DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Portland Tower
7108 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97218

Issued: 02/14/2014 1851 (UTC) Effective: 02/18/2014 1200 (UTC)
Portland Tower Letter to Airmen: LTA-PDX-1
****Expired****

Subject: VFR Advisory Area at Pearson Field Airport (VUO) Located in Vancouver, Washington

Cancellation: 02/18/2016 1200 (UTC)

A VFR Advisory Area has been established at Pearson Field (VUO) in Vancouver, WA. Pilots should exercise caution when arriving and departing VUO due to the close proximity of Portland International Airport (PDX) (see attached chart). When operating over the VUO runway, or the extended runway centerline, pilots should maintain at or below 700’ MSL due to overflying traffic to and from PDX.

VUO has a 24-hour Class D surface area but there is no Airport Traffic Control Tower at the airport. Pilots should contact Pearson Advisory on VUO Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) 119.0 prior to entering the Class D surface area. Pearson Advisory provides VUO pilots with traffic and wake turbulence advisories about PDX traffic on this frequency.

NOTE- Pearson Advisory does not control VFR aircraft in the VUO Class D surface area.

VUO Airport Recommended Procedures: 

1. Departing pilots:  

    a. Obtain the VUO weather via ASOS 135.125 or by calling (360)696-1280.

    b. Contact Pearson Advisory on 119.0 prior to departing and state intentions.                          

Example - “Pearson Advisory, N7491A at runway eight, departing north along I-5 with the Pearson weather.”

    c. IFR pilots:Use Pearson Advisory 119.0 to request clearance and IFR release from VUO.

2. Arriving pilots:

    a. Obtain the VUO weather.

    b. Contact Pearson Advisory on 119.0 at least five miles from VUO with your position and intentions.

Example - “Pearson Advisory, N7491A over Vancouver Lake, inbound to runway eight with the Pearson weather.”

NOTE - The geographical points of Vancouver Lake, the Freeway Split, and the Confluence are commonly used (see attached chart).

Pilots can expect traffic and wake turbulence advisories on PDX traffic and instructions to remain outside Portland Class C airspace. Pilots can also expect to be advised of the current direction of the PDX traffic flow and should, when safe, operate in the same direction as the PDX flow.

After initial contact with Pearson Advisory, pilots should resume broadcasting their position and intentions on CTAF (119.0) as they would at any uncontrolled airport.

Example – “Pearson traffic, N7491A departing runway eight.”

NOTE - Pilots should not make these position reports on VUO Unicom 123.0.

A Special Notice is published in the Airport/Facility Directory with this information. If you have any questions, please contact Dave Daum, PDX ATCT Support Specialist, at dave.c.daum@faa.gov.


David Keeling
Air Traffic Manager, Portland Tower