DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
PENSACOLA TRACON
4240 AIRFIELD ROAD
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA 32504
ISSUED: April 4, 2013 EFFECTIVE: April 4, 2013
PENSACOLA TRACON LETTER TO AIRMEN NO. 13-01
SUBJECT: PENSACOLA VFR PRACTICE AREAS
CANCELLATION: April 4, 2015
The purpose of this Letter to Airmen is to inform all participants of the continuous use of VFR practice areas described in Pensacola Tracon’s airspace (see airspace map attachments). These procedures and areas defined in this letter were recommended and agreed upon by a joint committee of local area flight schools and the FAA.
Increased Awareness must be maintained by all participants while flying in the Practice Areas described below due to a high volume of military training in and around the practice areas from surface to 17,500 feet.
Choctaw VFR Practice Area is described as that area bounded on the north by the Yellow River, on the west by the eastern shore of Blackwater Bay to Escribano Point, turning southeast along the northern shore of East Bay then north along Highway 87 to the Yellow River. Altitudes are surface to 5,000 feet (MSL) when Choctaw Tower is closed and 2,700 to 5,000 feet (MSL) when Choctaw Tower is open. NOTE: When military aircraft are conducting Simulated Flame Out (SFO) maneuvers over Choctaw, the Choctaw VFR Practice Area will not be available. For more information, check out the Choctaw area diagram.
Northwest VFR Practice Area
is located northwest of Pensacola Regional Airport and is defined as that airspace from a point approximately three (3) nautical miles south of the Molino Cross Roads following the power line to the northwest where it intersects Highway 112, then due south to the westernmost antenna along I-10 southwestward to a point due north of Coastal Airport, then north through Cantonment to the power line south of Molino. Altitudes are surface to 3,500 feet (MSL). Aircraft should remain at least 1.5 nautical miles west of the line from Coastal to Molino. For more information, check out the Northwest area diagram.
Beach VFR Practice Area
is bound on the east by the Navarre Bridge west to the intersection of Highway 399 (Midway Antenna) and Highway 98 and from Highway 98 to three (3) nautical miles south of the beach. Altitudes are surface to 3,000 feet (MSL). NOTE: Aircraft operating within the Beach VFR Practice Area should be vigilant for high speed military aircraft transitioning to Navy Choctaw NOLF (NFJ) using VFR routings immediately west and northeast of the Beach VFR Practice Area. For more information, check out the Beach area diagram.
Pilots departing Pensacola Regional Airport should advise Pensacola Tower of the particular practice area requested. Pilots departing outlying airports should advise Pensacola TRACON.
\s\ Stephen Bouchard
Air Traffic Manager
Pensacola TRACON (P31)
