Comments from Hawk:
1. Contact UNICOM on 122.9 and provide a position report at least 10 miles out. This gives Unicom operators more time to respond in case of a busy traffic pattern.
2. Don’t panic if it takes UNICOM a couple minutes to respond. Make an initial position report to alert traffic in the pattern to your arrival and somebody will be right with you.
3. Your position report should clearly state that you have the current Advisory Code.
4. The hottest time of day in the desert is from 2-4pm. This is also typically when the dust storms and thunderstorms build up in the area. Most folks avoid landing during that time, preferring to arrive in early morning or early evening before dark.
5. The runway is not lit (it's closed at night), is not paved, and is not controlled.
6. The runway is aligned mostly SW to NE.
7. Prevailing winds are generally out of the SW but high-pressure systems sitting offshore or just inland typically send us winds circulating out of the N-NE.
8. Right traffic for the N runway, Left traffic for the south runway. Never fly your landing pattern over the city, stay over the RR tracks to the East.
9. Suggest making no turns below 500 feet agl. when arriving or departing.
10. If things aren't right on your approach (too high, someone on the runway, etc....) then don't be afraid to just go around. Remember, you're on "playa time".
11. Every pilot who lands here more than once uses soft-field techniques. Short-field techniques are not needed as the runway is 5,000 feet long and there aren't any large obstacles on either ends of the runway.
12. Density Altitude is a genuine concern and usually ranges from 4,000 feet msl to more than 7,000 feet MSL.
13. Advisory Information is updated as needed and is available at the Daily Pilot Briefings or from any on-duty UNICOM operator.
14. Get the latest Advisory Info upon your arrival at BRC Int’l and before each flight.
15. Updates that affect safety of flight will be provided to pilots who contact UNICOM and tell the operator which version of the Advisory Info they have. Expect a full briefing when you are done in Customs.
16. The airport is on the 245 radial from the Winnemucca VOR at 68 DME. Once you're on the playa it'll be difficult to miss the event.
17. There is no fuel available at BRC unless you or your campmates bring it in.
18. There are no phones in BRC and Cellular phones DON'T work. It is customary to close flight plans in the air approx 15 miles from the city and above 8,000 feet msl.
19. ATC radar services are available in the area and many VFR pilots get Flight Following to BRC. However, radar coverage in the area usually isn't available below 9,000 feet msl.
20. When flying the scenic pattern around BRC (see www.portofentry.org for details), common practice is to make position reports in relation to The Man. An example would be "Blue and white Skyhawk 5,000 feet, 9 o'clock from The Man". This tells other pilots that a slow moving Cessna 172 is on the north western side of the event. There are often many fast and slow moving aircraft circling the event.
21. Please use caution when entering/exiting the scenic and runway patterns.
22. Position reports are expected on the ground as well, such as when taxiing or entering the active runway.
23. All arriving aviators are expected to read the sections on the BM website that pertain to the Airport and its operations.
24. Just because you're at Burning Man it doesn't mean that you can ignore the FAR's. They all still apply.
25. Remember, you're on "playa time". There's no rush. Take your time and you'll do fine.
More good info from Hawk's previous emails...
1. Remember, even though you definitely should be alert about density
altitude at Black Rock International, the good news is that there's
nothing to hit for miles. Two things you'll definitely notice though.
Your ground run will be significantly longer and your climb rate will
be very anemic. The biggest suggestion I have for any take-offs and
landings are to take your time. No rush. Climb out at the indicated
airspeed that you normally do. Yes, you'll not be climbing very fast
but you will be climbing. Because of the heat and the altitude you'll
also want to keep an eye on your oil temperature. Climbing out at Vx
or Vy might not give you enough cooling and you may have to make an
even shallower climb to keep air moving over the cylinders. Where you
definitely need to be very aware of density altitude is at nearby
airports such as Winnemucca or Reno-Stead. Both of these airports
have long runways but there's also obstacles nearby (buildings and
big mountains). In those cases you'll definitely want to look at your
POH for the performance abilities of your plane. Remember that the
charts were created with a new airplane and a professional pilot.
Your mileage may vary. If you're flying out of these airports in the
afternoon I definitely wouldn't fill the seats of your plane. In
fact, I wouldn't bring along more than a single, lightweight passenger.
2. The weather out there can range from one extreme to the other.
We've seen cold fronts, thunderstorms, 70 mph windstorms, rain, snow,
ice, mud, fire, brimstone, etc.... But if you want to know about a
typical day...... It's usually the best flying in the morning before
11am. Afternoons are typically when the thunderstorms and windstorms
will form.
3. Reno will tell you to squawk VFR around Pyramid Lake and you'll be
on your own from there out to Burning Man unless you want to climb to
10k feet where you can talk to Salt Lake City Center. Below that it's
really important to fly at the correct altitude for your direction of
flight and keep an eye out for traffic. The lower you are the less
likely you'll see other traffic (especially faster traffic) but the
lower you go the more you'll be dealing with the typical bumps from
the heat of the desert. Oh, and if filing a flight plan the lowest
you'll be able to pick up FSS to cancel it is around 8.5k feet (from
my memory). The only way you'll be able to cancel on the ground is if
you have a satellite phone (cell phones don't work out there).
4. If you're arriving in the afternoon you might actually have to
divert because of a thunderstorm or a dust storm. Both will be very
apparent from a long way off. If it's a dust storm they're sometimes
fairly low to the ground and can move through quickly enough that you
might be able to circle over the event and wait it out.
5. The UNICOM can usually hear you around 2-5 miles out depending on
if we've got the big antenna hooked up. This is a non-towered airport
so it really is entirely up to you how you land there. We do
recommend a 45 degree entry to the downwind leg though. This way you
can take your time and set up for a stabilized approach. There's no
VASI's to help you down. Take-offs are the same at any other non-
towered airport. Priority number one: see and avoid.
6. As for typical winds..... nothing's typical out there. If I had to
give you an answer though I'd say the prevailing winds are from the
west and that time of year they're usually not that strong below
10,000 feet unless a front is moving through (which can happen). If
there are strong winds, I'd suggest staying on the ground because of
possible mountain waves.
