Nestled in the east county foothills of San Diego County lies one of San Diego's best-kept secrets. Gillespie Field with its three runways, Air Traffic Control Tower and two instrument approaches is an airport worth writing about. You can drive to this user-friendly facility on one of three freeways - Routes 67, 52 or 8 - in under ½ hour from almost anywhere in San Diego County. The marine layer - commonly called June Gloom - which plagues Montgomery Field and Palomar Airport, is very rarely a problem at Gillespie because of its location. If the marine layer does happen to make it to Gillespie, it burns off sooner in the morning and arrives later in the evening, making VFR flying easier to accomplish. Gillespie is served by two FBO's (Fixed Base Operators) as well as three flight schools, the largest of which is California Flight Academy. 

Whether you're flying in or out of Gillespie Field you'll find the routings, and the Air Traffic Controllers, easy to work with. In fact Gillespie Field is the only airport in the county which allows crosswind practice on its perpendicular runway. Simply request crosswind practice on runway 17 or 35 and you will almost always be granted permission to use a tear drop type pattern - departing from either, to return and try your hand at crosswind takeoffs and landings from both directions - a type of landing practice invaluable to every pilot. Another of Gillespie's benefits is virtually no waiting time for an available runway, which is a breath of fresh air compared with the waiting time we all experience when flying at Montgomery Field and Palomar Airport. Touch and go practice is easily accepted on both 27L and 27R. On weekends you'll find the traffic around the airport controlled on two separate radio frequencies allowing more flexibility for us aviators. 

VFR departures are made with ease in all directions. With the Class B airspace overlying Gillespie Field at 4800'MSL, staying underneath it is a breeze. When departing to the west you have a choice; either straight out over Cowles Mountain, or a left crosswind departure towards Lake Murray then on to Mount Soledad. To the east, either right or left downwind departures from 27L or 27 R are the norm. You will not be hemmed in by the Class B airspace as you are when departing to the east at Montgomery Field. In addition the practice areas used by San Diego pilots every day are only a few miles to the east, which translates into cost savings and time efficiency for you. 

When your destination is to the north or northeast a right downwind departure from 27R is your best choice. Navigate over San Vicente Reservoir if you're going north, and over El Capitan reservoir if you're going northeast. A word of caution … be careful not to drift to the West of the Poggi 352° radial when passing over San Vicente Reservoir. There are lots of MCAS Miramar arrivals overflying that area and the Class B airspace drops to 1800'MSL just west of the reservoir. This 1800'MSL sector extends as far south as the city of Lakeside. Be sure to navigate over the reservoir and do not turn west until you're over Lakeside. Route 67 is a good boundary and you should keep it a good distance to the west of your flight path. As this article is being written, however, there will be a change in this airspace. As of July 1, 1999 there will be a new sliver of Class B airspace which will make this area a little easier to navigate. Look for it on the new Terminal Area Chart due out in the middle of July '99. 

Airport surface operations can be confusing at any airport but with a little familiarity they can become easy. When taxiing from the southwest sections of the airport you will get instructions to cross the inactive 17/35 runway at one of many crossing taxiways with the "short cut" being approved. What they are referring to when they clear you for the "short cut" is a 45°-angle taxiway through the transient ramp, which expedites your trip to either 27L or 27R runways. The crossing taxiways are labeled A1, A2, A3 etc. with A1 starting at the most southerly portion of the airport and terminating at one of the major parallel taxiways, taxiway Delta. I refer to it as a parallel because it runs parallel to the normal active runways 27R/27L. You would also utilize taxiway Delta when taxiing from the west. Further north another major parallel taxiway is called taxiway Charlie. A request for "progressive taxi instructions" will clear up any taxi confusion at any airport. 

If you are a pilot already you probably have heard people say "I've never been to Gillespie" or "I've only been there a couple of times". This is precisely what makes this part country and part city airport, a gem. If you are thinking about getting into the wonderful world of flying, I urge you to give Gillespie a close look, and I am sure you will see the value.

Originally published in San Diego On-Line Magazine, 1998. Tom is an accomplished ATP pilot and instructor who also holds a Master CFI designation. A former coporate pilot, Tom left California Flight Academy earlier this year and is currently in charge of incorporating the latest FAA changes to the ATP Knowledge Test courses at San Diego's King Schools. When not working or flying, you can find Tom involved with his family and tending his 40-acre ranch in the foothills just east of San Diego.