Reserved Air Space?

[Mendez 0]

Do All dropzones have thier own reserved air space?
I was at a dropzone this weekend that is in transition of moving to a new property, As I was jumping this weekend I was seeing a lot of air traffic before during and after my jumps ( Including a 747 fly right over the bowl & a tandem at about 10k ft )
I also jump out of an airport, not sure how it works with them and reserved air space..can anyone enlighten me with regards to the rules around dropzones and airspace (Including Airports/Hangers)?
Thanx,

Mendez

[quade 4]

Not sure how it works up in Canada, but in the US, skydiving -shares- the airspace with other traffic.

Pilots notify Air Traffic Control and Air Traffic Control is only "sort of" obligated to notify other pilots in the area.

Additionally, established drop zones are marked on Visual Flight Rules air charts, but that in no way means an airplane -can't- fly through the air space and in fact many do seemingly unaware of the dangers involved.

Harry Leicher, a former USPA BOD member and Airplane Flight Instructor has in the past given safety lectures to Southern Califronia local pilots in an attempt to educate them. I applaud that effort.

I think an interesting and similar "outreach" program could be developed between chief pilots of drop zones and local FAA FSDOs responsible for the "Wings" program. Ask any US pilot and they'll understand.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tombuch 0]

Ask your local DZ pilot about specific regulations in Canada. Here in the USA all airspace is available for public use, and that means airplanes and skydivers. The exception is some unique security airspace used for temporary protection of the President and and protection of other post-911 targets.

Airspace and use is not very well marked in the United States. For a better discussion of airspace issues in the USA, see Article #8 called "Airspace," and Article #1 called "Checking For Traffic." Both are available at http://ranchskydive.com/safety/index.htm. For a discussion about depiction of drop zones on GPS systems used by pilots, see a thread on dropzone.com at: http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1133168;#1133168.

Tom Buchanan
Instructor Emeritus
Comm Pilot MSEL,G
Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

[flyingangel 0]

Without generalizing to all drop zones in Canada, the drop zone that is in the process of moving used to have restricted air space. Once it was decided to move locations, the restricted air space was also moved to the new location. Since the drop zone's moving date has been postponed, the owner decided it was better to keep the restriction on the new location than returning it to the current location.

Any air traffic is given a notification that there is a drop zone at our location, and most air traffic are respectful of that. Even 2 weekends ago, an air ambulance radioed requesting our permission to pass through with a critical patient.

Right now we're going to have to share our air space and be a lot more cautious about what is around us!

Blue Skies!

[riggerrob 644]

Quote

Do All dropzones have thier own reserved air space?
I was at a dropzone this weekend that is in transition of moving to a new property, As I was jumping this weekend I was seeing a lot of air traffic before during and after my jumps ( Including a 747 fly right over the bowl & a tandem at about 10k ft )
I also jump out of an airport, not sure how it works with them and reserved air space..can anyone enlighten me with regards to the rules around dropzones and airspace (Including Airports/Hangers)?
Thanx,

Mendez

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nav Canada does not "reserve" airspace for jumping, however, they are supposed to print little parachute signs on maps and air traffic controllers are supposed to advise transiting pilots when DZs are active.

In Canada, most DZs are in Class F airspace, which means that transiting airplanes are supposed to monitor the local radio frequency and steer clear if gliders, aerobats, skydivers, etc. are active.

However there are three problems with this theory. First of all Nav Canada can take years before they get around to printing those little parachute signs on maps, secondly, dozens of transiting pilots are too lazy to tune their radios to the frequencies of all the little airports they fly over. Thirdly, flying schools have to cram so much information into student pilots that they never get around to explaining the subtleties of special use airspace.

However, if you have 747s flying through your DZ, chances are they are in controlled airspace, and that is an entirely different cat. Airliners rarely fly in un-controlled airspace.

Any time you are fortunate enough to jump at a DZ within 90 minutes of downtown of a major city, chances are you need clearance to fly in controlled airspace.
For example, Pitt Meadows DZ is only a 40 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, and is under a Standard Approach Route for Vancouver International Airport.
It has taken 20 years, but Pacific Skydivers has finally hammered out a deal with local air traffic controllers, where they have assigned us specific climb corridors, etc.
It helps that three skydivers work as air traffic controllers. One of them even showed up at our annual BBQ last night. I thanked him for the bottle of wine he gave to celebrate his last reserve ride.
For example, Pitt Meadows jump pilots need clearance from Pitt Meadows control tower before they fly in Pitt Meadows (Class D) control zone.
If our jump pilots want to climb above 5,000 feet, they need clearance from Vancouver Center to climb into Class B airspace. Then air traffic controllers are responsible for maintaining separation between jumpers, airliners, etc. They frequently clear airliners North or South or even above us when we are under canopy.
Sure, we keep our eyes out the window, but I have never seen a close call with any airplane that was talking to an air traffic controller.
Our last near miss involved a Mooney pilot who blundered (illegally) into Pitt Meadows' control zone (at 1,000 feet) without bothering to contact the tower!

Try reading a Toronto Terminal Area chart, then ask a pilot to help decipher all the little lines designating various blocks of airspace. Chances are those 747s are being vectored around you DZ by air traffic controllers.

[billvon 3,169]

>Do All dropzones have thier own reserved air space?

Most US drop zones do not have their own reserved air space. Jumpers must clear their airspace before they jump; a private pilot has just as much right to that airspace as you do. Often ATC will make an effort to help pilots out and warn them of other traffic, but in the end it is your responsibility to see and avoid all other traffic in your area.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Quote

Without generalizing to all drop zones in Canada, the drop zone that is in the process of moving used to have restricted air space. Once it was decided to move locations, the restricted air space was also moved to the new location.

I think a closer inspection will show that the airspace is marked "Advisory" rather than "Restricted."