Bonanza 36
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 800
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
Over swamp and overwater routes present unnecessary dangers. General aviation aircraft receive IFR route clearances over dangerous areas when transiting to EYW. Prior to flights; pilots who attempt consultations with Miami Center; when seeking safe routing down V3; requests are arbitrarily rejected because of 'traffic conflicts.' Fact: the Western half of the southern end of Florida is a coastal plain non-riverine basin swamp covered with densely populated bald cypress and swamp tupelo trees in standing water that render the terrain virtually un-navigable on foot. Downed aircraft in the Okefenokee Swamp create legendary misfortune. Aircraft; after off-airport landings in the swamp; are virtually swallowed by the dense vegetation making search and rescue problematic; and death more likely than on dry ground. In addition; the large expanse of open ocean; stretching from the western side of FL mainland to the chain of islands constituting the Florida Keys; offers no refuge to downed pilots. Miami Center insists on routing GA aircraft south of MKY down the West coast of Florida toward EYW; and out over 25 NM of open ocean from the mainland to EYW. The only alternative is to overfly the East coast control zones under VFR above 7;000 MSL. That's only available in VMC. VMC is not always available.The coastline route from MKY to EYW violates SAFETY. Travel across the Okefenokee Swamp (Big Cypress/Everglades) violates SAFETY. Neither segment of the routing is necessary; yet Miami Center makes it mandatory. Airports in Eastern Florida; south of F45; use east-west runways that offer ample opportunity for GA overflights on north-south routes to fly directly overhead these airports without interfering with commercial arrivals and departures. ARTCC controllers can easily route GA flights; always over safe terrain; from VRB via V3 to Tavenaero Park thence VPLYY (never to DROWN) thence direct to MTH thence to EYW. Stay over safe terrain. Any other route is a death trap.
BE36 pilot reported ATC will not approve IFR flights to EYW via V3 due to 'traffic conflicts'; requiring flight along the west coast of Florida over swamp and open water. The reporter believes this is not safe.