IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

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waynemcc999
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IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by waynemcc999 »


Today Brian -- fresh off his Instrument Checkride -- shoots an approach to minimums. If you fly on the US west coast and are looking for Low IFR, Half Moon Bay (KHAF) is a pretty good bet. Welcome aboard! Wayne, GeezerGeek Pilot
Wayne McClelland
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Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by dmloftus »

Love that approach, done it many times when I lived in San Jose. The marine layer usually gives you just enough room to see the runway at minimums. Always loved seeing Sutro Tower poking through the clouds. Flying the Bay Tour with friends often, we would stop off at KHAF to switch front seat passengers as it was one of the few uncontrolled airports around the Bay. A bit tricky sometimes - it could be totally sunny down in the South Bay, complete muck over the hill in Half Moon Bay. Nice job as usual Wayne! BTW - have they reopened the restaurant there yet?
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waynemcc999
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by waynemcc999 »

dmloftus wrote: Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:43 pm BTW - have they reopened the restaurant there yet?
David, yes they have opened a new restaurant there... and from our sample size of 3 (one omelette and 2 sandwiches) it was very good.
https://pilotlightcafe.com/
Wayne McClelland
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Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by dmloftus »

waynemcc999 wrote: Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:50 pm
dmloftus wrote: Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:43 pm BTW - have they reopened the restaurant there yet?
David, yes they have opened a new restaurant there... and from our sample size of 3 (one omelette and 2 sandwiches) it was very good.
https://pilotlightcafe.com/
Nice - definitely need to stop by there next time I'm on the West Coast.
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by Boatguy »

Meza Luna is also a good restaurant there.

When the marine layer is in, the winds are usually benign. When it's clear, I've experienced some horrible turbulence there. The first clue is if it's a clear day and there is nobody in the pattern!
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by Steve »

I used to fly to KHAF frequently (a good stopping point on the Bay tour with a date) when I was stationed at Moffett Field in the 1980s. The restaurant that was on field back then had HUGE omelets. I often considered whether I had to recalculate W&B after eating there...
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by dmloftus »

Great to buzz down to the Ritz for their firepits and overpriced S'mores. Always needed to watch for traffic coming around the point, many times people flying low down the coast come around the corner north to south unannounced on CTAF. There is a very low segment of the Class Bravo off Daly City that people try to sneak under and are sometimes a hazard if you're flying the pattern at KHAF.
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Re: IFR to Half Moon Bay (Part 1)

Post by waynemcc999 »

dmloftus wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:12 am Always needed to watch for traffic coming around the point, many times people flying low down the coast come around the corner north to south unannounced on CTAF. There is a very low segment of the Class Bravo off Daly City that people try to sneak under and are sometimes a hazard if you're flying the pattern at KHAF.
Yep... 12:48 in the video there's someone flying opposite and 400' above us at 1600' MSL.
Wayne McClelland
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Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
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