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There are plenty of airstrips in the US and Canada that are both uncontrolled and have no radio requirement. And, transponders are only required in control zone

There are plenty of airstrips in the US and Canada that are both uncontrolled and have no radio requirement. And, transponders are only required in control zones.

GekkePrutser 5y ago
But even in Lompoc where he took off? That seems to be a pretty big town. I've even heard of it and I've never been to the US :) Also I see lots of military activity in the area (e.g. Vandenberg AFB). I can't imagine it would not be controlled. Here uncontrolled fields are also common but you'd still call local traffic. And transponders are always mandatory. But aviation is not as commonplace as in the US.
- pilot7378535 5y ago
  I regularly fly without any radio. Disclaimer: I'm not familiar with Lompoc. That looks like class echo airspace in which a radio is not required. Apparently the airport's control tower only operates part time. Still, with nearby population centers, restricted air over military bases, possible gliders and skydivers in the area, even oil wells relatively close, it looks like a particularly foolish place to turn an aircraft into an unguided missile by jumping out of it. Sources: https://aeronav.faa.gov/visual/12-02-2021/PDFs/Los_Angeles.pdf https://aeronav.faa.gov/visual/12-02-2021/PDFs/Los_Angeles.p... which includes a legend, faster version here: https://skyvector.com/?ll=34.665619444,-120.467502778&chart=301&zoom=1 https://skyvector.com/?ll=34.665619444,-120.467502778&chart=....
  - GekkePrutser 5y ago
    Ok I'm surprised. I don't think anyone here in Europe flies without a radio. If only just to monitor local traffic. Most of the flying club members even carried backup portables. I didn't proceed to my full license so I never did. But I did have lots of ham radios on which I could receive (not transmit) the airband if needed.
- gsk22 5y ago
  Yep, Lompoc is uncontrolled: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KLPC https://www.airnav.com/airport/KLPC And notifying local traffic (on CTAF) at uncontrolled airports is recommended, but not required. This is quite common in the US, especially in small towns/rural areas.
- soneil 5y ago
  If he took off in Lompoc, and he doesn't have a radio, wouldn't that indicate the radio isn't mandatory for Lompoc? Also worth noting that in a life-threatening emergency you have wide, wide discretion when it comes to putting her down. Fields, Roads, Riverbed, pretty much anything that's remotely flat is fair game.
  - GekkePrutser 5y ago
    It never said whether or not he had a radio AFAIK. We were just philosophising whether he had one or not.

There are plenty of airstrips in the US and Canada that are both uncontrolled and have no radio requirement. And, transponders are only required in control zones.

GekkePrutser 5y ago

But even in Lompoc where he took off? That seems to be a pretty big town. I've even heard of it and I've never been to the US :) Also I see lots of military activity in the area (e.g. Vandenberg AFB). I can't imagine it would not be controlled. Here uncontrolled fields are also common but you'd still call local traffic. And transponders are always mandatory. But aviation is not as commonplace as in the US.

pilot7378535 5y ago
I regularly fly without any radio. Disclaimer: I'm not familiar with Lompoc. That looks like class echo airspace in which a radio is not required. Apparently the airport's control tower only operates part time. Still, with nearby population centers, restricted air over military bases, possible gliders and skydivers in the area, even oil wells relatively close, it looks like a particularly foolish place to turn an aircraft into an unguided missile by jumping out of it. Sources: https://aeronav.faa.gov/visual/12-02-2021/PDFs/Los_Angeles.pdf https://aeronav.faa.gov/visual/12-02-2021/PDFs/Los_Angeles.p... which includes a legend, faster version here: https://skyvector.com/?ll=34.665619444,-120.467502778&chart=301&zoom=1 https://skyvector.com/?ll=34.665619444,-120.467502778&chart=....
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  Ok I'm surprised. I don't think anyone here in Europe flies without a radio. If only just to monitor local traffic. Most of the flying club members even carried backup portables. I didn't proceed to my full license so I never did. But I did have lots of ham radios on which I could receive (not transmit) the airband if needed.
gsk22 5y ago
Yep, Lompoc is uncontrolled: https://www.airnav.com/airport/KLPC https://www.airnav.com/airport/KLPC And notifying local traffic (on CTAF) at uncontrolled airports is recommended, but not required. This is quite common in the US, especially in small towns/rural areas.
soneil 5y ago
If he took off in Lompoc, and he doesn't have a radio, wouldn't that indicate the radio isn't mandatory for Lompoc? Also worth noting that in a life-threatening emergency you have wide, wide discretion when it comes to putting her down. Fields, Roads, Riverbed, pretty much anything that's remotely flat is fair game.
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  It never said whether or not he had a radio AFAIK. We were just philosophising whether he had one or not.