The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Some real early planning----thinking of going from the convention in Benton Harbor to Oshkosh next summer. 167 miles from BEH (Benton Harbor) to OSH (Oshkosh). One little problem, its mostly over Lake Michigan & Ole Pokey ain't going there How about some of you mid westerners or others that ply those parts make some suggestions for a route going around the south end of Lake Michigan & on up to OSH. Maybe give some airports along the way as waypoints. Although I flew into Meggs from Shelbyville in 2001 & then up the coast for a while before turning inland, I wonder if there might be a better route that would avoid the Chicago airspace. Or maybe that airspace isn't anything to need to avoid. Just wondering. Maybe its not any worse on a Saturday than the DFW area?

170C wrote:Some real early planning----thinking of going from the convention in Benton Harbor to Oshkosh next summer. 167 miles from BEH (Benton Harbor) to OSH (Oshkosh). One little problem, its mostly over Lake Michigan & Ole Pokey ain't going there How about some of you mid westerners or others that ply those parts make some suggestions for a route going around the south end of Lake Michigan & on up to OSH. Maybe give some airports along the way as waypoints. Although I flew into Meggs from Shelbyville in 2001 & then up the coast for a while before turning inland, I wonder if there might be a better route that would avoid the Chicago airspace. Or maybe that airspace isn't anything to need to avoid. Just wondering. Maybe its not any worse on a Saturday than the DFW area?

Hi Frank,

First question to answer is if you're willing to use the VFR corridor along the Chicago lake shore. If not, you'll want to detour to the west of OHare field. I don't recommend VFR across the lake, but I think it's safe to be over the water if you can stick close to shore.

John

Frank,

I just passed through that airspace on my way to and from Duluth. Going there I flew at the appropriate altitudes under and or around controlled airspace and didn't talk to anyone. No big deal.

On the way home winds were much more favorable at 6000ft and I called approach and asked for and got clearance direct on course at the altitude I wanted. Had I been more specific what I wanted to do it would have been better but as it was the controller thought I wanted to land at one of the airports to the south. They needlessly stepped me down for a landing they thought I wanted to make right through traffic landing at O'Hare without a blink.

Don't sweat the airspace.

Frank,
If the weather is nice this is one of the most beautiful trips to make VFR. The Chicago skyline from a light airplane is increadible. There are a couple of ways to do this trip, and a couple of things to be mindful of along the way.
Option #1 routing would be something like KBEH-3HO-KENW-RIPON-FISKE-KOSH. This route will follow the Lake Michigan shoreline Hobart, IN, and Kenosha, WI are just reference fixes, just follow the shoreline. Along this route the only airspace issue is KGYY (Gary, IN) Class D 3100 ft or below, then the Chicago Class B 3000 and above. If you head inland at KENW and head to RIPON, the start of the KOSH VFR arrival proceedure, you will be clear of the KMKE (Milwaukee, WI) Class C. If you continue to follow the shoreline north of KMKE you will need to talk to MKE Apch control. Otherwise this route can be done without talking to any ATC. The only other major consideration is if President Obama is in town there will be a significant TFR forcing you further out into the lake. If that were the case I would recomend option #2.
Option #2 routing would be somthing like KBEH-3HO-CGT-KARR-RIPON-FISKE-KOSH. This routing is not nearly as scenic, and may still be impacted by a presidential TFR forcing the route a little further south, but not forcing you further into the lake. You can fly this entire route at 3500 ft and not talk to any ATC. If you drop below 3200 ft, you would need to talk to KARR tower to transition their class D. They are very friendly and easy to work with, so no problem, even with your Texas accent!
A couple of other thoughts;
First Presidential TFR's, I know I mentioned it in both routes but it bears special attention so I mention it again. Not a huge issue he is only in town six or so times a year, lets just all hope it is not during OSH.
Second, Chicago ATC, they get a bad rap for being uncooperative. Not true, unless they are really busy. I am based at KARR, and have only been denied VFR flight following on three occasions in 25 years. If you ask for advisories just be very succinct, and sound as professional as possible and they should respond.
Third, get a copy of the OSH NOTAM as early as possible and study it, and be very familiar with it. You need to be totally prepared for anything once you hit RIPON inbound to OSH. Memorize the route landmarks, make up a frequency cheat sheet on a note card, and keep your eyes outside the cockpit, this is not the time to start reading the NOTAM booklet. I recomend hitting RIPON at 7:00 am and being in the first of the morning arrivals.

I hope this gives you some information to start your planning, if you have any questions let me know.

Steve McGreevy
N8293A '53 C170B
Chicago ARTCC

Thanks to all for the suggestions. They are what I had hoped for. I don't mind flying along the lake shore as long as I am within easy gliding distance of the shore just in case, but I don't want to get beyond that distance. I enjoyed the Chicago skyline back in '01 and would again, but if circumstances caused a deviation to the south & west that would be OK too. I didn't find atc to be a problem back in '01 & as long as they understand I talk and listen in "slow", we'll get along OK. I have flown into OSH several times. The first 2 were "interesting" as they were in busy times, but doable. The others were a day before the arrival procedures went into effect and thus were no different than going into any other small town airport. This one will of course be during a high traffic arrival time and will likely be a late morning Sat arrival.