Showing posts with label LAX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LAX. Show all posts

Aamazing LAX landing

Saturday, February 19, 2011 Unknown

This is an amazing video of a commercial plane landing at dusk into Los Angeles International Airport. The video has been edited and sped up fitting all the action into under 5 minutes. I like the music -its very fitting with the LA sound and theme. Others hate the music!

The plane comes in from the northwest into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 


First up, the downwind leg is entered over the Santa Monica  VOR (VHF omnidirectional radio range) station.


Then, the flight  follows approximately the 10 freeway. Then a base leg turn is made along the 710, and final approach into runway 24R parallels the 105 Freeway.


Initial altitude is 10,000 feet (3 000 metres).


Enjoy.
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Across the Pacific the "Friendly Way"

Saturday, August 07, 2010 Unknown
The flights between Australia and the USA are considered to amongst the longest non stops in the world. For example at 7921 miles (12, 748 kilometres), the 15.25 hour Los Angeles to Melbourne is the fifth longest scheduled flight in the world


I have flown from Australia to the West Coast of the USA/Canada 21 times and I have flown back 17 times. (No, I have not stayed in the US 4 times...thats the consequence of my favourite ticket:- the Round the World Ticket.

So in total I have had 38 Pacific crossings by air.

I have done a crossing in either direction five times with Air New Zealand, once with Air Canada, twice with Continental (who no longer fly it) and twice with the friendly skies (United). This means Qantas 26 crossings!

Today Crossing Number 39 is with United...I have not flown them on this sector since 1995!

Having got a super cheap fare, I used my points to apply for an upgrade to Business and thats where the fun began. I was waitlisted for the upgrade, then it was confirmed! Yippee! When I got to the airport, however, I found out that I had lost it again! There were now 12 passengers waiting for 3 seats. The nice thing was that the Melbourne Check in supervisor personally came down to apologise to me for the lack of upgrade. She did say that there was a possibility out of SYD still (1 in 4 chance!)

Booking 10/10
Web-site 10/10
Reservations Telephone staff  10/10
Check In:  United 10/10

Security: United 10/10 -  I got an Express Pass which got me through security in a few minutes...only glitch was when my Vegemite (savoury spread used by Australians on toast) was confiscated under the liquid, gels, rule.  I knew about perfumes, water, moisturiser etc but vegemite!!!!!!!!! A completely sealed jar!!! Apparently one can smuggle explosives in it! But up to now, I did not consider how dangerous the world considers Australian Vegemite!

United have their own lounge for its frequent frequent flyers. Its adequate with free wifi but NOT a patch on Qantas! Still free food and drinks before a flight is appreciated. Staff were very friendly and welcoming! Thanks team!

Breakfast was rubbery sausages, runny scrambled eggs, nice fresh fruit, toast (honeys, jams and vegemite!!!!!!)

Check out Part Two where I discover the not so friendly skies with United on the first leg of my flight 
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LAX-SYD on A380

Sunday, July 11, 2010 Unknown

I have waited a long time to give the Qantas (QF) A380 a go. My Singapore Airlines (SQ) A380 experience was in Nov, 2009 so was very very excited to finally have the QF experience. It has been 28 years 1 week since I first flew in a 747 the other jumbo of the skies. Today was my 632nd flight in my life and my 210th with Qantas.

My experience was improved when Qantas upgraded me at Check in from Economy to Premium Economy (thanks Qantas!). This put me in the upper deck in seat 38K - I think the best seat on the plane. Huge amount of legroom! (It did put me at the end of Upper deck de-planing though which may be an issue for some. When I land @ LAX, I like to be off ASAP to get into the horrible immigration lines faster).

I was on Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh (one of QF founders), Reg No: VH-OQ.(photo here)

Take off out of LAX was MARVELOUS. The A380 clearly loves to fly. We trundled smoothly out onto the runway after a jerky pushback. Then we moved onto the main runway for takeoff. With not a lot of fuss, engines fired up and we rolled down the runway picking up speed before a gentle leap into the Los Angeles sky.

The seat was wonderful. The service fantastic and food superb. On Board Customer Service Manager Kim personally welcomed me as a Platinum (NB to Qantas and other airlines, I like the welcome and I remember it when it does and doesn't happen) She arranged for a tour of the whole plane (including a peek into First). Thank you!

It is a beautiful plane inside ( I still think the 747 looks better externally). Prior to the A380 launch, Qantas said: "We think it will be the best in the sky and when people see it on board they will be bowled over." I was not bowled over by the Economy sections especially the Green coloured seats in the middle section. In addiiton, the on-board Business lounge area is rather underwhelming. The feeling of spaciousness is, however, marvellous.

The A380 compared to the 747 is so quiet-some pilots have actually complained its too quiet.

Onboard entertainment worked well (I also worked!). I would like a simpler indexing system which lists all shows and which channel they are on as I find scrolling through menu after menu a little annoying.

609am landing into a darkened Sydney was very smooth. We first wandered all over the Sydney sky (probably while waiting for a landing slot after curfew lifts at 0600). We came in over Kurnell and Botany Bay landing gently Northwards on Main North/South Runway 34L.

A smooth immigration intake using the Smartgate, followed by quick luggage delivery, straight forward quarantine process meant I was through in the terminal in under an hour (including duty free shopping). The messy domestic transfer process was its usual disaster. The Qantas check in agents under pressure were a little snappy (no seat changes here we dont have time). Yeah its better than Heathrow or New York but its horrible.

Breakfast with my friend Melody in the Domestic Business lounge before my onward flight (QF 419) to MEL made the morning perfect!

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