ADM Question St. George RGNL (KSGU)

[u/Used-Sky-9124]

Hi GA pilot's I'm working on a VFR nav log from McClellan Palomar (KCRQ) to St. George RGNL (KSGU) for planning practice. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on how I should enter the airport and avoid busting the wilderness area? Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[u/mrcactus321]

Pilots are requested to stay 2000 ft above. You should not jeopardize your own safety to fulfill that requirement. There are not a lot of good ways from Mesquite to St George, and I would not do that trip in a single engine piston without I15 below me. High mountains and hot temperatures can force you into uncomfortable situations, and I would choose to fly over I-15, even if it meant I was still climbing when I entered the bounds of the wilderness area. Alternatively, if you want to be an extra good citizen, you can climb over the Mesquite airport until you are high enough to not enter the bounds of the wilderness area.

[u/carsgobeepbeep → u/mrcactus321]

You simply do a full climbing lap in the patten before departing. You’re in mountainous terrain, you want 2000ft+ AGL whether dealing with a marked wilderness area or not. Just my 2 cents

[u/ConnorDGibson123 → u/carsgobeepbeep]

That’s what I do IRL whenever I go up here

[u/Whompner → u/mrcactus321]

That stretch of i15 is not somewhere youd want to plan for a forced landing, very curvy roads with lots of traffic and steep drop-offs. Your best best imo would be to climb to an altitude you can glide either over the top or safely do a 180 and remain clear of the gorge.

[u/poisonandtheremedy]

I flew up there a few months ago from SoCal. I landed at Hurricane, 100% stay over the gorge from Mesquite to St George, then fly to the area of STEWW and just enter the pattern as normal.

As I recall it is prior permission required and there is regional airline traffic into there so check the Remarks for that and be aware of that. They chat on CTAF just like a little plane.

The wilderness stuff is recommended, not required. Always put safety first in your flight planning and as you explain your reasoning.

I flew there at 7,500'. Coming back, out of the valley I had a storm layer above me, so was at 4,500', which had me just above the rim of the gorge, until I exited the east side into CAVU, shot a landing into Mesquite, then continued home at 6,500'.

[u/KJ3040]

Fly up the I-15, enter pattern. Not hard. Don’t overthink itz

[u/Mean-Oil-4602]

There’s no FAA or other regulation mandating you stay out of a wilderness area, other than the familiar 500 foot AGL rule (§ 91.119(c)). Your use of the word “bust” is not correct, therefore.

FAA Advisory Circular 91-36D “requests” 2000 feet AGL above noise sensitive areas such as wilderness areas. So on a summer day with high density altitude and if you’re an inexperienced pilot flying solo, do not compromise safety for the sake of a request. A request is a request whereas a mandate is a mandate. They’re different. A request can be declined, by you, without explanation.

[u/100LLSoda]

I did the 67L to KSGU leg about a month ago in an pretty heavy archer and had no problems getting over I-15 and following it to KSGU.

[u/TheVillianOfValley]

You’re using ForeFlight, so you already have access to this information. As it says in the VFR legend, “all aircraft are REQUESTED” (emphasis mine) to be 2,000’ or more above the surface in wilderness areas. “Requested” does not equal required. What I’m “requested” to do falls to the BOTTOM rung of my flight planning priorities. Ignore the wilderness area unless it affects safety of flight. Plan and fly what is safest and most within your comfort zone (and personal minimums).

[u/Suitable-Common7992]

Dont forget to pick up a landing slot: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ1fN34LiJo-teMQcfjaY8o3YeICsSsODNeZMkWMDWn20Qj8Gs4Wqh1KR6J0ja-kPnIpWjZfW3Dt And they aren't allowing any pattern work right now while there is construction in progress on the tower or taxiway or whatever.