Ironflight said:
The Houston Approach guys are very accomodating if they have the time,and if they are busy, they aren't malicious, they're just busy!
Sorry Paul, I really didn't mean to imply anything regarding those guys, other than as you said, when they are busy, they are busy! Unfortuneately, my experience has been that they are one of the busier Class B's I've ever flown around, although I will admit having limited experience! I've gotten great service from them at off hours, and I will admit they have some of the funniest controllers I've ever encountered.
However, I have more than once been coming back from BTR at 6500 feet, with Center, 4 miles from Class B airspace, and been told that radar service was terminated, squawk VFR, and to try Houston approach on 1xx.xx! At that point I'm scrambling, trying to figure out how to get down, change direction, etc., before busting Class B airspace. It would probably be different if all I were doing were contacting approach to get access, listening in and evaluating the situation, but when you're with Center, you assume they're going to get the clearance for you, and needless to say, it comes as a bit of a shock when they put you in that close and then pull the plug!
So like you, I recommend that people pick that tangent line early, it really is minimal extra mileage. If you get lucky and get a handoff (assuming you are getting radar services), that's great. If not, you're not scrambling at the last minuite in unfamiliar territory!
FWIW, those guys are great at letting you wander around the downtown area for sightseeing purposes.... you just have to wait untli about 2:00 AM! But it is worth the trip!
Dave