Flying over downtown Jacksonville Florida?

[DMD3.]

In the near future, I'm hoping to take someone on a flight over downtown Jacksonville Fl. Jax is in plentiful supply of Class Delta airspace (KNEN, KVQQ, KNIP, KCRG) not to mention the Class Charlie airspace from KJAX. There's also an MOA just north of Jacksonville Beach.

My plan is to depart from 01J (located 16 nm northwest of KJAX), climb to 3,000 ft, fly south until I'm right over Whitehouse to avoid the Class C, then proceed east and just fly over all the Class D until we're right above the skyscrapers, then turn around and head back the way we came.

Even though I would not legally be required to maintain radio contact with ATC, should I request flight following or would this just be more of a burden to them? With the high volume of traffic, having flight following or lack thereof may not make a difference in preventing a collision.

Do you think that this would be a disaster waiting to happen? Has anyone else flown over this area to sightsee (not just taking off or landing at an airport in the area)?

 

[mtuomi]

You mean something like this?

16462992_10154726797608673_5579686929068457476_o by https://www.flickr.com/photos/125913631@N03/, on Flickr

 

[wrbix]

It is a generally held, and feared, misconception that Flight Following is a "bother" to ATC.

 

[DMD3.]

mtoumi yes.

 

[Cooter]

In the near future, I'm hoping to take someone on a flight over downtown Jacksonville Fl. Jax is in plentiful supply of Class Delta airspace (KNEN, KVQQ, KNIP, KCRG) not to mention the Class Charlie airspace from KJAX. There's also an MOA just north of Jacksonville Beach.

My plan is to depart from 01J (located 16 nm northwest of KJAX), climb to 3,000 ft, fly south until I'm right over Whitehouse to avoid the Class C, then proceed east and just fly over all the Class D until we're right above the skyscrapers, then turn around and head back the way we came.

Even though I would not legally be required to maintain radio contact with ATC, should I request flight following or would this just be more of a burden to them? With the high volume of traffic, having flight following or lack thereof may not make a difference in preventing a collision.

Do you think that this would be a disaster waiting to happen? Has anyone else flown over this area to sightsee (not just taking off or landing at an airport in the area)?

I've done a good bit of VFR flying over Jacksonville. I would get FF and let them know your intentions. Be careful around Whitehouse. The Navy uses it for Field Carrier Landing Practice.

 

[mtuomi]

mtoumi yes.

That was VFR flight following on a cross country flight, absolutely zero problems. I just said I'll fly over KJAX then the city, they said go right ahead.

 

[DMD3.]

Be careful around Whitehouse. The Navy uses it for Field Carrier Landing Practice.

Will do. Again I plan on being at 3000 ft well before reaching their airspace. I don't see any restricted airspace on the map, so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Mistake Not...]

It is a generally held, and feared, misconception that Flight Following is a "bother" to ATC.

To be fair, I've had the occasional grouchy controller that didn't do anything to dispel the idea. But 97.325% of the time they've been awesome about it.

 

[Velocity173]

I've done a good bit of VFR flying over Jacksonville. I would get FF and let them know your intentions. Be careful around Whitehouse. The Navy uses it for Field Carrier Landing Practice.

Drove out to Cecil many times in the late 80s early 90s. S-3s, F-18s, A-7s, A-4s. That place was hoppin' back then.

 

[Shawn]

should I request flight following or would this just be more of a burden to them?

Without a doubt ATC would much rather be talking with you and know your intentions as opposed to them having to guess what you may be doing next with all the other traffic zipping around. They will tell you of they are too busy but that is unlikely.

The best part about FF, is all your C and D walls disappear if you communicate what you are doing and they can advise you of the MOA is Hot.