Flying with Musa along the Lake Michigan shoreline, we get a firsthand experience of navigating with the larger airspace restrictions near Midway Airport. Where general aviation aircraft could once aviate without limitation, now pilots must fly lower or farther out over the very very deep lake.
Did I mention that the water is very cold for most of the year?
With Musa’s renovated PA27 Piper Aztec (check out his YouTube channel “PA27 Pilot”), communicating with ATC is no problem. Midway Tower approves our beautiful skyline transit. We enjoy an amazing sunset view of the Sears Tower and her sister skyscrapers in the city of Big Shoulders.
However, it makes you think of the impact of greater airspace restrictions. If the controllers were too busy, we might have been forced to circumnavigate the larger area of restrictions. Not a big worry in the 1980 twin Piper, but a little more intimidating for a small, single engine plane.
I strongly urge single engine pilots to stay within gliding distance of shore. I have read too many stories of pilots experiencing disaster within sight of the shore. Don’t be that guy!!!