Question to the Controller guys:
If I'm a VFR pilot destined for a Class B airport, can I be denied landing? I know FF is workload allowing, and Bravo transitions are similar, but I think if I'm VFR and the Bravo airport is VMC and has no active TFR I cannot be turned away.
Sure you can.
Cessna 12345. Remain outside of the Bravo.
You may not be turned away, but you may get delays while they try to fit you into the flow.
Or...
"Circle southwest of X. Expect about a one hour delay. If we can work you in sooner, we will, but don't hold your breath."
Honestly though, even grumpy KLAS can usually squeak you in, if you can keep up and play along with "Fly to landmark... best forward speed... airport is at your X O'clock, seven miles... turn toward the airport expect runway Y... best forward speed.... traffic is a Boeing 737 five miles in trail... cleared to land... get off my runway... expedite... at next intersection."
They're much grumpier to aircraft not landing KLAS in my experience, trying to keep you out of the way of their arrivals and departures, than just shuffling you into the flow.
As long as you're not planning on doing a five mile 65 knot final, KLAS can usually get you in.
Where KLAS gets weird is when you're in their approach or departure airspace (it's a trapped little valley and everyone's coming in and out at nearly the same locations) and they decide to vector you toward mountains at night, and descend you toward them to get you out of the bottom of the Bravo. BTDT going into HND.
Refused the descent too, and told them I had the head on 737 in sight four miles away (only about a million candlepower pointed my way, he was pretty much impossible NOT to see), and I'd descend as soon as I cleared the ridge, but not sooner. They were fine with that, the magic words "traffic in sight" always helps them out.
It's just busy in that valley. They're not trying to be pricks to GA, there's just not a lot of places to put fast airplanes and they tend to overlap the airspace of the surrounding reliever airports.
Common visual points they'll use are the bigger and more famous casinos (Luxor, etc.) for VFR pilots, and the Stratosphere tower, since it's real obvious where those things are. Often used instead of headings, since they know you'll see them just fine out the window.
If they're busy and you start sounding confused on the radio, they'll spin you back out away from LAS in a heartbeat. Just be prepared to follow instructions, and say stuff right, and it'll work out great. Sound confused or miss calls, they'll be worried you're not keeping up, and they'll shoo you away.
Another tip for Vegas... get flight following going way outside the Bravo from Center. Let them know your destination and you'll get handled better than if you go bombing in close to the Bravo and then try. You'll just be another handoff from Center to work into the flow. Even VFR. Just make sure you get cleared into the Bravo before you're in it.
