FLYING IN
THE LOWER MAINLAND OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
 |
| Vancouver VTA VFR Terminal Area Chart |
Flying in
the lower mainland of British Columbia can be a wonderful experience with the views
of the scenic snow covered coastal mountains just to the north and the Strait
of Georgia to the west. It also can be challenging for a visiting private pilot.
The area is relatively small, hemmed in by 5000 ft. mountains to the north and by
the US border to the south; a triangle 65 miles deep and just 20 miles wide at
the base. In that triangle are a number of airports ranging all the way from a
busy international airport to a number of private grass strips.
On the west
edge is the busy Vancouver International (YVR) with over 800 movements every
day. Located just to the south of YVR is the Boundary Bay airport, itself a
busy training field with constant student movements. Just 2 miles east of
Boundary is Delta Airpark, a small grass strip that is home to a Recreational
Aircraft Association chapter. Just north of YVR is the Vancouver Harbour, also busy
with numerous scheduled float operations. East of there is the Pitt Meadows
airport with just 2 miles separating its control zone from that of Langley. Pitt
and Langley both have a high volume of students in addition many resident
private aircraft. To the east of Langley is Abbotsford International with a
growing number of scheduled airline flights and yet even more students and
private aircraft. Are you detecting a theme here? BC has become a significant
centre for flight instruction with students from around the world. If you
extend out a bit further east up the valley, it gets a little quieter where you
will find Chilliwack and finally at the apex of the valley, Hope, a well-known
venue for gliders.
Considering
all of the airliners above, towns and cities below and student pilots
in-between; it can be a very busy place to fly. Keeping a sharp lookout is
always the order of the day as is listening out on the frequency of the nearest
airport or practice area. With so many students in the air it is important to
give them some space. After all, they are learning just as you did once (and
with any kind of luck – still are).
On a
beautiful sunny day it seems incongruous to have a GPS turned on. I mean after
all how can one get lost in such a small area? Well, with overlapping control
zones, it is very important to know exactly where one is at any time. I know
this from experience, having had the phone call wanting to
know why I had “busted” a zone without talking to anyone. (I think my right
wing tip may have been over the line)
Even with
all of this congestion, there are still lots of places to go and play. We can
dip our toes into mountain flying with short trips up three local lakes;
Harrison, Stave and Pitt lakes all are within a few minutes flying time and any
would make a great trip as an intro flight if you have a guest or wannabe pilot
along for the ride. The north shore route to Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast
is bordered by mountains with views of Stanley Park and metro Vancouver.
For the
more adventuresome, they can extend out to Vancouver Island and find even more
to see and do. Just remember the flight plan and the life jackets for the
over-water portion.
