MY OPINION

ARTHUR ROSEN

SAN DIEGO

San Diego is my favorite city in the US. It is the place that every “Zonie” (think Arizona resident) wants to be in the summer, and San Diego is a great place to visit in the winter also. June is the worst month in San Diego with what is referred to as “June Gloom”. The sun just doesn’t want to shine in June. At night a jacket is needed even in the summer except in August.

There are four airports in the San Diego area. Lindbergh (mostly airliners) will take GA traffic, but fuel is high and there is an expensive ramp fee. There are 3 GA airports. Brown Field (SDM) is located on the CA-Mexican boarder about 20 miles south of the city. Gillispe (SEE) is located inland east of the city, and the most convenient field to fly into is Montgomery (MYF) which is located 8 miles east of Mission Bay and 5 miles south of La Jolla. There is an ILS approach for MYF. The approach is a no brainer and the SoCal controllers are great to work with. An IFR rating helps to fly in and out of San Diego in the summer as there is usually a marine layer early in the morning until about 11AM and in the evening. Airliners are abundant in the approach to San Diego, and ATC does a great job of vectoring to keep you away from airline traffic. There is a mountain range just east of San Diego that rises to 6000 feet. It is a good place to slow down at 8000 feet (MEA ) as one has to descend to sea level in 20 miles.

I recommend three different areas of San Diego to stay; the Gas Lamp District (downtown), Coronado Bay and La Jolla.

The Gas Lamp District was at one time what it states. It was a seedy area of brothels, homeless and porno shops. The City had great vision and redeveloped this area into a major shopping area. Horton Plaza, restaurants too numerous to mention, hotels and a new baseball stadium. I’m proud to say that my wife (before we met) was the marketing manager for this endeavor.

Coronado is an island south of Lindbergh Field. It is home to the world famous Del Coronado Hotel. The beach is public at the Del. The Del is an old, but remodeled, beautiful hotel with major tourist traffic. It is famous for the Marilyn Monroe movie SOME LIKE IT HOT. Right across the street is the Glorietta Bay Inn. The original part of this hotel was the Spreckel’s House. Spreckel built the Del. You want to stay in the Spreckel’s House if you stay at the Inn, and you will have a wonderful view of Glorietta Bay and the Del. Walking is a pleasure in Coronado and the restaurants are fantastic.

La Jolla, on the ocean, is on the North side of town and south of such beautiful areas: Torrey Pines, where the US Open Golf Tournament was played; Del Mar, home of the Del Mar Fair and horse race track and Leucadia and Encinitas, two hippie and surfing towns. The drive up the 101 from La Jolla to Carlsbad is breathe taking!

San Diego really has it all. There are numerous sights to see. San Diego has both major league baseball and football. Sea World and Balboa Park are two must sees. Balboa Park is home to the world famous San Diego Zoo and many museums. They have an excellent aviation museum.

San Diego is truly a City that has it all...great food and attractions not to mention great beaches. Enjoy your trip. Next Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

THIS AND THAT

I was informed that Southwest Airlines pulled it’s sponsorship of Challenge Air. For those of you who missed my column last year on Challenge Air, it was one of the most self satisfying times of my life. Challenge Air provides flights for special needs children and their family. Each pilot donates his/her plane and fuel to fly 30 minute flights. We flew 116 children and their parents last year in Phoenix. Challenge Air flies these events across the country and here’s hoping they will find a new sponsor. Shame on you Southwest Airlines.

This years event flew 150 children and their parents. I flew 8 missions on April 24th and enjoyed every one of them. If Challenge Air comes to your city, please volunteer. It is the experience of a lifetime.

Luke Airforce Base was just approved to go from class D airspace to a SATR. This means more controlled airspace for Phoenix. Most were against this, but Luke ramrodded the SATR through without having to go through the rules and regulations as written. No current data was provide by Luke for having a SATR. Education was held with all the GA airports in the area so that we were all communicating with Luke. The only way to fly west VFR to CA is north of Luke’s Class D. May 6 this airspace will be greatly expanded, and it is now controlled, and if Luke is too busy to handle us they can turn us away. This is another Governmental brain disaster!

I just received my new sectional and the area for the SATR was not on the chart. There was just a box stating to contact Luke. It is on the Phoenix Terminal Chart. NOT GOOD!

Arthur Rosen is a retired Judge, AOPA-ASN for Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Chairman Emirates of the Scottsdale Aviation Commission, served on the Super Bowl Committee for Aviation and Aviation Expert for ABC TV-Phoenix. Arthur can be reached at Judge613@gmail.com.