******************************************************************************** * * Special Use Airspace for Minden, Nevada, USA * Courtesy of Tom Bjork * Dated 31 July 2008 * * >>>>>>>>>> UNOFFICIAL, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK <<<<<<<<<< * * Do not use for navigation, for flight verification only. * * Always consult the relevant publications * for current and correct information. This * service is provided free of charge with * no warrantees, expressed or implied. * User assumes all risk of use. *+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ * * Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center, Reno Terminal * Radar Approach Control, and Pacific Soaring Council * LETTER OF AGREEMENT * EFFECTIVE: July 31, 2008 * SUBJECT: Pyramid and Minden Glider Area Operations * *1. PURPOSE: To establish an area and procedures for * glider operations within positive controlled airspace * under the joint jurisdiction of Oakland Center and Reno * TRACON. The areas will be known as the "Pyramid Glider * East and West Areas" and the "Minden Glider East, * Central and West Areas." * *2. CANCELLATION: The following Oakland Center and * Pacific Soaring Council letters of agreement are * canceled: Pyramid Glider Area Operations, dated April 7, * 2003, and Minden Glider Area Operations, dated April 7, * 2003. * *3. AUTHORIZATION: Under the authority of 14 CFR * 91.135(d) Oakland Center and Reno TRACON authorize the * Pacific Soaring Council (PASCO) to deviate from the * requirements of FAR 91.135(a) and (b) when operating in * the area specified in paragraph 4 and in accordance with * the conditions specified in paragraphs 5 and 6 of this * agreement. Operational requests for altitudes above * FL280 require a waiver from the FAA Administrator as * directed by 14 CFR 91.706. Therefore, altitude requests * above FL280 shall not be approved unless a Certificate * of Waiver (FAA Form 7711-1) has been obtained by the * user. * *4. SCOPE: The procedures outlined in this letter apply * to flights conducted at FL180 and above within the area * described below and referred to as the "Pyramid Glider * Area" and the "Minden Glider Area" and as defined in * Attachment 1, Airspace Definitions, and depicted in * Attachment 2, Airspace Graphics. * *5. RESPONSIBILITIES: * * a. Except for deviations specified in paragraph 3 of * this letter, pilots will comply with applicable Federal * Aviation Regulations (FARs). * * b. Pilots are authorized to operate in the glider area * above FL180 only during those time periods approved by * Oakland Center and Reno TRACON for use of this area. * * c. Neither Oakland Center nor Reno TRACON is responsible * for separation between or amongst gliders operating * within the assigned area or areas. * * d. Pilots must be sufficiently familiar with local * terrain features so that flight(s) will be contained * within the glider area by visual reference to the * ground. * * e. Pilots will not fly in designated glider areas within * Class A airspace less than 1,000 feet vertically and one * mile horizontally from a cloud formation. * * f. Pilots will not fly in designated glider areas within * Class A airspace when flight visibility is less than 5 * miles. Weather conditions will be such that visual * reference to the ground can be maintained at all times. * * g. The authorization specified in paragraph 3 of this * agreement will extend to the Pacific Soaring Council and * to all other persons who, by their execution of this * agreement, do agree to abide by the terms and conditions * thereof. * * h. Pilots will obtain advance non-control * airportlterminal area and meteorological information * from the Reno ATIS prior to Pyramid or Minden Glider * Area ingress/egress. * * i. Gliders must activate their transponders prior to * contacting Reno TRACON. Gliders shall squawk beacon code * 0440 and altitude to facilitate radar identification. * * j. Pilots operating in Reno TRACON Class E airspace * below the Pyramid and Minden Glider Areas shall contact * Reno TRACON prior to entering the overlying Pyramid or * Minden Glider Areas. * * k. Pilots exiting the Pyramid or Minden Glider Areas * into underlying Reno TRACON Class E airspace shall * contact Reno TRACON prior to descending below FL180. * * I. If a glider is unable to remain in the designated * glider area due to developing weather conditions at or * above FL180, the pilot of that aircraft must contact * Oakland Center on frequency 128.800 immediately. * NOTE: Airsafety demands strict adherence to approved * times, altitudes, and airspace boundaries. * *6. PROCEDURES: * a. When high-altitude soaring conditions prevail, the * Wave Window Operations Manager (WWOM) or other persons * authorized under paragraph 5g will notify the Reno * TRACON frontline manager (FLM)/controller-in-charge * (CIG) at (775) 348-8840 that a request for glider * airspace will be made to Oakland Center. The WWOM * shall call the Oakland Center East Area FLM/CIC at * (510) 745-3442 for request/approval. * * b. The PASCO WWOM or other persons authorized under * paragraph 5g will provide, to the maximum extent * practicable, the following information to the Oakland * Center East Area FLM/CIC when the paragraph 6a request * is made: * (1) Call sign; * (2) Requested designated glider area; * (3) Time period; and * (4) A contact number for the WWOM in the event the * operation must be amended or terminated. * * c. The Oakland Center East Area FLM/CIC shall coordinate * the call sign, equipment suffix, altitudes and release * of Pyramid or Minden Glider Area(s) airspace from the * Reno TRACON FLM/CIC, as well as the time for the return * of the airspace. * * d. When the requested area is not available, the Oakland * Center East Area FLM/CIC may suggest alternate times * and/or altitudes. * * e. Oakland Center approval for use of the glider area * will specify time periods and flight levels and will be * coordinated on a daily basis. * * f. If for any reason glider operations are suspended for * any significant period of time, or if the operation * terminates earlier than the coordinated end time, the * person requesting airspace under paragraph 6a must * release the airspace back to the Oakland Center East * Area FLM/CIC by telephone notification. * * g. The Oakland Center East Area FLM/CIC must inform the * Reno TRACON FLM/CIC of the time of release of airspace * or of any changes to coordination requirements specified * in this agreement. * ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ * Pyramid East Glider Area, Class A airspace AC A AN Pyramid East Glider Area AH FL600 AL FL180 DP 40:07:00 N 119:27:00 W DP 39:49:00 N 119:22:00 W DP 39:45:00 N 119:28:00 W DP 39:41:00 N 119:44:00 W DP 39:46:12 N 119:41:06 W DP 40:08:38 N 119:41:00 W *DP 40:07:00 N 119:27:00 W * * Pyramid West Glider Area, Class A airspace AC A AN Pyramid West Glider Area AH FL600 AL FL180 DP 39:41:00 N 119:44:00 W DP 40:02:00 N 120:00:00 W DP 40:10:00 N 119:53:00 W DP 40:08:38 N 119:41:00 W DP 39:46:12 N 119:41:06 W *DP 39:41:00 N 119:44:00 W * * Minden West Glider Area, Class A airspace AC A AN Minden West Glider Area AH FL600 AL FL180 DP 39:04:00 N 119:41:00 W DP 38:42:00 N 119:38:00 W DP 38:42:00 N 119:57:00 W DP 39:04:00 N 119:57:00 W *DP 39:04:00 N 119:41:00 W * * Minden Central Glider Area, Class A airspace AC A AN Minden Central Glider Area AH FL600 AL FL180 DP 39:04:00 N 119:29:00 W DP 38:42:00 N 119:26:00 W DP 38:42:00 N 119:38:00 W DP 39:04:00 N 119:41:00 W *DP 39:04:00 N 119:29:00 W * * Minden East Glider Area, Class A airspace AC A AN Minden East Glider Area AH FL600 AL FL180 DP 39:04:00 N 119:10:00 W DP 38:42:00 N 119:08:00 W DP 38:42:00 N 119:26:00 W DP 39:04:00 N 119:29:00 W *DP 39:04:00 N 119:10:00 W