IFR into San Diego

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Walboy

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Walboy
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Walboy said:
I'm considering flying into the San Diego area this week and expect to encounter a marine layer upon arrival. For those who regularly fly in the area, if I fly into KSDM Brown Field which approach can I expect from Socal? I will be arriving from the east on V66. I am RNAV equipped, so I can accept either the VOR/GPS or RNAV approach.

Looks like gas is fairly inexpensive at KSDM San Diego Jet Center. I also need to rent a car for the day as well. Any PIREPs?

Or would KMYF Montgomery Field be a better choice? I need to get to the Coronado area.

Finally what altitudes can one expect for the top of the marine layer mid mornings?
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Marine layer is typically only 500-1000 feet thick. Your in and out in 30 seconds, but enough to require IFR.

Brown is certainly cheaper, but not a lot of services. I think you will have a better time finding a decent rental car on field at MYF. Call Gibbs in advance and they'll have a rental car ready for you.

As for the approach up Brown, they'll give you whatever you ask for. If you are /G, you'll probably get the RNAV, but if not you can request it.

The advantages of SDM are fuel price and longer runway and less traffic, but if you are IFR, you'll have no problem getting into MYF- SoCal will sequence you and you'll get 28R. VFR arrivals can be a pain for someone unfamiliar with the area.

Both SDM and MYF are about the same driving time to Coronado
 
MYF is definitely easier for services. The mexican restaurant is also good for post-flight beers. SDM has an OK bar as well, but they don't have an on-site car rental agent. Closest one is a few miles away.

Depending on how long you will stay in the SD area, don't write off KSAN either. It's a fun landing and departure, but parking gets expensive if you are spending more than a few days in SD.
 
mtuomi said:
Depending on how long you will stay in the SD area, don't write off KSAN either. It's a fun landing and departure, but parking gets expensive if you are spending more than a few days in SD.
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And fuel is ridiculous. Plus you have to deal with Landmark.
 
MYF is probably gonna be better for your uses, and you'll likely get the ILS there. Also if you're coming in after about 10am the marine layer will probably have burned off and you won't even need IFR.
 
SDM, I always got the VOR/GPS A
My last flight there we planned MYF and as we approached, the ceiling kept dropping til it was below the lowest minimums and the only place we could go was SAN which is a much lower elevation. That's a neat approach.
 
Lessee, it is mid-May, so you are just in time for the May Gray and the June Gloom time of year.

Gillespie (SEE) will burn off an hour or two before Montgomery. Ramona may be VFR all night. Brown will burn off about the same time as Montgomery and Lindbergh may well be overcast all day. Same for Palomar.

SEE has all the amenities of MYF and (as I recall) less expensive fuel. It also has a full house ILS that is easier to transition than MYF.

Cloud tops across the whole area are going to be 2k-3k MSL.

Hope that helps.

Jim
 
weirdjim said:
SEE has all the amenities of MYF and (as I recall) less expensive fuel. It also has a full house ILS that is easier to transition than MYF.
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Not sure what you are thinking of Jim, but SEE does NOT have an ILS. The terrain to the east won't support it. There is a LOC with circle to land mins only (1500/1200' AGL MDA).

The marine layer will usually (but not always) roll in later and burn off earlier than MYF, but if the layer is there, the ILS at MYF is usually the best option unless you have fog and the ILS 9 at Lindbergh becomes the only option.
 
I've been flying around the Carlsbad/Oceanside area a lot the last few days working on my instrument rating. Ceilings have been quite consistent at 2500-4000'. Flew to Chino today at 3500' and was VFR the whole way. I doubt you're gonna have much trouble landing at any of the airports this week if you can get down through that layer.
 
Been to both SDM and SAN many times.
Not sure what I can say other than don't land Tijuana. Same exact layout just a few miles south of SDM... But you probably already knew that. Actuàlly last time I landed SDM tower asked if I had both SDM and Tijuana in site.
 
Fearless Tower said:
Not sure what you are thinking of Jim, but SEE does NOT have an ILS. The terrain to the east won't support it. There is a LOC with circle to land mins only (1500/1200' AGL MDA).
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Brain phart. Of course. I've shot it several dozen times "for real" but when I left San Diego 40 years ago I haven't shot it since. What is the real name of bustyourbutt mountain just to the right and about five miles off the approach end of 27? The one you are below the top of on a normal approach?

Thanks,

Jim
 
By mid-moring the marine layer at Brown Field should have already burned off...

But.... We're having some unseasonal weather here; so don't hold my hand to the fire on this..
 
Walboy said:
ILS 28R into KMYF this morning. 17 minutes from over the threshold to out of Gibbs Flying Service's parking lot with rental car. Not sure how you can beat that.

General aviation is alive and well at KMYF. Busy, busy, busy when leaving this afternoon.
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They also have a really cool and convenient way to pay the (very reasonable) landing fee.
 
Landing fee? What landing fee? I've landed there at least 30 times and never paid a cent. Unless you count all the money I've spent at Casa Machado, which was all worth it.
 
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