Class G Surface Area???

[Roy Smith]

Anybody understand this NOTAM?

!BDR 02/020 JSD CGSA WEF 0602111200-0602112100

Duats can't translate the CGSA:

Stratford CT (Sikorsky) [JSD]: February NOTAM #20 issued by Bridgeport CT
[BDR]:
CGSA effective from February 11th, 2006 at 07:00 AM EST (0602111200) -
February 11th, 2006 at 04:00 PM EST (0602112100)

I'm assuming it stands for Class G Surface Area, but what the heck does
that mean? Is this just some cryptic way of saying the tower is closed
during those times?

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Roy Smith" > wrote in message
...
>
> Anybody understand this NOTAM?
>
> !BDR 02/020 JSD CGSA WEF 0602111200-0602112100
>
> Duats can't translate the CGSA:
>
> Stratford CT (Sikorsky) [JSD]: February NOTAM #20 issued by Bridgeport CT
> [BDR]:
> CGSA effective from February 11th, 2006 at 07:00 AM EST
> (0602111200) -
> February 11th, 2006 at 04:00 PM EST (0602112100)
>
> I'm assuming it stands for Class G Surface Area, but what the heck does
> that mean? Is this just some cryptic way of saying the tower is closed
> during those times?
>

Following suit, the proper contraction for Class G Surface Area would be
CGSA, if such a thing existed. But that just doesn't make sense. CGSA is
not an approved NOTAM contraction nor does it appear in the Contractions
book. My best guess is a typo, but I can't think of what it should be.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"B A R R Y" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 08:29:54 -0500, Roy Smith > wrote:
>
>>I'm assuming it stands for Class G Surface Area, but what the heck does
>>that mean?
>
> AKAIK, it means Class G _to_ the surface.
>

A Surface Area is defined as "the airspace contained by the lateral boundary
of the Class B, C, D, or E airspace designated for an airport that begins at
the surface and extends upward..

If this NOTAM is referring to a temporary change in the class of airspace it
is done in a manner opposite to the norm. The A/FD shows the times the
higher class airspace is in effect and states what class it is the rest of
the time. The entry for Sikorsky Heliport shows the airspace to be Class D
from 8AM to sunset Monday through Saturday and Class G at other times. If
this NOTAM was to advise pilots of a temporary change in those hours it
should be something like "CDAS effective from February 11th, 2006 at 04:00
PM EST (0602112100) - February 11th, 2006 at sunset.", or something like
that.


>
> Think VFR flight rules relating to visibility and cloud clearance...
>
> If the pattern is in G, you can legally fly VFR pattern work with less
> visibility than if the pattern is in E airspace.
>
> Check FAR 91.155. (a) & (b). Note that (b) adds 1 mile visibility
> at night, if you're below 1200 and within 1/2 mile of the airport.
>

I'm pretty sure Roy's query had nothing to do with VFR minima.

[Chris G.]

I'm not sure of the CGSA acronym, but if you call the originating
facility of the NOTAM or the FSS that maintains that NOTAM file, then
you can probably get a better sense of what the real situation is. Btw,
good job in checking NOTAMS. :-)

Chris G.


Roy Smith wrote:
> Anybody understand this NOTAM?
>
> !BDR 02/020 JSD CGSA WEF 0602111200-0602112100
>
> Duats can't translate the CGSA:
>
> Stratford CT (Sikorsky) [JSD]: February NOTAM #20 issued by Bridgeport CT
> [BDR]:
> CGSA effective from February 11th, 2006 at 07:00 AM EST (0602111200) -
> February 11th, 2006 at 04:00 PM EST (0602112100)
>
> I'm assuming it stands for Class G Surface Area, but what the heck does
> that mean? Is this just some cryptic way of saying the tower is closed
> during those times?