BACKGROUND:  The Dorado VFR Practice Area is located in an area where high performance jet traffic may be descending into San Juan International Airport.  This potential safety risk requires the need for increased awareness on the part of the participants due to the high volume of jet traffic in and around the VFR Practice Area.

 PURPOSE: The purpose of this Letter to Airmen is to advise all participants of the establishment of the Dorado VFR Practice Area (see attachment) in San Juan Combined Control Facility) airspace, and to increase safety in the operations in and around this area.  The procedures and area defined in this letter were the recommendation agreed to by a joint committee of local area flight schools and the FAA.

 The Dorado VFR Practice Area is described as that area bounded on the north by the northern Puerto Rico coastline (18 degrees, 30 minutes north), to the west by the town of Palmas Altas, to the south by the town of Corozal, and to the east by the town of Vega Alta.  The vertical limits are surface to 3,000 feet MSL.

Increased awareness be maintained by all participants while flying in the Practice Area described below due to high traffic volume, and overflying transitioning jet traffic, where wake turbulence may be present.  Use extreme caution and increase outside cockpit vigilance.

 PROCEDURES:   The following procedures will result in increased safety by ensuring vertical separation from overflying jet traffic, alleviating frequency congestion, and improving participant awareness of potential conflicting traffic.

 Pilots transitioning to/from Isla Grande Airport should enter/exit the Practice Area at or below 1200 feet MSL, while remaining clear of San Juan Class C Airspace.

 Pilots operating within the Practice Area should communicate their relative positions to other participants on the air-to air frequency 122.75 MHZ.

  Pilots operating outside the Practice Area may contact San Juan Approach on frequency 119.4, for traffic advisories.

 Local area flight schools may develop more specific procedures and training for the safe operation of practice VFR flight within the Practice Area, to recommend flight paths, entry and exit routes, altitudes, safe practices, etc. which should be mutually coordinated and communicated to all participating pilots.  Periodic analysis of events and operations related to these procedures and any resulting changes and monitoring of improved procedures will serve to continually assure safe operations within the VFR Practice Area.