How to get IFR Clearance enroute?

(Stimbo) wrote in message . com...
Well.... I guess I picked the "busiest non-towered" airport for my
first Bahamas experience. I'll be staying 5 days at Abaco Beach
Resort at Marsh Harbor in mid-July. Downloaded the AOPA package.
Bought the 2004 Pilot's Guide. Got my Customs sticker. Made plenty
of copies of all forms. I'm psyched! The Pilot's Guide even got me a
good pilot's discount! Paid for the book and more. Plan to fly
10-12K as you said. However, it sure takes a long time for a 172 to
get that high in July. ;^)

Cool! Good luck with it...just keep your head on a swivel. I'm told
we were there on the busiest day of the year (Jan 2nd) which can't
have helped. The problem is, there's no taxiway and the FBO/ramp are
close to one end of the runway...if the other rwy is favored by wind,
it's hard to find a long enough break in traffic to back-taxi. Also
hard to fit into the pattern, what with turboprops and bizjets flying
long straight-ins. But hey, it's the Bahamas...no problem, it will
all work out.

Are you going to rent a raft, and do you have lifevests/EPIRB?

Have a blast,
Sydney

(Snowbird) wrote in message Cool! Good luck with it...just keep your head on a swivel. I'm told
we were there on the busiest day of the year (Jan 2nd) which can't
have helped. The problem is, there's no taxiway and the FBO/ramp are
close to one end of the runway...if the other rwy is favored by wind,
it's hard to find a long enough break in traffic to back-taxi. Also
hard to fit into the pattern, what with turboprops and bizjets flying
long straight-ins. But hey, it's the Bahamas...no problem, it will
all work out.

Are you going to rent a raft, and do you have lifevests/EPIRB?

Have a blast,
Sydney


Sydney:

Yep. Yep. Nope. Renting a raft at FXE (Banyan). Bought lifevests and
extra CO2 carts. Even bought a portable Nav/Com (ICOM A23). Although
I did not buy an EPIRB. Seemed like a lot of money. (Yeah.. yeah...
I know... what's our life worth?!) Maybe I can rent one. I'm
shopping for items for a "survival kit" now.

Thanks for the tip on the runway/backtaxi activities and all the
traffic! I'll be flying to the AOPA FLY-IN this Saturday - as I've
done before - so I'll have experience with LOTS of traffic converging
at once.

Stimbo
Medford, NJ

Stimbo
in your case, filing on the ground will not work for you. the problem is
that when you leave the sector of your FSS then the flight plan you filed
is gone. After you enter the new sector, you either have to call the FSS
and file again, or if you had done a composite then it will be available
at where you wanted to pick it up. In this case, you would need to use an
intersection or some type of navaid as the place to pick it up. to
activate it, when your near th espot you chose, you just call center and
tell them you have a IFR flight plan you would like to open.

but if your expecting good weather, it may be easier to file in the air if
you find you need to do it.

Stimbo wrote:

Thanks to EVERYONE for such great suggestions!

You provided me some new ideas, and some that were just plain common
sense, I must admit.

I, of course, know that I can simply FILE IFR from the get-go and just
not activate it until I need it. However NJ to FL is a 9-hour flight
in a Cessna 172 plus 2 stops totalling 10 to 12 hours. I don't
remember how long the IFR plan stays active in the system (3 hours?)
before it's dropped. I guess this procedure makes me file every time
I make a fuel/potty stop.

I like the COMPOSITE flight plan idea. I had sorta forgotten about
it. I need to read more about it. Is this easy to
implement/activate?

Thanks to SNOWBIRD (Sydney) for such great detail and your anecdotes.

Yes - I should have originally stated that if VFR it would be with
Flight Following. That's too long of a flight without help of some
kind - especially these days (TFR's etc.)

My eventual goal is to the Bahamas. I may start a new thread for some
tips.

Thanks again!

Stimbo
Medford, NJ

The first step is to use flight following, which puts you in contact with
ATC right off the bat. Then all you have to do is ask for an IFR clearance
"present position direct" to your destination (or via airways, your choice).
This works great out here in the West...can't speak for the crowded east.

Bob Gardner

"Stimbo" wrote in message
om...
What are the recommended procedures in obtaining an IFR clearance
enroute?

Flying from NJ to FL, I prefer to fly VFR, but undoubtedly I will
encounter IMC along the way. If I filed IFR in advance, it takes 1/2
hour or more to clear it through ATC. I obviously cannot wait 1/2
hour if I encounter IMC enroute.

Is there an "acceptable" procedure enroute if I start seeing a cumulus
build-up in front of me? Do I have to land and file? Do I file with
FSS and wait 1/2 hour before I open with Center? Can I file directly
with Center? Is this idea generally "frowned upon" by ATC?

I'm not necessarily looking for regulations as I am for practical
experiences that others have witnessed.

Thanks for any tips.

Stimbo
Medford, NJ

The first step is to use flight following, which puts you in contact with
ATC right off the bat.

not always possible if ATC is busy with IFR traffic, or the approach/ departure
person is not in the mood. Here in the East we get unable many times.

(Hankal) wrote in message ...
The first step is to use flight following, which puts you in contact with
ATC right off the bat.

not always possible if ATC is busy with IFR traffic, or the approach/ departure
person is not in the mood. Here in the East we get unable many times.

Bob & Hankal:

Interestingly, my original reason for starting this thread (THANKS
everyone!!) was due to a recent response of "UNABLE" from Flight
Following in the NYC area when trying to file IFR. The resultant
scramble for available options made me rethink not just the textbook
procedures, but also the generally-accepted procedures as well.

Stimbo
Medford, NJ