IFR Routing KUNV to KONZ

[midlifeflyer]

Planning a trip next month which involves a leg from State College, PA to Grosse Ile, MI. Not a common enough pair to catch some regular ATC routes and the airway routing is all over the place. I can see the big problem with Pittsburgh and the smaller one with Cleveland and I prefer to come south of Cleveland to minimize time over the lake.

I was thinking of something like KUNV EWC BSV MFD KONZ and was hoping some of the locals would have an idea whether it or something similar would work IFR. (And yes, VFR is always an option weather permitting)

 

[luvflyin]

Planning a trip next month which involves a leg from State College, PA to Grosse Ile, MI. Not a common enough pair to catch some regular ATC routes and the airway routing is all over the place. I can see the big problem with Pittsburgh and the smaller one with Cleveland and I prefer to come south of Cleveland to minimize time over the lake.

I was thinking of something like KUNV EWC BSV MFD KONZ and was hoping some of the locals would have an idea whether it or something similar would work IFR. (And yes, VFR is always an option weather permitting)

I don't know, but it may help the folk who know the sky around there to know what altitudes you hope to do this at.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Any reasonable piston altitude would work.

 

[bluesky74656]

Native Clevelander here. Your routing will definitely work. You could probably get EWC DJB KONZ if you were IFR at or above 4000 and didn’t mind the additional water exposure. Or just go VFR or IFR above at 8000 right over the top. You’ll probably want the altitude over the lake anyway.

Disclaimer: I’m based at BKL so I always go around the north side. But I’ve done a ton of practice approaches at LPR and I’m not in the way there.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Native Clevelander here. Your routing will definitely work. You could probably get EWC DJB KONZ if you were IFR at or above 4000 and didn’t mind the additional water exposure. Or just go VFR or IFR above at 8000 right over the top. You’ll probably want the altitude over the lake anyway.

Disclaimer: I’m based at BKL so I always go around the north side. But I’ve done a ton of practice approaches at LPR and I’m not in the way there.

Thank you. It's very helpful to know I can get that close to Cleveland and cut a few minutes off the trip. I did choose my route to enter the lake at Port Clinton mostly because I did that part of the route with a friend a few years ago but am not adverse to crossing more lake on a nice day. Of course, on a nice day I can always cancel IFR at the lake and continue VFR as I choose

 

[dmspilot]

Planning a trip next month which involves a leg from State College, PA to Grosse Ile, MI. Not a common enough pair to catch some regular ATC routes and the airway routing is all over the place. I can see the big problem with Pittsburgh and the smaller one with Cleveland and I prefer to come south of Cleveland to minimize time over the lake.

I was thinking of something like KUNV EWC BSV MFD KONZ and was hoping some of the locals would have an idea whether it or something similar would work IFR. (And yes, VFR is always an option weather permitting)

You probably don't need to worry much. PIT and CLE are more like Class C airports since their dehubbing.

 

[Jim_CAK]

Mark - l am based at CAK south of CLE and go through their airspace regularly going to the islands 3W2 Put-in-Bay. You can pretty much get direct anywhere you want go. Once in a while CLE will give you vectors for arrivals. You might try filing KUNV ACO VWV KONZ and ask for direct KONZ whenever you feel comfortable crossing the lake. You will not have to go to VWV unless you want an over land route. If you cross the lake west of CLE there is a restricted area to stay clear of.

 

[EdFred]

When I fly (close to) that route, I file direct to/from TOL and can't remember the last time CLE said no to Bravo or gave me a reroute.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Thank you for all the great local information.

@Jim_CAK, yes I am familiar with that restricted area.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

If you pass over Port Clinton (PCW) that puts you on a 37 mile final to 35 at ONZ.

However, I know nothing about the ifr stuff other than at least one of the approaches takes you right over Fermi 2. Don't tell the non-aviation peeps that.

 

[midlifeflyer]

If you pass over Port Clinton (PCW) that puts you on a 37 mile final to 35 at ONZ.

It does. And that's why I especially appreciated @Jim_CAK 's comment about filing VWV with the idea of perhaps canceling and continuing VFR in good weather. I can choose to follow the coastline and make the crossing even smaller.

However, I know nothing about the ifr stuff other than at least one of the approaches takes you right over Fermi 2. Don't tell the non-aviation peeps that.

Yep the IAF for the RNAV GPS 4 is about 3 miles north of the plant.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Mark - l am based at CAK south of CLE and go through their airspace regularly going to the islands 3W2 Put-in-Bay. You can pretty much get direct anywhere you want go. Once in a while CLE will give you vectors for arrivals. You might try filing KUNV ACO VWV KONZ and ask for direct KONZ whenever you feel comfortable crossing the lake. You will not have to go to VWV unless you want an over land route. If you cross the lake west of CLE there is a restricted area to stay clear of.

Jim, THANK YOU.

I followed your advice and it worked out perfectly. I passed over Cleveland at 8000, mostly to stay above some bumpy fair weather cumulus. Once clear if the corridors, I asked for 4000 and, when I dropped below the into VMC, cancelled IFR and went on my merry way.

 

[Jim_CAK]

Jim, THANK YOU.

I followed your advice and it worked out perfectly. I passed over Cleveland at 8000, mostly to stay above some bumpy fair weather cumulus. Once clear if the corridors, I asked for 4000 and, when I dropped below the into VMC, cancelled IFR and went on my merry way.

Great to hear Mark. Next time your through this way, plan a fuel stop and lunch is on me.