Pilot Training Workshop: IFR Flight Planning & TEC Routes

The name is somewhat comical. “Tower Enroute Control” has nothing to do with control towers and is generally designed to keep you in TRACON airspace, specifically so you won’t have to talk to Enroute controllers.

Names aside, though, TEC routes are awesome (no, really!) and this week, you’ll find out just how useful they are, and why they’re designed the way they are.

Socal has one of the most comprehensive TEC route structures in the country, allowing you to actually pick up IFR on the ground to far away destinations without filing in advance. Unfortunately, TEC routes have limited geographic coverage, so we’ll also use the time to talk about some general flight planning techniques that will maximize your chances of getting cleared as filed when flying in California airspace.