Navigating COMPLEX AIRSPACE by airplane - when Instructors fly airplanes alone / improve your flying

Flying through complex airspace can be intimidating if you aren't familiar with the procedures. In this video I will show you how I navigate into the San Francisco area while avoiding the class B airspace. There are multiple ways to go and, although I stay inside the class C airspace I use ForeFlight to show you all the options. It's also an example of how flight instructors fly when they are alone in the airplane, please enjoy!

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Music by Michael Bizar

[deanadamedge]

As a student pilot about to sit the flight test, I’ve really found your videos to be extremely helpful. Many thanks (and safe flying)

[toddhershberger]

8:29 I watched this clip 3x and learned so much about the Bay Area air spaces. Thank you for the gold nuggets. You're an excellent CFI.

[jamescarroll]

Thanks for the hop. Can’t get enough of that Latin percussion music in your videos.

[efrench]

Impeccable timing on this video -- CFI & I were just talking flows & airspace yesterday. It's not totally analogous but my home airport is right under a busy class B so my CFI is constantly reminding me to watch my altitude almost immediately after take-off. Thanks for another good one - enjoying the channel.

[jamesmichaelfreer]

Great ForeFlight tip! Landed Auburn years ago at night, first time, did a low fly over to check for deer 🦌 first. Landed just a little hard, dialed 121.5 to check ELT. It was screaming! Frantically pulled everything out of cargo hatch, shut ELT off. Checked frequency again...still blaring. Checked with fuel guy next day, “ oh we think that’s in a aircraft in a hangar somewhere on the field, been like that for a few days now” love your videos, helps keep me proficient! J✈️

[SVSky]

Great leaders don't ask of other people what they won't do themselves, so thanks for leading by example!

[DjEnJin]

Base to final shots are my favorite; there's nothing better than getting that runway lined up in your vision

[azcountry]

TFP at 4:11 you mention Mclellan. When I learned to fly, it was still an AFB. I flew out of L36 right next door. That said, I love my Garmin InReach! I spend a good deal of time in the backcountry and enjoy being able to stay in touch with family. Love your videos!

[texaspilot]

Jason, there are lots of good instructors out there and tons of videos. I keep coming back to your channel. I love your content, your approach, demeanor, and even the music! I share your videos with my students, I have looked at your online school and have recommended it. Keep it up Sir. Maybe we’ll cross paths one day.

[ozziepilot]

Here in oz, GUMPS is BUMF : Brakes (Positive Pressure), Undercarriage down & locked, Mixture full rich, Fuel on fullest tank, interesting so many variations, I usually add a few extras like T&P's in the green etc. Always a learning experience watching your videos Jason, cheers from Australia

[Phantomwray]

Great video Jason! Quite enjoyed that.

I finally figured out what the intro music reminds me of -- Smooth by Santana. I also noticed a bit of an extended version of your intro play during the video; love it! I don't recall that on your other videos but I may just not remember.

Keep up the great content!

[billlyl]

Great, helpful video for this rusty pilot. Never flown in such complicated airspace so excellent to see your options, analysis and execution. Thanks

[jacksonmacd]

Great stuff, Jason. Perhaps in the future if you ever do something similar, could you point out the beginning and ending of your route early in the map session. Verbal airport names don't mean much to those of us unfamiliar with the location.

[ashokaliserilthamarakshan]

Another brilliant video Jason. As always the best CFI on the internet 😁

[stubby]

Great video. I have an in reach and utilize it for more than aviation. I live in a remote area comparatively speaking, ride dual sport motorcycles, hunt, hike, etc. The ability to pair with my smart phone (better display) text and share location has been a great help. Thankfully, I haven't had to utilize the SOS function yet! It will be interesting to hear what you choose.

[WolfPilot]

Another great video Jason!!! That was definitely a complex airspace.

[Docinaplane]

I've got a 1971 Cherokee 200. Smallest Arrow - biggest engine. Sweet plane!

[michaelfarrow]

Very nice flight, Jason. I really like the hand on the gear selector until the verbal 3 greens! I also add a 3 greens over the fence callout in case I got distracted earlier. See you next time :)

[goatflieg]

This one was very valuable to me for two reasons. A few days ago I flew a brief ground photo sortie before returning to the airport for some pattern work. In retrospect, I realized my flying was sloppier than usual. Nothing disruptive... but my altitude and speed management was below par and my checklist discipline was behind the curve. The next flight I make will be dedicated pattern work to reinforce proper procedure and dial in my speed and altitude control. The second reason this was so important to me was in anticipation for my eventual flight from Michigan to the Bay Area to return to my fledgling airspace. It will probably be about 2 years before I can fly my RV-8 from Michigan to the West Coast, but it occupies a lot of my flying dreams. Just seeing how you went from KAUN to KSQL was a great refresher... and brought back so many memories. I'll be coming in from KLVK to KPAO (calling in at Leslie Salt) before going to KSQL (and hopefully training with you) before heading north to Redding, Oregon and Washington. By then I hope to have my VFR airspace chops well refined... and after going through Phase 1 on my aircraft, I should know it pretty well. I'll document the flight thoroughly with video, which brings up another question: as a solo VFR pilot flying your route, were you at all distracted by the process of recording the flight on video? Or is that something you're completely acclimated to, even as a solo pilot?

[dozermedic]

Hello Jason, prior to heading out long XC to Idaho I asked fellow pilots for recommendations. After research I purchased the ACR ResQLink PLB. Definite additional peace of mind.