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Low flying commercial jets
Bear with me as I'm not a pilot (someday?) and my
experiences are based on flight sims. Also, I don't know if this is the best group to ask, but I've been lurking here for a couple months and you guys seem like a nice bunch. I live a couple miles due east of Los Alamitos Air Station (KSLI) in North Orange County, CA. Being an aviation nut I enjoy the semi-regular F-18's and occasional cargo planes flying overhead. However, tonight, and on a couple other occasions in the past few months, at around 9-10 PMish there have been some commercial jets flying extremely low. The first time I saw it I thought it was on final to Los Al. It was at about the right altitude. They were flying west towards the station but just before getting there, instead of turning left to land on 22 they turned right a bit to avoid the station altogether and seemed to head towards LAX. I have followed the planes in my binocs as far as I could and they seemed to be headed that way. BTW, I'm about 24 miles from LAX. What I find odd is their extremely low altitude this far from LAX. The plane tonight looked like an MD80 or similar and was so low that the wingspan was about the same as a fist held at arms length. It was easy to see the flaps down and other features even though it was night. There was only the one aircraft tonight but on previous occasions there would be as many as 5-6 over a 30 minute period all on the same route. Normally there is nothing flying around here that low that isn't going into Los Al. Most times the F-18's are turning from base to final over my head. So my question is for anyone familiar with the area what the deal might be? I'm not concerned. Just extremely curious. Thanks for any comments. Brian -- http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy Home of the Seismic FAQ http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes? |
#2
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"Skywise" wrote in message ... Bear with me as I'm not a pilot (someday?) and my experiences are based on flight sims. Also, I don't know if this is the best group to ask, but I've been lurking here for a couple months and you guys seem like a nice bunch. I live a couple miles due east of Los Alamitos Air Station (KSLI) in North Orange County, CA. Being an aviation nut I enjoy the semi-regular F-18's and occasional cargo planes flying overhead. However, tonight, and on a couple other occasions in the past few months, at around 9-10 PMish there have been some commercial jets flying extremely low. The first time I saw it I thought it was on final to Los Al. It was at about the right altitude. They were flying west towards the station but just before getting there, instead of turning left to land on 22 they turned right a bit to avoid the station altogether and seemed to head towards LAX. I have followed the planes in my binocs as far as I could and they seemed to be headed that way. BTW, I'm about 24 miles from LAX. What I find odd is their extremely low altitude this far from LAX. The plane tonight looked like an MD80 or similar and was so low that the wingspan was about the same as a fist held at arms length. It was easy to see the flaps down and other features even though it was night. There was only the one aircraft tonight but on previous occasions there would be as many as 5-6 over a 30 minute period all on the same route. Normally there is nothing flying around here that low that isn't going into Los Al. Most times the F-18's are turning from base to final over my head. So my question is for anyone familiar with the area what the deal might be? I'm not concerned. Just extremely curious. Thanks for any comments. Brian Maybe LAX needs more noise complaints for additional FAA money. |
#3
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Skywise wrote...
Bear with me as I'm not a pilot (someday?) and my experiences are based on flight sims. Also, I don't know if this is the best group to ask, but I've been lurking here for a couple months and you guys seem like a nice bunch. I live a couple miles due east of Los Alamitos Air Station (KSLI) in North Orange County, CA. Being an aviation nut I enjoy the semi-regular F-18's and occasional cargo planes flying overhead. However, tonight, and on a couple other occasions in the past few months, at around 9-10 PMish there have been some commercial jets flying extremely low. The first time I saw it I thought it was on final to Los Al. It was at about the right altitude. They were flying west towards the station but just before getting there, instead of turning left to land on 22 they turned right a bit to avoid the station altogether and seemed to head towards LAX. I have followed the planes in my binocs as far as I could and they seemed to be headed that way. BTW, I'm about 24 miles from LAX. What I find odd is their extremely low altitude this far from LAX. The plane tonight looked like an MD80 or similar and was so low that the wingspan was about the same as a fist held at arms length. It was easy to see the flaps down and other features even though it was night. There was only the one aircraft tonight but on previous occasions there would be as many as 5-6 over a 30 minute period all on the same route. Normally there is nothing flying around here that low that isn't going into Los Al. Most times the F-18's are turning from base to final over my head. So my question is for anyone familiar with the area what the deal might be? I'm not concerned. Just extremely curious. Thanks for any comments. Brian Hi Brian, I live south east of Los Al in Westminster around the 22 freeway at Knott. I didn't notice planes doing this over the weekend, but I have seen low flying airliners over the house several times. Most of the time, these guys seem to be going in to Long Beach. A lot of the time I noticed this was when they had closed runway 12-30 for construction over the past year or so, and would land on 25L/25R. The path you describe sure doesn't sound like LGB, but I thought I'd bring it up as an option. An odd pattern onto LGB runway 12 maybe? -Tony p.s. I love that military iron flying the pattern over my house too! |
#4
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wrote in :
Snipola Hi Brian, I live south east of Los Al in Westminster around the 22 freeway at Knott. I'm in Stanton south of Katella between Beach & Western. I didn't notice planes doing this over the weekend, but I have seen low flying airliners over the house several times. Most of the time, these guys seem to be going in to Long Beach. A lot of the time I noticed this was when they had closed runway 12-30 for construction over the past year or so, and would land on 25L/25R. The path you describe sure doesn't sound like LGB, but I thought I'd bring it up as an option. An odd pattern onto LGB runway 12 maybe? Looking at the map in my flight sim I see that if they were to continue due west they could intercept the ILS for 30 at LGB, but it'd be close to the middle marker. That would make for a sharp 45 degrees to the right to get lined up on a short final. Or they could get 25L/R as you suggest. However, the planes that I followed all turned to the north. But here in the city the horizon is so close due to ground clutter that I may not be seeing them very far. I can see how they could be making a dogleg to the north to get lined up for 25L/R. -Tony p.s. I love that military iron flying the pattern over my house too! Me too. Back in the early 80's when I was a kid I lived in Utah for a couple years and we were under the pattern for Hill AFB. That's where I got hooked. I got to the point where I could tell you what plane it was and how many there were just by the sound. I used to watch the F-16's come in in groups of four and peel off to enter the pattern. I've always dreamed of getting my license someday but lack of $$$ get's in the way. Brian -- http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy Home of the Seismic FAQ http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes? |
#5
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On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 06:58:47 -0000, Skywise
wrote: Bear with me as I'm not a pilot (someday?) and my experiences are based on flight sims. Also, I don't know if this is the best group to ask, but I've been lurking here for a couple months and you guys seem like a nice bunch. I live a couple miles due east of Los Alamitos Air Station (KSLI) in North Orange County, CA. Being an aviation nut I enjoy the semi-regular F-18's and occasional cargo planes flying overhead. However, tonight, and on a couple other occasions in the past few months, at around 9-10 PMish there have been some commercial jets flying extremely low. The first time I saw it I thought it was on final to Los Al. It was at about the right altitude. They were flying west towards the station but just before getting there, instead of turning left to land on 22 they turned right a bit to avoid the station altogether and seemed to head towards LAX. I have followed the planes in my binocs as far as I could and they seemed to be headed that way. BTW, I'm about 24 miles from LAX. I believe what you are seeing are commercial jets going into Long Beach. If you get on DUATS and call up info on Long Beach airport, they are currently working on the main runway, 30/12 at night, and are using the VOR approach to 25/7 while the work is in progress. The work is being done from 10PM to 5AM local time. Ron |
#6
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OP wrote in :
Snipola I believe what you are seeing are commercial jets going into Long Beach. If you get on DUATS and call up info on Long Beach airport, they are currently working on the main runway, 30/12 at night, and are using the VOR approach to 25/7 while the work is in progress. The work is being done from 10PM to 5AM local time. Ron Thank you Ron and others for your input. The first time it happend I was a bit concerned. My thought was "what the hell is a commercial jet doing that low HERE?" But after a few more planes I figured it had to be something normal and OK. I can see now how they'd be going into Long Beach as you describe. From my house you'd have to jog north to line up on 25. I hadn't realized that Long Beach was actually a bit north of me in latitude. I thought it was further south hence my presumption that they were turning north to LAX. Brian -- http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy Home of the Seismic FAQ http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes? |
#7
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I can see now how they'd be going into Long Beach as you describe. From my house you'd have to jog north to line up on 25. I hadn't realized that Long Beach was actually a bit north of me in latitude. I thought it was further south hence my presumption that they were turning north to LAX. Brian LGB it is. I go there all the time and they are doing a visual circling approach. Pretty wild from the back. So much so the capt warns everyone before hand. Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#8
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"Don Hammer" schrieb im Newsbeitrag ... I can see now how they'd be going into Long Beach as you describe. From my house you'd have to jog north to line up on 25. I hadn't realized that Long Beach was actually a bit north of me in latitude. I thought it was further south hence my presumption that they were turning north to LAX. Brian LGB it is. I go there all the time and they are doing a visual circling approach. Pretty wild from the back. So much so the capt warns everyone before hand. Not to doubt your experience, but why would the captain "warn everyone beforehand" of a visual approach? In my short career as as professional pilot I've flown visuals into Thessaloniki, Hamburg and Tripoli and we certainly didn't think it necessary to "warn" anyone. Mike |
#9
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Not to doubt your experience, but why would the captain "warn everyone beforehand" of a visual approach? In my short career as as professional pilot I've flown visuals into Thessaloniki, Hamburg and Tripoli and we certainly didn't think it necessary to "warn" anyone. Mike Mike, My life has been in corporate aviation, but I ride in excess of 100,000 mi/year on the airlines. It really doesn't make a difference which aircraft I'm in, there are always some white-knuckle types in the back. I imagine that this crew and many of the passengers have for years made straight-in approaches to LGB. Even with the warning, you could hear the concerns from many as the roof tops zoomed past the right windows. Something was not normal and they kew it. I can tell you that even though we had seasoned passengers, we used to warn the pax prior to going into the old Hong Kong airport. Why? It was just the courtous thing to do. Was there some requirement for us gods in the cockpit have to do it? Hell no. For my part, I appreciate it when the pilots understand what their job is all about. It isn't just getting a machine from point A to B; the autopilot can handle that. The real reason we have a job is to provide safe, efficient, and pleasurable transportation to the folks that pay for us to have fun in the front. don |
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