Cross-Country to Fort Smith Arkansas (KFSM)

On Saturday, May 3, I went on a Cross-Country flight from 3SQ (St. Charles Municipal Airport) to KFSM (Fort Smith Regional Airport). The first leg to M48 (Houston Memorial Airport) was 114.6 nm. It was cheaper to fill up with fuel at M48 than at KFSM. The airstrip had just been extended to 3500 ft. on grounds that used to be a golf course and they plan to add a VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator) or PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) lighting in the near future. I could hear cows in the pastures nearby. It was a nice little friendly airport. The second leg was from M48 to KFSM stretching 166.4 nm. Both legs were during the day and in VFR conditions. Flight Following was utilized during the entire trip, so, by the time I reached Fort Smith, I was already in contact with Razorback Approach on 120.9.

Razorback Approach vectored me to the ILS RWY 25 approach and handed me off to Fort Smith Tower on 118.3. After landing, we parked at the general aviation section of the airport called TAC AIR. There was a $10 parking fee and after 0300 Z there was a $35 "call in" fee. Another words, if we planned to take-off after 0300 Z, we had to call someone to open the doors to let us through the terminial to get to our plane, as the tower closes and becomes a non-controlled airport. That's what I ended up doing. I returned to 3SQ at night after 0300 Z. The return trip was non-stop stretching 280.4 nm. I completed the VOR RWY 09.

There were several tidbits of information on several different topics I jotted down about the trip, so, I'll just list them below.

Communications: When ATC comes over the radio and says "carrier", they are hearing someone click their mic as if they are saying something, however, all they hear is clicking. Check your headset "plug-ins" - one may be out of its port.

VOR's: (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range)
TO:
Dial in NAV frequency; ID it
Center needle
Fly whatever heading needed to keep the needle centered
From:
Dial in NAV frequency; ID it
Turn NAV/VOR to outbound course
Fly that course/radial adjusting for winds

Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA):
According to the "Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms" compiled and edited by Dale Crane, a TRSA is Airspace surrounding designated airports in which ATC provides radar vectoring, sequencing, and separation on a full-time basis for all IFR and participating VFR aircraft. Service provided in a TRSA is called Stage III service. The Aeronautical Information Manual contains an explanation of TRSA, and TRSAs are depicted on VFR aeronautical charts. Pilot participation is urged, but not mandatory.

According to the Aeronautical Information Manual 2008, 3-5-6 b. TRSAs. The primary airport(s) within the TRSA become(s) Class D airspace. The remaining portion of the TRSA overlies other controlled airspace which is normally Class E airspace beginning at 700 or 1,200 feet and established to transition to/from the en route/terminal environment. d. Charts. TRSAs are depicted on VFR sectional and terminal area charts with a solid black line and altitudes for each segment. The Class D portion is charted with a blue segmented line.

Take a look at the sectional clip above and note the black line.

Cockpit Management:
-Carry a lighter flight bag. If it's that heavy, make sure you include it in your weight & balance.
-Charts: Only bring the ones needed; Sectionals-fold each one to beginning course; keep accessible.
-Flashlight: Use one which allows intensity to be changed for night.

Pilotage:
Night: choose checkpoints that can be see at night. (even if the lakes are huge... they won't be seen) Good examples are large cities, airports....... look at the "big picture".

2 Commercial Requirements met:
One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nauticle miles from the original point of departure: Met on 5/3/08, 3.5 hrs, Day VFR-114.6 nm 3SQ-->M48 and 166.4 nm M48-->FSM.

One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure: Met on 5/4, 2.8 hrs, Night VFR-280.4 nm FSM-->3SQ.

This trip was a great experience.