# COPA Migration 2021 Flight Planning and Arrival **URL:** \ **Category:** COPA Migrations\ **Created:** [September 18, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201 "2021-09-18T20:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/mikek/32/949_2.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/22 "2021-09-22T21:45:51Z")
Take it one step farther and use METAR abbreviations for everything! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![CarlRossi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/carlrossi/32/221717_2.png) [@CarlRossi](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/CarlRossi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/23 "2021-09-22T21:47:18Z")
FA! Which is much more polite than FUā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![hanstb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/hanstb/32/163162_2.png) [@hanstb](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/hanstb)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/24 "2021-09-22T21:47:38Z")
> [@MikeK](#): > > Just because this makes my head hurt: note that the times are shown in MST ā€” _not_ MDT. Michael- I went with Google when editing the flyer, if itā€™s incorrect, I would be happy to change it. ![Screen Shot 2021-09-22 at 16.46.37](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/copa/original/3X/6/d/6d921a2d7a75ebb889546ad5ba153aa0d3c63eb3.png) ---
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/mikek/32/949_2.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/25 "2021-09-22T21:49:55Z")
Hi Hans, No, I think youā€™re exactly correct. I just wanted to point it out since the rest of the country is currently on DST, and somebody not aware of AZā€™s peculiarities might have done the otherwise-usual math for the Mountain time zone. (I made a quick edit to my post to hopefully clarify a bit.) Thank you for the excellent flyer; it is saved in my Migration binder in FF. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_Whittier](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/roger_whittier/32/85023_2.png) [@Roger\_Whittier](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/Roger_Whittier)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/26 "2021-09-22T22:15:03Z")
> [@MikeK](#): > > because this makes my head hurt: note that the times are shown in MST ā€” _not_ MDT. So, right now, MST is the same as PDT We just like to be different šŸ„“ ---
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/mikek/32/949_2.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/27 "2021-09-24T00:24:54Z")
> [@CarlRossi](#): > > Which is much more polite than FUā€¦ PLENTY of FU in SoCal today. Jeepers. I was initially able to get on top of the smoke at 12.5, but the level kept going up to the point that I had to take a detour towards the coast to where it was thinner, then get under it. LA Center and LA Approach were awesome in helping me thread the needle past the Bravo and over to Banning Pass. Hereā€™s Banning. Thatā€™s a smoke layer above the clouds. Yuck. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/copa/original/3X/9/a/9aa7ffea0954d1bba6ec35be1f21176a7116f236.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![lhazlewood](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/lhazlewood/32/121518_2.png) [@lhazlewood](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/lhazlewood)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/28 "2021-09-24T01:04:21Z")
This is a little late to help anyone this week, but I thought it was interesting. Iā€™m mostly just documenting it for my own benefit for posterity, as I hope it helps me think through things like this in the future. Here is my flight path as I flew in KSDL Class Delta airspace (I was on flight following): ![IMG_70B1A347424D-1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/copa/original/3X/6/8/68fe3255d2a07dd63b20135931a67a7d6d97d278.jpeg) As you can see, north of the Class Delta boundary, I had a flight plan that would put me on a really long base leg to turn right for a nice long final. The controller wasnā€™t clear at all about why I couldnā€™t follow that path, and he re-routed me to the one you see above. I was flying essentially a wide left downwind for what I thought was going to be a Runway 03 landing, even though ATIS (and the tower) confirmed runway 21. I called in to clarify: ā€œScottsdale tower, Cirrus 24365, just to confirm, you did indicate landing Runway 21, correct?ā€ ā€œYes, but I need you to extend on your current path, and turn and maintain the near side of the runwayā€. I was super confused, and then realized that he wanted me to fly back the same direction I came in on as a right downwind for runway 21. He had me extend the downwind until he called my base, and then I did it, and came in for a ~ 3 mile final. I _think_ they had me do that for sequencing and to avoid the East side of the airport due to noise abatement, but I donā€™t know for sure. It was just really odd to do it that way, and I havenā€™t experienced that before in my albeit admittedly short time as a pilot. Anyway, another learning experience for me! ---
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/mikek/32/949_2.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/29 "2021-09-24T01:30:29Z")
I didnā€™t have quite that convoluted of a trajectory, but on initial contact with SDL coming in from sort of the same direction, he told me to turn to a southerly heading so that I could then enter a midfield right downwind for 21. As I rolled out on downwind, he asked for one left 360 for sequencing. As I rolled out of that, he said to extend downwind and he would call base. They had a lot of incoming (and outgoing) jet traffic, so this was all about fitting me in between those guys. No big deal, handled well by the controller. I think the instructions I got were a bit more ordinary and made more sense than the ones it sounds like you got. I _really_ appreciated the suggestion on the ā€œNotice to Cirrus Pilotsā€ flyer to check out the area in ForeFlight 3D or Google Earth. The airport is not all that easy to spot, but thanks to having done that in advance, I got it in sight in plenty of time. I think somebody (Roger?) mentioned that 360s for spacing were not uncommon, so that was no surprise either. ---
**Author:** ![KevinBombino](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/kevinbombino/32/85094_2.png) [@KevinBombino](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/KevinBombino)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/30 "2021-09-24T01:38:04Z")
> [@MikeK](#): > > PLENTY of FU in SoCal today. Jeepers. I heard LA Center advising VFR traffic between LA and Vegas to consider rerouting via TNP, advising IMC at all altitudes due to smoke at Baker. ---
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/mikek/32/949_2.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 5:54am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/31 "2021-09-24T05:54:12Z")
Iā€™m not sure where Baker is, but I believe it. An odd day when the LA Basin is _less_ hazy than the surrounding area! ---
**Author:** ![chris.gio884](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/chris.gio884/32/241773_2.png) [@chris.gio884](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/chris.gio884)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/32 "2021-09-24T14:54:09Z")
Looks like AM storms on Sun for those departing. Obviously weather today and Sunday may have nothing in common, but swinging North may help. Iā€™m sure weā€™ll all be watchingā€¦ ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/copa/original/3X/d/e/dec12480686054b9e18e3f55e7dd8c8206e2be98.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Spholder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/spholder/32/686_2.png) [@Spholder](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/Spholder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/33 "2021-09-24T23:22:45Z")
Already filed! ---
**Author:** ![aniemyer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/aniemyer/32/175_2.png) [@aniemyer](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/aniemyer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/34 "2021-09-25T00:13:16Z")
Leaving eastbound tomorrow morning; sorry to leave early, but I follow Secklerā€™s Rules and I donā€™t want to be stuck in SDL trying to get home Sunday. Everyone has different levels of caution, mine are probably pretty high. Safe journeys to all Migration attendees. Very best, ---
**Author:** ![chris.gio884](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/chris.gio884/32/241773_2.png) [@chris.gio884](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/chris.gio884)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/35 "2021-09-25T16:15:02Z")
Weather coming in this PM & tomorrow AM but then dissipates by about 2p. I got set up with [ezwxbrief.com](http://ezwxbrief.com) and Scott took a few min in trade show booth to show me how to use + discuss my route tomorrow. Was helpful. ---
**Author:** ![MikeK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/mikek/32/949_2.png) [@MikeK](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/MikeK)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 4:44am UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/36 "2021-09-26T04:44:29Z")
I bailed out today after lunch. Sorry to miss you all at the banquet. I was looking forward to meeting a few folks that I hadnā€™t connected with yet! After the smoke fiasco with the ā€œWindyā€ fire down in Bakersfield on the way to Scottsdale, I decided to take the alternate path today and so I departed towards Prescott, then over the top of Vegas and up towards Mammoth before crossing the Sierra and descending into the Bay Area. There were a few isolated showers between SDL and LAS, but the clouds were high enough to stay under them with plenty of terrain clearance, and it was easy to avoid the heaviest precip. I got a couple of brief episodes of sprinkles ā€“ just enough to turn the dust on the plane into sludge. Things got progressively more hazy up towards Mammoth, and visibility crossing the Sierras was pretty poor. You could make out the mountains well enough, but the smoke/haze was pretty bad, and it continued down into the Central Valley. Sunset in the Bay Area today was blood red. The smoke has really rolled into NorCal since Thursday, yikes. Many, many thanks to everyone who helped to organize Migration. This was my first one, and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to many more! Hereā€™s a shot from near Mammoth that shows both the haze and the ā€œsludgeā€ that the sprinkles wrought! ![IMG_1260](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/copa/original/3X/0/f/0f97a0a08ef00ce143b520e4f9845629f66305b2.jpeg) And in the vicinity of Modesto: ![IMG_1261](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/copa/original/3X/c/9/c9316f209e8744a57a83b88dc68d7ff3208096f5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![chris.gio884](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/chris.gio884/32/241773_2.png) [@chris.gio884](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/chris.gio884)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/37 "2021-09-26T18:33:48Z")
FYI Iā€™m postponing. Going home tomorrow. Whoā€™s with me? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![chris.gio884](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/chris.gio884/32/241773_2.png) [@chris.gio884](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/chris.gio884)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/38 "2021-09-26T18:43:24Z")
Update. Hotel will extend your room at same rate. They were ready for this. Really impressed. Really really impressed. It was tough enough telling family my decision. Hotel made it easier. ---
**Author:** ![ErikGun](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/erikgun/32/789_2.png) [@ErikGun](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/ErikGun)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/39 "2021-09-26T18:47:57Z")
Westin is extending the group rate for extensions due to weather. Please check with the front desk ---
**Author:** ![CarlRossi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/carlrossi/32/221717_2.png) [@CarlRossi](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/CarlRossi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/40 "2021-09-26T18:48:46Z")
> [@chris.gio884](#): > > It was tough enough telling family my decision. It would have been tougher if somebody else had to tell them that you made a different decisionā€¦. ---
**Author:** ![djcopa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/copa/user_avatar/forum.cirruspilots.org/djcopa/32/196720_2.png) [@djcopa](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/u/djcopa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201/41 "2021-09-26T18:54:54Z")
Exactly the situation I didnā€™t want to get in, because we HAVE to be home tonight. So we went commercial and Iā€™m so glad we did. Without that pressure I definitely would have waited another day like Chris is choosing to do. Enjoy the extra day! šŸ‘ [Previous page](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.cirruspilots.org/t/copa-migration-2021-flight-planning-and-arrival/235201.md?page=3)