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Aero-Tips 09.20.06
I was in the right seat of a B36TC
Bonanza over Muncie, IN last weekend. My student was flying a VOR
holding pattern at 4000 feet directly above Muncie, a Class D
(tower-controlled) airport. We were on an IFR flight plan, although
at KMIE we were in clear (albeit hazy) blue skies.
Done with our holding practice, we were cleared for the VOR/GPS
14 approach into Muncie. This begins with a turn northwest
(outbound on the approach course) and a descent to 3000 feet. Just
as we turned another aircraft checked in with Indianapolis Center,
IFR inbound to the airport below us. Indy Center could not clear that pilot for
a visual approach while we used the airspace on our
IFR approach clearance, so the controller assigned that pilot a
holding pattern in the airspace we'd just vacated. Given that we
were not under radar coverage he would have to hold until we
completed our entire approach.
Fly neighborly
We were in near-perfect visual conditions so I decided to be a
good neighbor. I called Indy Center and canceled our IFR flight
plan, telling Indy we would continue our approach under VFR.
Indy acknowledged, cleared the other airplane for a visual, and
handed us off to Muncie Tower.
A "gotcha"
There was a potential "gotcha" in this scenario. Class D usually
extends to 2500 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). In the specific case
of KMIE the top to the Class D is at 3400 feet above Mean Sea
Level.
As an IFR flight we were cleared into the Muncie Class D
airspace when given our approach clearance. Once we canceled IFR,
however, our permission to enter the Class D went away. I knew we
were high enough to be outside the lateral limits of the Class D
before reaching 3400 feet, but a more rapid descent might have
caused us to "bust" this airspace. If instead of flying the full
approach we had chosen a visual landing, for instance, we likely
would have entered Muncie's Class D from above.
When my student called the tower its controller was surprised we
had canceled IFR (our decision came after handoff began), and the
tone in his voice showed concern that we might be in his airspace
without clearance. I confirmed our altitude and all was well.
Aero-tip of the day: This IFR-to-VFR is a
potential airspace bust any time you are in or near Class B, C or D
airspace. If you are not certain you can remain clear of the
controlled airspace until establishing contact, call that
airspace's controller and arrange VFR entry before canceling your
IFR clearance.