A Tour of Santa Ynez, Straight Up!

I’m taking you on an aeronautical tour of Valley airspace, from the surface at Santa Ynez Valley Airport (KIZA) to altitudes far above ground level.

Surface on the runway at Santa Ynez Airport is measured at 671 feet above sea level. Taxiing out to the runway, we tune up frequency 122.80 on the radio and make a blind call to anyone else at the airport or near it. “Santa Ynez traffic, (aircraft call sign) at the fuel island, taxi for takeoff runway 28.”

Santa Ynez Airport is an “uncontrolled” field; there is no air traffic control tower providing clearances for aircraft operating out of the airport. Pilots have protocols that provide guidance for operations at uncontrolled airports that are strictly observed for safety. During our taxi out, a twin engine turboprop King Air announces his intention to land from about 5 miles north on the common traffic advisory frequency. He is planning to cross the field in a “left crosswind, runway 28, twenty-five hundred feet”.

With the King Air about two minutes away, We make our radio call as we take the runway for a departure to the west out of the pattern. Just as we get to the end of the runway on takeoff the King Air announces that he has us in sight and will be turning to the left downwind, away from us and out of the picture. Our flight pattern will keep us mostly within the area of Santa Ynez as we fly a six-mile racetrack pattern, climbing at about 1,000 feet per minute.

Not only is the airport at Santa Ynez uncontrolled, so is the airspace in its immediate proximity from the surface to 700 or 1,200 feet. Although there is no requirement to communicate with air traffic controllers, as an aid during our flight we’ll talk to Santa Barbara Approach on 124.15. Approach issues a discrete transponder frequency (assigns us our own special frequency) to identify us as our altitude increases during the climb.

Climbing past 3,000 feet we can see the Channel Islands and at 5,000 feet we can see from Santa Barbara to Santa Maria. Still communicating with Santa Barbara Approach they inform us of aircraft traffic to our north, descending out of 10,000 feet towards Gaviota VOR, a navigational radio station, on its landing approach to Santa Barbara Airport. I hear the commuter aircraft reply that he has us in sight and will pass well above our altitude. As we climb above 8,000 feet, Santa Barbara Approach suggests that we contact Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTC), or simply “L.A. Center” for advisories on traffic at the higher altitudes that we’ll be flying soon. L.A. Center monitors and communicates with air traffic at higher altitudes during the in-route portions of cross-country flights, handing off the traffic to approach control or terminal facilities closer to the aircrafts’ destinations.

Santa Barbara Approach informs L.A. Center of our presence in the racetrack pattern over Santa Ynez. The discrete transponder code easily identifies us on L.A. Center’s radar display with our aircraft identifier, transponder code, and direction of flight, ground speed, and aircraft type. L.A. Center keeps me informed of possible conflicts and informs other traffic in the vicinity of my position when necessary. Climbing to higher altitudes, certain regulatory restrictions begin to apply that pertain to the type of pilot license that I hold, the equipment required in the aircraft for navigation, oxygen requirements for pilot and passengers, and even speed limits.

As we approach 18,000 feet, LA Center has me change frequencies again for another controller in charge of the airspace that begins at 18,000 feet, known as Class A airspace. From this altitude we can see the northern parts of the Los Angeles area almost 100 miles southeast.

At this altitude, all air traffic is under positive control, meaning that a clearance is required, and aircraft must be on an IFR (instrument flight rules) flight plan. Speed limits are dropped at 18,000 feet above the ground and an aircraft can accelerate to indicated airspeeds above 250 knots. Speed restrictions are more relevant to jet aircraft, as they cruise at higher altitudes at speeds of 450 to 600 knots.

Although my aircraft does not have the capability to climb to 18,000 feet, if we could continue to climb at 60,000 feet we would again be in uncontrolled airspace. Of course, at those altitudes the aircraft would be one owned by the U.S. Air Force and most likely would have been classified as a super secret type of high altitude aircraft. It is at these altitudes that pilots say they can see the curvature of Earth! At altitudes that approach 100,000 feet, the dark blue of the sky begins to fade from the lack of air molecules and assume the blackness of outer space. At these altitudes, Santa Ynez is only a speck on the vast landscape.

(Robert Perry is a commercial rated pilot with single-engine and multi-engine ratings, instrument airplane certification and was a former flight instructor. He currently operates a light sport experimental aircraft out of Santa Ynez Airport. Questions regarding this column can be directed to titantornado@msn.com

Supporting the Flying Community

The Experimental Aircraft Association is a national organization of pilots and nonpilots dedicated to activities that promote aviation, aircraft building, and aeronautical education. Founded in 1953 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by individuals who were interested in building their own airplanes the organization has expanded its mission to include antiques, classic, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters, and even contemporary manufactured aircraft.

Locally, EAA chapter 491 is based at Santa Ynez Valley Airport and has a long history of supporting the flying community since it’s founding in 1973. The local chapter assists pilots with building kit and antique aircraft as well as sponsoring the local “Young Eagles” program designed to encourage youngsters to learn about aviation subjects and provide flights to those interested in aviation. Currently EAA 491 has 68 active members and meets the third Saturday of each month. Membership is only $15.00 per year and is open to all members of the community. Members enjoy discussions on aviation matters, socializing with others interested in aviation, and on occasion members fly to airports and places of interest in gaggles of member aircraft. The group’s website can be viewed at EAA 491 Additional information can be obtained by calling Robert Perry at 805-705-3672.