Crossing the Cascades Westbound

[@6582rg]

That was a great flight with beautiful scenery.

[@bilhep]

Scenery was nice! I wondered sometimes,"Why the turns," and if you were using nav-aids?

[@BruceAirFlying]

As I noted in the video during the descent, I made a series of S-turns to help manage the VFR descent and remain below the Class B shelves east of Seattle. It can be challenging, especially in a fast airplane, to remain clear of the mountains while also complying with the requirements to stay outside of the Class B--and it's often hard to get ATC clearance to descend through the Class B, depending on traffic and the flow at KSEA. I navigate primarily by GPS, but I always have nearby VORs tuned and displayed via bearing pointers, and I tuned and monitored the ILS RWY 32L to avoid conflicting with traffic tracking the localizer until I was cleared to land on RWY 32L.

[@Honey-Sanchez]

Do you ever make trips from Olympia to the San Juan's over the water?

[@BruceAirFlying]

When I fly to the San Juan Islands, I typically fly a route east of KNUW over land and then island-hop to KFHR or KORS. I don't typically cross the strait or go up the west side of KNUW.

[@charlesspringer4709]

What was the time? I have considered an RV to make the trip Lewiston or Payette to Tacoma Narrows regularly.

[@BruceAirFlying]

Flight time in the A36 is about 01:25.

[@rickreynolds1421]

Beautiful scenery, thank you. Where are the VFR arrival procedures listed and how would you know which airports had them? Always learning from your flights.😊

[@BruceAirFlying]

The Boeing Field VFR procedures are described on the reverse side of the Seattle-Portland Terminal Area Chart and via a Letter to Airmen. At many airports, you can find VFR procedures on the airport website. Often they are listed as noise-abatement procedures.

[@alk672]

What's your philosophy on crossing a mountain range in a single? I see you followed the I-90, which is what I do every time I go. I like the highway beneath if I need it. Most people I know go over Stampede, and they are low. Would you do that? I was never comfortable with such crossing personally.

[@BruceAirFlying]

I have flown across the Cascades (and other mountain ranges) hundreds of times, VFR and IFR. But I don't mix mountains, ice, night, etc. I typically follow established airways that offer some outs should mechanical problems develop. If I didn't manage the risks associated with flying across mountains, I couldn't go far.

[@alk672]

@@BruceAirFlying what's an "out" for you exactly? An airport within a gliding distance?

[@BruceAirFlying]

An "out" can be an airport or any other landing site that's survivable in the event of an engine failure, fire, or other emergency that requires an immediate landing.