Flight Training - October 2014 - 35

with its own minimum altitudes.
To make matters more complicated,
the rules have different altitudes and
routes for companies conducting air
tours and other general aviation traffic.
If you'd like to read all the requirements
for any special FAR Part 93 airport or
area, look up the government's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (see
"Resources," p. 39).
MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES. I can
personally attest to the thrill of seeing
military jets streak by at near-warp speed
right in front of a Cessna 172. It was all
just a blur.
For military pilots on military training
routes (MTR), the usual speed limit of 250
knots below 10,000 feet does not apply. In
this example, the VR means it's a visual
route and the arrows indicate it can be
flown in both directions. During preflight,
check MTR assigned numbers. Military
traffic on MTRs with four-digit numbers
stays below 1,500 feet agl and above 1,500
feet on MTRs with three or fewer digits.
More complete information on each MTR
is elsewhere on each sectional chart.
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AND TRANSITION AREAS. At country airports, it's not

unusual to practice takeoffs and landings
in uncontrolled airspace if the ceiling is
a little below 1,000 feet agl and/or the
visibility is slightly less than three miles.
It's perfectly legal if you stay in uncontrolled airspace, where the weather
minimums are one mile visibility and
clear of clouds.
But how can you be sure you're staying
in uncontrolled airspace? That's where
the magenta shading comes in. It shows
where controlled airspace lowers to 700

feet agl from the usual 1,200 feet agl. That extra 500
feet of airspace helps protect pilots shooting instrument approaches in IFR weather.
Some pilots wrongly believe that "controlled
airspace" means communications are required. Controlled airspace means only that it must be standard
visual weather-visual meteorological conditions
(VMC), at least a 1,000-foot ceiling, and three miles'
visibility-to legally fly. Just remember that your
maximum pattern altitude is 699 feet agl under a
transition area.
FLYING NEAR LARGE AIRPORTS. One sectional chart
symbol found around large airports is meant to give
you a heads-up where you might find bigger, heavier,
and faster aircraft. They're called IFR routes for
arrival and departure, and both use small arrowhead
shapes to show the direction the routes are normally
flown. Arrival routes also include outlines of large,
four-engine jet aircraft and include notations of the
altitudes often used by that traffic.
One such route for arrivals at IAD is over Virginia's
northern Shenandoah Valley, and there's nothing
quite like paralleling such IFR routes above or below
the altitudes shown and seeing a giant airliner majestically gliding past on its way to a landing. The first
time can be a little unnerving, and wake turbulence is
a consideration.
Sectional charts were designed for pilots who fly
at relatively slow speeds, balancing detail against
legibility on the charts. If you fly faster, or detest constantly folding and unfolding sectional chart panels
as you travel along, world aeronautical charts (WACs)
with a scale of 1:1,000,000 are available. Aside from
having slightly less detail, such as showing tall
obstructions only over 500 feet agl, WACs use nearly
identical symbols and markings as sectional charts.
Like to get full value from everything you own?
Spend some time with the legend found on the front
panel of sectionals or WACs. Remember, a good pilot
is always learning.

Airport name in box (special FAR
Part 93 rules).

Partial circle with feathering (restricted flight below 3,500 feet).

Special flight rules areas (SFAR).

Military training routes.

Kevin D. Murphy is president of Kevin D. Murphy and Associates.

Controlled airspace and transition
areas.

RESOURCES
The FAA's National Aeronautical Navigation Products Group (www.faa.gov/air_traffic/
flight_info/aeronav)
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (www.faa.gov/regulations_policies_faa.regulations)

IFR routes for arrival and departure.

OCTOBER 2014 FLIGHT TRAINING

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http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies_faa.regulations

Flight Training - October 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - October 2014