SunWest staff recently attended an interactive meeting with Air Traffic Controllers from San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and Vandenberg.

Here are some general things they’d like us to share with our flying family:

KSBP

A new controller is being trained in the tower and will be considered a fully-trained member by the end of November.
There are three controllers in SBP’s tower and they work six days on, one day off.
Tower tours are back open! The best time to request a tour of the tower is in the middle of the week around noon. If there is not a second controller in the tower, tours cannot be held.
If community members want to see more staffing in the SBP tower, they can write to local congressmen outlining their frustrations and concerns.
Pilots should monitor ground and tower frequencies simultaneously when able.
Pilots should take intersection departures often, when able.
During the timeframe in which touch-and-go’s are halted, don’t ask for flight following on the ground; if possible, ask once airborne.
If pilots feel forgotten about on ground frequency for extended amounts of time, they should call in and ask for the altimeter setting. This is a gentle and polite way for a pilot to remind ATC that they’re there without engaging ATC in a conversation loop that clogs the frequency.

ATIS will be long due to construction around the airport; please listen completely for relevant information.
Always check in on tower frequency when practicing maneuvers in the vicinity of the Delta.
If aborting a takeoff after crossing the hold short lines, state the reason for aborting and be clear if this is a training flight. ATC is required to submit comments to the FAA regarding all aborted takeoffs. The more information, the easier it is to clear the report.
Tower tours are open again at SMX, too!

Opposite direction practice approaches will not be approved often.
Pilots should terminate service with SBA if using VBG airspace in special areas like 2517 (use VBG frequency.)
Atlantic Aviation has moved to the base of the tower.
Four GA aircraft in the pattern at once is the maximum for SBA controllers; pilots will be turned away if ATC cannot accommodate them.
If it seems like more potential pilot deviations are being issued, it’s not to get everyone in trouble. This method is being used to asses risk more closely in the airspace. Don’t panic!

Practice approaches are available Mon-Fri when the airspace is open; call SBA or VBG to ask.
With that being said, more airspace closures are expected to crop up due to increased rocket launches from SpaceX in 2023.
An RNAV into VBG is being published in the early half of 2023.
Pilots can fly through area 2517 if they’re 2,000 ft or more over the water, but they must have individual approval from VBG.
Look out for drones in area 2517.
There is no AV gas at VBG.

Questions, comments or concerns? Call us any time and we’ll do our best to help.