Question for Chicago/Milwaukee Controllers

[Baron Pilot]

I fly to West Bend WI (KETB) every year on the day before the EAA Airventure opens. I fly a BE-58 Baron and always file IFR. I would like to fly the route from CGT (Chicago Heights), V7 to PROOT then direct KETB. This would keep me out of KMKE airspace but take me through the Chicago class B. Every year I file this route and ATC clears me as filed but then re-routes me waaaaay west over to Rockford, Janesville and then up to West Bend. Can I cancel IFR at CGT and go VFR through the Class B. If so, what altitude would you want me at.
Thanks for the help.

[captray]

I'm not a controller. From a pilots perspective, as long as you are in VFR conditions you can cancell the IFR.
That being said, why not go over the B airspace? At least then you could go direct. If you go through it, with a clearance,( VFR or IFR ) you must comply with the clearance as it is controlled airspace.

[ogogog]

to put it bluntly, you will never get a Chicago  class B clrn between 5am and 11pm at any altitude, nor will you ever get you V7 routing  ifr OSH or no OSH. your choices are over around or under the B vfr.

[atcman23]

to put it bluntly, you will never get a Chicago  class B clrn between 5am and 11pm at any altitude, nor will you ever get you V7 routing  ifr OSH or no OSH. your choices are over around or under the B vfr.

I would have to agree.  I'm not a controller in Chicago, but for Class B, you're better off IFR otherwise you'll be sent every which way but the way you want to go under VFR.  And again, since you're in Class B airspace, you have to comply with all instructions, VFR or IFR.

[VitoTheBigBear]

The ATC can also forbid the entering in B airspace if you're flying under VFR : I don't know why they would clear you to proceed through this airspace under VFR more than under IFR.
In both case you will have to "obey" the clearance.

[atcman23]

ATC would only deny a request to transition through Class B airspace if they have a reason to justify it.  They can't deny a VFR aircraft's request to transition the airspace for no reason.As long as you're able to fly through it (hold a private pilot's license or a student pilot's license with the appropriate sign off), your request will likely be granted, but then, yes, you'll have to follow all instructions whether or not you like the instruction. 

Also, according to the FARs and the 7110.65, a VFR and IFR aircraft are equal, neither have precedence over the other.  The only time an IFR aircraft would have precedence would be if a Special VFR aircraft was present in the airspace.

[JohnClark]

ATC would only deny a request to transition through Class B airspace if they have a reason to justify it.  They can't deny a VFR aircraft's request to transition the airspace for no reason.As long as you're able to fly through it (hold a private pilot's license or a student pilot's license with the appropriate sign off), your request will likely be granted, but then, yes, you'll have to follow all instructions whether or not you like the instruction. 

I have to say, at least at Dulles (which is a lot less busy than O'Hare but still quite busy) you're not going to get a bravo clearance in the middle of an arrival or a departure bank unless your a lifeguard helicopter or some such. There are simply too many airplanes flying every which way to allow VFRs to start wandering in. In Chicago there's no SFRA, so you can just maintain VFR outside of the bravo without talking with anyone, but I would be very surprised if they rerouted you as an IFR away from the airport, only to allow you into the bravo VFR.