Re: 4 Feb 2024 SFO diversions

DocLightning wrote:

challeygat300 wrote:

The very very likely scenario is that SLC was the closest suitable option.

OK, but LAX was closer.

Re: White House nominates Michael Whitaker as FAA Administrator

It was a sarcastic suggestion of what’s possible with current and upcoming tech but too radical for a govt agency with a large mission to realistically implement. Network enabled self separation was the vision 20 years ago. May I ask what area of aviation you proudly do work and/or have experience?...

Re: Delta LAX Terminal modernization opening

After T2 CBP reopens, will DL's international flights depart AND arrive at T3? Right now DL 290 for example departs from T3 but DL 291 arrives at TBIT for FIS clearance. Seems inefficient to me because the aircraft will then have to be towed back to T3 for it's next departure. If the international ...

Re: Largest and smallest airports you've ever flown out of

Largest: ORD
2nd largest: ATL
Smallest Commercial: OAJ (Jacksonville, NC)
Smallest: SZP (Santa Paula, CA)

Re: Hurricane Hilary and West Coast Ops Impacts

B747forever wrote:

LOL, just felt an earthquake a few minutes ago. Lovely day, the storm and now some earthquakes on top.

Re: Hurricane Hilary and West Coast Ops Impacts

LAX took at least two diverts from BUR this morning around 10-11am. East ops until early afternoon, winds out of the NNW though pushed over to a normal west flow. Even with heavy precip, pilots weren’t requesting any diversions around weather in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Most of the del...

Re: Hurricane Hilary and West Coast Ops Impacts

LAX right now looks like only the south side ops. It’s like JFK with the evening rush Why is there a massive traffic jam at LAX right now? Looks like the north side is closed for departures. The LA Flights youtube channel is streaming live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRGBNn0jQM Could just be ...

Re: Los Angeles Basin (BUR/LAX/LGB/ONT/SNA) Aviation - 2023

Agreed...LGB has been a challenge for everyone. UA couldn't make SFO work. AA couldn't make DFW/PHX work. AS couldn't make SEA work. DL couldn't make SLC work. WN now has the place essentially to themselves. Who knows about their yields though? Seems like HA has made LGB work as a niche to suppleme...

Re: Los Angeles Basin (BUR/LAX/LGB/ONT/SNA) Aviation - 2023

Lot E at LAX may be coming back to life. Proposal on the next BOAC meeting notes has lot E coming back as LAX Budget parking with lower rates than the Economy structure. Interestingly the report has the economy structure running at or above 80 percent full on most days. Wonder if LAWA might be expa...

Re: Six killed after business jet crashes in California, sparks 'fully involved' fire

For sure, but at what point is all 4/8 of that cloud cover being directly in their flight path, the 4/8 on approach being completely clear; and allowing someone to depart VFR out of a Bravo directly into IMC conditions an abdication of our responsibility as ATC. There is one way to get cleared out o...

Re: Six killed after business jet crashes in California, sparks 'fully involved' fire

From a controller’s perspective. Yesterday, LAX tower. SCT007. All those clouds were on the west end of the airport, technically VFR. Two GA pilots, a caravan and a cirrus. Caravan demanded to depart VFR, with an immediate turnout. We told them unable, you are not getting Bravo clearance but we’d be...

Re: UA's Scott Kirby Rides Private Jet Rather Than UA

Guess some would also be upset if he was riding in UA first or premium economy versus just plain economy. This is exactly it. The only people who are mad at this are professional outrage artists, people who always need to make themselves the victims at any opportunity. The man is the CEO of an airl...

Re: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW/DAL) Aviation - 2023

I've flown DFW-SJC for years connecting to my home base SGF. One thing that has always bugged me is the number of missed connections at DFW each way due to a 30+ min taxi after landing to the gate. I used to pray to the baby Jesus that our landing runway would be a quick 180 back to the terminal, b...

Re: US ATC Specialist - "Good Rate"

I’ll put my 2c in here, I work at a tower on the west coast of the US that has terrible ground congestion. “Expedite” is in the 7110, and if I ever give an expedite, it’s because it’s in order to prevent a collision or near-collision. Issuing an introduction to cross a runway in front of an arrival ...

Re: DL 764, premium routes?

I found the seat cramped and uncomfortable in bed mode (and I'm only 5'6''). I'm 6'0, 212lbs, I've been on them 4 times in the last 6 months.... and find them perfectly fine. Thus, see the issue here? One person's subjective take, in either direction, means all of nothing. So - why is DL still usin...

Re: Washington, DC Airports (BWI, DCA, IAD) - 2023

Having pretty much guaranteed PreCheck doesn't hurt either — since my GE enrollment, I have a 100% success rate for TSA Pre in the hundreds of flights I've taken since then. IAD has plenty of kiosks and two dedicated lanes, so it has always been a smooth and efficient setup. I would even consider i...

Re: Washington, DC Airports (BWI, DCA, IAD) - 2023

Thanks! I missed that! I would assume the "open to below" area will be a mobile lounge dock to take arriving international passengers to either the midfield FIS or the IAB. Yes, I would think so. However, I am curious if a) they will still design for the mobile lounges, or opt for buses (...

Re: LAX Runway 25 departures but Runway 7 arrivals??

You may see some arrivals on 7L and departure off 25R if it’s slow enough in the middle of the night for ATC to accommodate it. FDX will often ask for 7L when it’s VMC, most controllers will approve it so long as there isn’t a plane already taxiing to 25R. Our goal is to minimize delays. I'd imagin...

Re: LAX Runway 25 departures but Runway 7 arrivals??

You may see some arrivals on 7L and departure off 25R if it’s slow enough in the middle of the night for ATC to accommodate it.

FDX will often ask for 7L when it’s VMC, most controllers will approve it so long as there isn’t a plane already taxiing to 25R. Our goal is to minimize delays.

Re: Southwest delays 800 flights nationwide, ground stop announced (computer issue)

“Southwest Airlines requested the FAA pause the airline’s departures. Naive question: Why ask the FAA? Can't the airline pause itself? Is this the standard procedure? It’s because it’s the only immediate way to ensure 100% compliance. Within just minutes of WN making that decision, every air traffi...

Re: Airline Pilot Trip Report # 5 (BOS, BWI, DCA, SYR, BTV, BDL & PIT)

Thank you so much for these reports you do. As a controller this is the closest thing to a flight deck ride I can get to better understand what all you’re doing on the other side of the mic. I know you guys used to be able to jumpseat, or do observation flights. Is that still a thing? What type of ...

Re: Airline Pilot Trip Report # 5 (BOS, BWI, DCA, SYR, BTV, BDL & PIT)

Thank you so much for these reports you do. As a controller this is the closest thing to a flight deck ride I can get to better understand what all you’re doing on the other side of the mic.

Re: AA transcon…pillow or blanket?

They do not. Absent a “premium transcon” in business or first class, there are no amenities at all.

Re: Los Angeles Basin (BUR/LAX/LGB/ONT/SNA) Aviation - 2023

WN and LAWA have a item on the next BOAC meeting were WN will be getting a 700, 000 sq ft ground lease of up to 30 years for the construction and operation of concourse 0. According to the linked agenda item C0 will have a net gain of 9 ADG III gate and 2 ADG III 'parking spots' and will be equippe...

Re: What’s the toughest/most challenging large commercial airport for pilots to land at?

Starlionblue wrote:

Florianopolis wrote:

May I rephrase this question? Which airport is the most likely to lead to a call from your FOQA folks?

Anywhere ATC keeps you high and/or likes to maintain the same runway even with significant tailwind on final.

Re: FedEx forecasts weaker demand, may park some planes

In terms of late packages, is anyone familiar with how far a drive it is from ONT to the most densely populated parts of Los Angeles? I would think being so close to the west side and downtown would be a competitive advantage at LAX.

Re: Ground Stop in Florida

Just so everyone is aware, any time the government shuts down the majority of FAA modernization projects have to be shelved. Even if the shutdown lasts two days it can set things back by weeks if not months.

It may be stupid, but it is the law.

Re: EWR Airport redevelopment

Something to remember about end arounds, they need a lot of space, and often times cannot be used by heavy jets due to tail height with departing aircraft. Somewhere like ATL where it’s down a hill or DFW where it’s a mile past the runway end, it works great. Don’t know if the construction is worth ...

Re: The CFP National Championship ATL-JFK-LAX-JFK-ATL (Pics, Very Long)

I love that you got to see LAX in east flow, the day of the BCS championship was a bit of a cluster for ATC at LAX with a massive influx of business jets that the FBOs were unprepared for.

Re: Runway Incursion at JFK 1/13/23

I just want to add as an ATCS at the west coast counterpart to JFK. When things like this happen (runway incursion with someone rolling, maybe not quite as close but still very dangerous) we, as controllers, fill out an ATSAP report after listening to the recording and video. We also suggest the pil...

Re: LAX Taxiway Collision 10 Feb 2023: AA tug pulling A321 and LAX bus

Apparently 4-5 people on the bus were hurt. This could have been very, very bad for those in the bus. According to the management report at LAWA BOAC meeting today, the driver was cited by Airport PD for failure to yield to an aircraft Are these buses on frequency? They're traversing movement areas...

Re: NTSB investigating runway incursion by United 777 in Honolulu

The reason it’s an incursion is that the Cessna has to be at taxi speed or committed to a runway exit before anyone can cross the runway in front. It sounds based on the linked article that the controller instructed the UAL 777 to hold short and they did not. I can’t speak for pilots, but at my airp...

Re: LAX Taxiway Collision 10 Feb 2023: AA tug pulling A321 and LAX bus

At LAX the vehicles have stop signs at every taxiway and are supposed to yield to all aircraft. It’s a common occurrence to have a pilot or tug operator complain of a cut-off. Not sure what the solution is besides having the vehicle drivers actually stop and look around before going. A lot of them s...

Re: Los Angeles Basin (BUR/LAX/LGB/ONT/SNA) Aviation - 2023

Odd to see ONT in east/reverse ops today under cloudless/unlimited visibility/calm wind conditions! If the winds are less than 8 knots out of the west ONT will run the noise abatement CONTRA operation. Between 10pm and 7am all arrivals land RWY26L/R all JET departures will depart RWY8L/R. Oddly eno...

Re: Runway Incursion at JFK 1/13/23

Sorry Nicoeddf, but this was a serious event that bears significant scrutiny. Had the DL aircraft that departed before the incident aircraft not been a widebody, and thus had a longer interval before the incident aircraft could depart, this could have been an actual metal-bending event. I disagree ...

Re: Runway Incursion at JFK 1/13/23

ATC nor anyone in the ATC side of the FAA has the authority to order a plane back to the gate or otherwise detain a crew. When the captain calls the tower, the supervisor will get some information from them to forward to QA/ QC and the FSDO, who will then begin an investigation of the incident. In ...

Re: Runway Incursion at JFK 1/13/23

ATC nor anyone in the ATC side of the FAA has the authority to order a plane back to the gate or otherwise detain a crew. When the captain calls the tower, the supervisor will get some information from them to forward to QA/ QC and the FSDO, who will then begin an investigation of the incident. In a...

Re: Los Angeles Basin (BUR/LAX/LGB/ONT/SNA) Aviation - 2023

Reverse Ops/Easterly Operations are in progress at LAX. KLAX 031953Z 08015G20KT 8SM SCT008 OVC014 13/11 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01330111 Expected to continue through til Thursday most likely based on forecasts. KLAX 041937Z 0420/0524 12008KT 2SM -RA BR OVC005 FM042100 13014KT 2SM -RA BR SCT008 OVC015...

Re: Los Angeles Basin (BUR/LAX/LGB/ONT/SNA) Thread - 2023

rjbesikof wrote:

When will the T3-TBIT connector open? And will it have an intl arrivals corridor underneath like AA has from T4 to TBIT.

Re: What current commercial plane would describe as “iconic”?

Boeing 777-300ER

It’s the only plane that makes the floor of my tower heavily vibrate when it departs. Gorgeous wing, gorgeous engines, love the silhouette as she leaps into the sky at sunset.

Re: Non-Operational Reasons That Seats Might Be Held Back From Sale (United Express)

Could very likely be 15 pax who have purchased tickets but don’t want to pay a dime for United’s “premium seats”

Those seats will show open on the on line seat map because they have not been assigned but the flight may be sold out.

Re: International Flights' Listed Alternate Airport Questions

To add, air traffic control, in the FAA at least, does not have any knowledge of a flight’s filed alternate. There can only be one clearance limit for an IFR aircraft and it it typically an airport where a full stop landing is expected to terminate the flight plan. In the case of weather below an ai...

Re: Delta LAX Terminal modernization opening

I’ve been in every terminal in LAX in the past year. T1 is okay, TSA seems to want to direct people towards the 1.5 checkpoint. T1.5 is great. Tons of space for security, escalators to the bus gates, easy post security access to 1 and 2. T2 is a clusterf*** way overcrowded too many gates and concess...

Re: DL adds new TATL for S23

When does LAX T3 open to it’s designed full capacity? I think I read it will only have 9 gates, which seems less than the renderings but also makes sense given the area it occupies and if they plan to have a couple widebody capable gates. I assume they will be able to park some 767 and larger at T2...

Re: Triple-Simultaneous Landings

The apparent benefit of the past practice of asking aircraft to fly alongside each other to the 28s was it helped with the departure rate off the 1s. As it is now, though, if the arrivals get strung out a bit, it delays the departures from the 1s until both "landers" are clearing the runw...

Re: EWR displaced threshold

The likely reason for the displaces thresholds.. the original runways were shorter, the ILS, etc were build and installed and tested per the smaller runways. Aircraft typically need more runway length to depart than to land, so extending the length for departing aircraft but not arriving aircraft is...

Re: Parallel Runway Ops

Source: I am a controller at LAX. We don’t have to apply SSDO, the runway centerlines are all far enough apart to not need it. To the OP’s question, we are not waiting for the arrival to land or be short final before we depart an aircraft off the parallel. We are waiting for appropriate IFR separati...

Re: Morning Consult: 40% of former U.S. road warriors expect to never travel for work again.

I've travelled more for work this year than any of the previous 10 or so...it's getting to a point where I am getting a tad tired. And FWIW, I haven't really seen the doom and gloom in airports domestically. The few trips I took abroad (Central America & Europe) were fairly easy to navigate as ...

Re: Triple-Simultaneous Landings

We'll just assume you mean 30. I guess they could, but it'd take some careful timing from ATC - they have to protect the go-arounds - someone coming up off the 19s would be crossing the approach path or over points where someone landing on 30 could be approaching or pop up. There would be convergin...

Re: NY airport delays--ATC 'sickout'?

This is hypothetical but hear me out. A typical operation might have four sectors/scopes in an area. The area is supposed to have eight people on the shift to allow for some scopes to have a “d-side” or handoff, basically an assist who can coordinate things and do an extra scan of all the traffic. N...