ECAC Practice Areas

East Coast Aero Club Bedford has established practice areas for training flights.

  • Practice area #1 is to the northwest of Hanscom Airfield.
  • Practice area #2 is to the southwest of Hanscom Airfield.

Practice Area #1 Northwest of Hanscom Airfield

Practice area #1 is to the northwest of Hanscom Airfield. The practice area begins approximately five miles outside of the Hanscom Class D airspace – ten miles miles from the airport. This can be recognized be crossing highway 495 in the area of Littleton Common.

Practice area #1 – Northwest of Hanscom Airfield.

Pilots must be aware of and stay clear of:

  1. The Pepperell Parachute Jump Area to the north of the practice area
  2. The restricted area 4102 A & B

Pilots must also be aware of and avoid:

  1. Jet traffic transitioning along highway i495 northbound at around 3,000′ MSL setting up for approach to Bedford runway 29 (shown)
  2. Jet traffic on straight in approach for runway 11

For flight to the northwest practice area – ECAC pilots must request a northwest departure and exit the Hanscom class D airspace before climbing to an altitude of 3000′ MSL. This is required in order to allow aircraft returning from the training area to safely transit back to and re-enter the Hanscom class D airspace at 2,500 MSL for separation purposes. (as shown)

When practical, all training flights will check in on 123.5 and announce their present position while en-route to the area.  This check-in will made 5 NM prior to the practice airspace. 

State your current altitude, where you expect to work and the expected altitude block.
Example: “ECAC traffic, [green and white warrior] 3,000 feet, over 495 / Littleton Common. Heading to  practice area for airwork 1,500′ to 3,000 over Moore.”

When departing the area, state “[green and white warrior] , departing the area from over (495 and route 2 or Lowell or Chelmsford), at 2,500′ last call.”

Practice Area #2 West / Southwest of Hanscom Airfield

Practice area #2 is to the southwest of Hanscom Airfield. The practice area begins approximately five miles outside of the Hanscom Class D airspace – ten miles miles from the airport. This can be recognized be crossing highway 495 in the area of Hudson. Minuteman Airport is a good landmark to use while navigating to the practice area.

Practice area #2 – Southwest of Hanscom Airfield.

For flight to the southwest practice area – ECAC pilots must request a southwest departure and exit the Hanscom class D airspace before climbing to an altitude of 3000′ MSL. This is required in order to allow aircraft returning from the training area to safely transit back to and re-enter the Hanscom class D airspace at 2,500 MSL for separation purposes. (shown below)

Pilots must be aware of and stay clear of:

  1. The restricted area 4102 A & B (as shown)
  2. Transmitter / Antenna (2048′ MSL) to the south end of the Wachusett Reservoir
  3. DREEM intersection.
  4. The Worcester (KORH) Class D Airspace
  5. Jet traffic on straight in approach for runway 11
  6. Jet traffic transitioning along highway i495 northbound at around 3,000′ MSL setting up for approach into Bedford
  7. Be on constant look out for glider activity in the area!

When practical, all training flights will check in on 123.5 and announce their present position while en-route to the area.  This check-in will made 5 NM prior to the practice airspace. 

State your current altitude, where you expect to work and the expected altitude block.
Example: “ECAC traffic, [green and white warrior] 3,000 feet, over Minuteman. Heading to  practice area for airwork 1,500′ to 3,000 over Wachusett Reservoir / Orchard.”

When departing the area, state “[green and white warrior] , departing the area from over (495 and Minuteman), at 2,500′ last call.”

It is of the utmost importance to understand the high level of flight activity that takes place in the practice areas as ECAC is not the only flight school using them. 

DREEM intersection is just off the West end of the Wachusett Reservoir.  You can expect to encounter high-speed aircraft en-route to Hanscom from DREEM intersection, usually at / above 5,000’msl, however, aircraft at altitudes as low as 3,000 MSL may be encountered.

It is essential that proper clearing and look out methods during ALL phases of flight

  • Minuteman Airport (6B6) is a VFR reporting point. This is also a high traffic area. ATC has requested that pilots remain North or South of the runway 11 / 29 centerline when returning to Hanscom.
  • Return to KBED Hanscom at 2,500′ MSL from inside of route 495. 
  • Customers are required to possess a current Boston Terminal Area Chart (TAC) which gives greater detail of the practice areas and is more useful on local area cross-country flights.
  • Customers will know where airways are in relationship to the practice areas and make every effort to practice maneuvers at least 4 NM from the airway centerline