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Date: Wed, 02 Dec 1998 08:42:33 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Clearance Delivery and Other Class B Comm Questions
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moreplay@hotmail.com wrote:

> I recently flew into St. Loius MO Class B area on a VFR flight to
> Parks Downtown Airport (PDS) from the Southeast.  I never planned on
> actually entering the Class B space (i.e., kept my altitude below min
> levels for space at all times). Upon entering the Mode C ring, I
> dialed up Approach and let them know I was enroute to PDS below Class
> B. They gave me a transponder code and told to me to notify when I had
> airport in sight. I did and they instructed me to contact tower on
> apprpriate freq.

Essentially what you did here is requested flight following.  Parks
Downtown Airport is NOT in the Class B, and you could have flown
there without talking to approach at all (just FYI); simply call
up Parks Tower directly when you're about 10 miles out.  

By the way, the identifier for Parks Downtown Airport is CPS not PDS.
At least it's been CPS since I can remember, it's that way on my current
charts, and it showed up that way in yesterday's wx briefing.

> My thinking.
> 1) Contact clearance delivery to get permission to leave the space
> 2) Contact "Aiport Traffic" on CTAF and let them know I am taking off
> 3) Contact Departure when airborn

1) is not necessary unless you are IFR and want your clearance on
   the ground.  You don't need permission.

3) is not necessary as long as you stay below 3000 ft initially
   when departing eastward (below the Class B).  You may do so to
   request flight following if you wish it.
 
> They said, obviously upset, that they had no control over my takeoff 
> from PDS, and that since the tower was closed, I should just get 
> myself in the air ala CTAF procedures and contact them upon departure 

That is correct

> MY QUESTION - what is the procedure for VFR traffic under B airspace.
> Do we even have to contact Approach - given low altitude, what is the
> clearance delivery procedure (what would it have been if the tower was
> in operation?).

You've answered your own question.  The key word is "under".  You're
not in Class B airspace, you're under it, you don't need to talk to
them.

Clearance Delivery is for delivering clearances.  If you're not
IFR, you don't need a clearance provided you stay UNDER the class
B airspace.  This is the same whether Tower is in operation or not;
if you're VFR at a Class D airport, you don't need to contact
Clearance Delivery.   

When the tower is open, you'd call Ground, tell them you have the
ATIS, give your direction of departure and request taxi.  

When the tower is closed, you talk on the CTAF then Just Go.

Hope you enjoyed your dinner.

Snowbird

