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Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 12:24 pm
by gtmize
I have found a few very poor maps for getting below 18000' over the Grande Canyon using Corridors ( down to 12000').

But would require some GPS waypoints .. any help appreciated

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 1:12 pm
by Lou
Hi there,

I made an FPL file that contains all the corridors. Copy the file to the top card and then load the file. This will load the following waypoints (note names are not official - just my own shorthand):

Tuckup Corridor: TUCK01 (North), TUCK02 (South); Fossil Canyon Corridor: FOSS01, FOSS02; Dragon Corridor: DRAG01, DRAG02; Zuni Point Corridor: ZUNI01, ZUNI02

I have attached the Excel file with the names and GPS co-ordinates. I will send the .fpl file to you by PM because I can't upload a text file to the forum for some reason. You can also create a "user_waypoints.csv" file for Foreflight and add the waypoints to Foreflight.

Let me know how it works. Good luck.

Louis

PS - I see the forum converts the xls to a pdf. I will send original to you by PM as well.

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 1:37 pm
by Rich
The relevant waypoints/routes are plotted on the sectional. At least in Foreflight they show up and the waypoints can be entered into a flight plan. Am I missing something?

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 2:07 pm
by Rich
Rich wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 1:37 pm The relevant waypoints/routes are plotted on the sectional. At least in Foreflight they show up and the waypoints can be entered into a flight plan. Am I missing something?
Now I see. It doesn't show up on the sectional, but there is an additional Grand Canyon Chart which Foreflight automatically overlays. Here you can clearly see, for example, Fossil Canyon Corridor, delineated by waypoints VPGCC and VPGCD. This may be a consequence of my selecting VFR Flyway Charts for download.

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 2:23 pm
by CFIDave
We overflew all of the Grand Canyon VFR corridors last fall using the Foreflight VFR map. If you zoom in on the Grand Canyon, it clearly shows all of the waypoint endpoints of each of the corridors -- which can easily be added to your G1000 flight plan.

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 3:24 pm
by gtmize
Rich wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 2:07 pm
Rich wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 1:37 pm The relevant waypoints/routes are plotted on the sectional. At least in Foreflight they show up and the waypoints can be entered into a flight plan. Am I missing something?
Now I see. It doesn't show up on the sectional, but there is an additional Grand Canyon Chart which Foreflight automatically overlays. Here you can clearly see, for example, Fossil Canyon Corridor, delineated by waypoints VPGCC and VPGCD. This may be a consequence of my selecting VFR Flyway Charts for download.
Thanks, but

VPGCC/VPGCD corridor starts and ends inside the "GND-17999" block .. also can't see the corridor minimum .. how low you can go?

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 7:29 pm
by Rich
gtmize wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 3:24 pm
Rich wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 2:07 pm
Rich wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 1:37 pm The relevant waypoints/routes are plotted on the sectional. At least in Foreflight they show up and the waypoints can be entered into a flight plan. Am I missing something?
Now I see. It doesn't show up on the sectional, but there is an additional Grand Canyon Chart which Foreflight automatically overlays. Here you can clearly see, for example, Fossil Canyon Corridor, delineated by waypoints VPGCC and VPGCD. This may be a consequence of my selecting VFR Flyway Charts for download.
Thanks, but

VPGCC/VPGCD corridor starts and ends inside the "GND-17999" block .. also can't see the corridor minimum .. how low you can go?
Answers to all are on the chart

Corridor altitudes are shown in a box just to the "Northwest" of "Tuckup Corridor". Four discrete VFR altitudes given.

The corridors are above the max altitude of any of the sectors (9,999' MSL). They are there to provide guidance between the "Free Flight Zones" which require prior authorization and extend to 14,500' MSL. They do not extend to the lateral boundaries of the SFRA because that is not their function.

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 12:53 am
by CBeak
That’s my neighborhood. There are 4 distinct VFR altitudes through the corridors. Easterly and westerly Cruise altitudes. Stay on them. It’s also important to use the altimeter reading from the designated airport because that’s where they expect you to be.
It’s not hard, especially now that apps like ForeFlight and WingX draw it right there on your moving map. I always feel safer with Flight Following in there.
Normally, there are a lot of tour aircraft in there using “cactus” designations. Most flying out of Grand Canyon or Las Vegas. They get the lower altitudes and stay on specific routes.They even have their own chart. Just don’t try dropping down low there. Too many bad things can happen.

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 5:27 pm
by CFIDave
I recently upgraded my computer to one capable of editing 4K videos, so I was finally able to edit the 4K GoPro videos shot from the tail tie-down of our DA62 last September. We flew all of the VFR corridors at the lowest legal altitudes (10,500 and 11,500 feet).

I was able to edit the video down to about 35 minutes, which is exactly the length of the entire "Grand Canyon Suite" music that accompanies the video. The edited video shows canyon scenery going by in real time, but fast forwards through the "connecting" segments between VFR corridors across flat terrain that may be less interesting.

The tail camera mount was intended to show the DA62 belly and turning props at the very top of the frame -- which it did at the start of the video. But I didn't tighten the mount enough, allowing the GoPro camera (with a large external battery pack) to very slowly rotate downward due the pressure (drag) of the airflow when flying at 170 knots. So the airplane eventually disappears into the top of the frame -- a "feature" rather than a "bug" :) -- letting you admire just the scenery.

For best results, watch this at full 4K resolution on a newer 4K TV using the TV's built-in YouTube app; search YouTube for "Grand Canyon Flight from DA62"

Otherwise you can watch this on a computer monitor where many browsers (e.g., Mac Safari) will limit YouTube resolution to HD 1080p:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szhnov96-Oo

Re: Grande Canyon Corridors - GPS Waypoints

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 5:35 pm
by Boatguy
CFIDave wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 5:27 pm I recently upgraded my computer to one capable of editing 4K videos, so I was finally able to edit the 4K GoPro videos shot from the tail tie-down of our DA62 last September.
How did you attach the GoPro to the tail tie-down?