%f.31442$bm6.7948@fed1read04>,
> Sam Spade > wrote:
> >Howard Nelson wrote:
> >> Will be flying SF bay area to KVGT next week. Will arrive from the
west.
> >> Haven't been into Las Vegas area in over 20 years but have heard it is
busy.
> >> Any suggestions to keep it simple. Would I do better to file IFR to
North
> >> Las Vegas or just come in VFR and deal with Las Vegas Approach.
> >> Thanks in Advance]
> >> Howard
> >> C182P
> >>
> >>
> >I'd highly recommend that you plan your arrival during daylight. If you
> >have a good moving map with current airspace you can certainly avoid the
> >Class B and simply deal with KVGT tower.
>
> I actually find Las Vegas approach to be very helpful. I've flown into
> Las Vegas (all three airports: LAS, VGT, and HND) many many times, and
> have *always* called up Las Vegas approach when arriving VFR. It's *busy*
> airspace around there, and it pays to have that extra set of eyes looking
> out for you and making sure you don't cross the approach paths of the
heavies.
> I don't ever recall being denied a clearance into the Class B on approach.
>
> I personally think that the Las Vegas approach controllers are some of the
> best around, as they have bundles of experience in dealing with a wide
variety
> of aircraft. They almost always ask if you're familiar, and if not, they
> happily provide vectors and altitudes.
>
> As Las Vegas usually has very good weather, I would recommend going in VFR
> and contacting approach about 40 miles out.
>
> -- Dane

Thank you for helpful answer. Will go VFR and ask for vectors.

Howard