Today marks the “unofficial start of Summer” here in the US. That means we’re just a few months away from #SpotLAX2026! As a reminder, this year’s event will be held September 18th-20th. 

Beautiful sunset views at the rooftop spotting party.

The post Important #SpotLAX2026 Info For You! appeared first on NYCAviation.

As usual, we’ve once again partnered with Brett Snyder’s Cranky Dorkfest, which will be held on Saturday, September 19th. For more information on that portion of the weekend, head over to crankyflier.com.

We’ll have lots more information in the coming months. Info on our room block at the H Hotel Los Angeles will be released in the spring. Tickets for the Friday evening rooftop party will go on sale next summer.

We have a few exciting things we are working on for next year’s gathering, and we look forward to sharing those with you as the event gets closer.

As always, many thanks to our Ambassadors and sponsors who make this event possible. And thanks to all of you for your continued interest in this event! 

The post Mark Your Calendars for #SpotLAX2026! appeared first on NYCAviation.

First off, a note on activities. SpotLAX was initially conceived as an informal gathering of planespotters, and that spirit largely remains today. It’s an event where groups of friends both new and old gather to chat, enjoy the aviation ambiance, and take photos. We want all to feel welcomed at #SpotLAX2025, especially our new attendees. Please feel free to jump in and join the conversation. While some of us may gather like we’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in a year, we all look forward to meeting new faces each year as much as we enjoy seeing old ones.

Once again this year, JetTip will be free for LAX the entire weekend so you can keep tabs on the best aircraft to arrive and depart. Also, make sure you grab an aircraft checklist from JetTip’s Nick Benson. Its a fun way to keep track of all the different airlines and aircraft types you see this weekend. 

If you have any questions during the weekend, just ask one of our SpotLAX Ambassadors.

Notices

This year’s #SpotLAX2025 Ambassadors are: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, JL Johnson, Jillian Johnson, Nick Benson, Glenn Beltz, Tom Rainey, Kent Mattheson, Henry Griffiths, Annie Kwan, Sean Whisenhunt, Connor McCauley, Claudi Sayers, and Peter Melander. Please reach out to any of them, or to Ben Granucci and Heather Abbott with any questions or concerns.

Any updates we make as #SpotLAX2025 approaches will be posted here,

You can join our email newsletter for updates during the weekend and about future events.

Join the SpotLAX WhatsApp Chat here!

Getting Around

In addition to rental cars, taxis, and private rideshare services, there are a couple other options to get around the LAX area. A couple of bus routes offer low cost transportation from the LAX Transit Center to various locations around the airport. There is also an inexpensive public rideshare option. Check out our new LAX Public Transportation page for a summary. As of 2025, the bus routes now operate out of the LAX/Metro Transit Center on Aviation Blvd.

Popular Spotting Locations Around LAX

There are several popular spotting locations around LAX. Details on many of them can be found in our recently updated LAX Spotting Guide.

Not in the guide is the roof deck at the H Hotel Los Angeles, home of our room block this year as well as the Rooftop Spotting Party on Friday evening. The elevated view from the roof deck on the 12th floor of the H Hotel is hard to beat. Arrivals on Runway 24R are nearly level with you as they approach the runway. You also have an excellent overhead view of Runway 24L and can see down the length of the runway. Though often backlit, there are also views of arrivals and departures on the south side of the airport. You’ll want at least a 300mm to 400mm lens up here. An even longer lens can work as well. The photo to the left was taken with an almost fully extended Sigma 150-600mm lens.

Access to the roof deck is reserved for hotel guests. They may have day passes available, inquire at the front desk. There are restrooms on the 12th floor. There is a coffee shop and a bar on the first floor, as well as a Subway outside the rear entrance.

Events

Friday, September 12

6:30am – 4:00pm: Spotting All Day!

Enjoy the various spotting locations around LAX. Meet up with friends and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the airport. The Flight Path Museum on Imperial Highway near Qantas Cargo is open from noon until 4:00pm. The H Overlook roof deck at the H Hotel opens for guests at 6:30am.

4:00pm – 9:00pm: SOLD OUT #SpotLAX2025 Rooftop Spotting Party
Returning for its third year is the Friday evening Rooftop Spotting Party presented with our friends at Airline Videos Live. It will be held on the roof of the H Hotel Los Angeles (6151 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045).  This event is open to all and gives the perfect opportunity to meet new friends, renew friendships and with the ambiance of landing and taking off aircraft in the background, spend an evening talking all subjects aviation. This is a ticketed event that is sold out. We do not anticipate having any walk-up tickets available this year. Registration will open at 3:30pm. Thanks to Gemini Jets for their thoughtful support of the Rooftop Party

Saturday, September 13

6:30am – 11:00am: Morning Spotting

Enjoy that golden early morning light! Cargo and flights from Australia are the highlights of the first hour. Flights from Asia and South America are highlights of the rest of the morning.  

8:00am – 11:00am: Cranky Dorkfest Ramp Visit

Returning for its third year is the ramp visit at the Flight Path Museum. This event is at capacity, and the waitlist is now closed.

11:00am: Cranky Dorkfest
Crankyflier’s annual Cranky Dorkfest will be held at In-n-Out Burger (9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045).  A chance to meet up with all the weekend’s attendees with aircraft of all sizes buzzing overhead. This year, raffle tickets will not be handed out on the day of the event, you must pre-register in order to win. RSVP by Wednesday, September 10th to be eligible for the raffle. No pre-registration is needed in order to attend. For more information on Cranky Dorkfest, click here.

1:00pm – 4:30pm: Afternoon Spotting

Pick the location of your choice around LAX. You’re sure to run into some other spotters while you’re there.

4:30pm – 8:30pm: Annual #SpotLAX2025 Dinner and Raffle

By popular demand, we’ve once again reserved the patio behind The Proud Bird for this year’s dinner. In order to avoid long waits to order and receive food and drinks this year, we strongly recommend ordering food early this year. Please be kind the Proud Bird’s staff, as we are a much larger group than they typically have in the restaurant on an already busy Saturday evening.

Thanks to JetTip, Flightradar24, The Weekly Departure, Gabe Resendez, and Mike Daus, among many others for their generous raffle prize donations. The Proud Bird is open until 9pm on Saturday evening.

8:00pm – 10:00pm: LAX After Dark

Grab your tripod and your fast lenses, and enjoy one of the most photogenic airports at night! Imperial Hill, In-N-Out Burger, and the H Hotel Roof Deck all provide great and varied opportunities for nighttime photography.

Sunday, September 14th

6:30am – 9:00am: Early Morning Spotting

Catch your favorite arrivals from Asia, Australia, South America, and more!

9:00am – 11:00am: Donuts on the Hill, Sponsored by JetTip

This perennial favorite returns! Head on over to Imperial Hill (aka Clutters Park) for coffee and a donut or two from the world famous Randy’s Donuts. We thank JetTip for once again sponsoring this event.

11:00am – 5:30pm: Afternoon spotting and farewells

Enjoy a quieter afternoon of spotting around LAX. 

5:30pm – 7:30pm: Straggler Meetup at the Westchester Parkway Bridge

For those who haven’t departed yet, join us at one of our favorite LAX spots: the Westchester Parkway Bridge over Lincoln Blvd.

Please keep an eye on this post for other exciting events that will become part of the weekend festivities.  Please remember to use the hashtag #SpotLAX2025 on any social media posts so we can share them.

We look forward to seeing everyone in Los Angeles For SpotLAX!!

The post #SpotLAX2025: Everything You Need To Know! appeared first on NYCAviation.

Attention planespotters! We are just over two months away from #SpotLAX2025 and we have some details for you! From September 12-14, we will once again meet at Los Angeles International Airport. We know many of you are eager to begin planning for this year’s event, and we have some exciting announcements for you below.

If you’ve never attended SpotLAX, it’s a weekend long gathering of planespotters and aviation enthusiasts, which we have been hosting since 2013. 

Once again this year, we’ve teamed up with Brett Snyder and Cranky Dorkfest. This annual gathering will be taking place on Saturday, September 13. You can find out more at this link.  While you’re there, you might want to sign up for email notifications. Brett has often hosted some extra events that weekend, and those will all be announced on the blog. To sign up, enter your email address at the bottom of the page under “Get Cranky In Your Inbox!”

While you’re signing up for Dorkfest emails, make sure to sign up for our email list too for more event details. You can do so here.

In addition to Cranky Dorkfest, join us and fellow spotters for dinner at The Proud Bird on Saturday September 13 and Doughnuts on the Hill sponsored by JetTip on Sunday September 14. If that isn’t enough, we will also have group planespotting events throughout the weekend so get those cameras ready! 

Book your hotel room at the H Hotel LAX

The fantastic views overlooking Los Angeles International Airport from the rooftop of the H Hotel Los Angeles really can’t be beat. From the 12th floor, you can see nearly the entire north complex of the airport, along with many aircraft on approach. Then there’s the rooftop lounge seating, the site of many discussions on the finer points of commercial aviation. And lest we forget, there are the ever present smells of burnt jet fuel and rubber that complete the atmosphere. Plus, the hotel’s centralized location makes it easy to access the various other plane spotting locations in the area. For most of the weekend, access to the roof deck is reserved for hotel guests only. As in years past, we’ve arranged for a discounted room rate for the event. This year, in order to book you must use this booking link. Rooms start at $209 per night for a king sized bed.

Get your tickets here beginning July 19th at 9am Eastern!

For the third year in a row, we’ll be hosting the SpotLAX Opening Night Party on Friday evening with our friends from Airline Videos Live. This hugely popular event saw over 200 aviation enthusiasts gather on the rooftop deck of the H Hotel the last two years. It is a great way to be able to enjoy the rooftop for a few hours without needing to spend the night at the hotel. Just like last year, our friends at AVL will be streaming live from the roof that evening and serving as our master of ceremonies. There will be food and beverage available for purchase. We’ll also have an airplane model raffle like we did last year.

Tickets for this year’s party will be $15 and will go on sale Saturday July 19th. All attendees will need a paid ticket this year, including hotel guests. We’ll have more info on how to get tickets as we get closer to the on sale date. Check our social media channels or sign up for the email newsletter for those updates.

Want to chat with fellow Attendees before the big event weekend? Join our new WhatsApp Chat so folks can interact with each other before and during the event. You can join it here!

And finally, are you interested in getting involved as an event volunteer or as a sponsor? Let us know and we will let you know the details!

That’s all for now! We’re looking forward to once again welcoming you to LA this September!

The post Here’s the latest news on #SpotLAX2025! appeared first on NYCAviation.

If you’ve never attended SpotLAX, it’s a weekend long gathering of planespotters and aviation enthusiasts, which we have been hosting since 2013. You can read about what it was like to be a first time attendee in 2023 here.

Once again this year, we’ve teamed up with Brett Snyder and Cranky Dorkfest. This annual gathering will be taking place on Saturday, September 14th. You can find out more at this link.  While you’re there, you might want to sign up for email notifications. Brett has often hosted some extra events that weekend, and those will all be announced on the blog. To sign up, enter your email address at the bottom of the page under “Get Cranky In Your Inbox!”

We Have A New Mailing List Provider

Over the winter, the email mailing list provider that we have used for the past several years shut down. If you were on the old mailing list, we were able to move you over to the new list. If you haven’t previously signed up, you can do so here.

Hotel Rooms Now Available

The fantastic views overlooking Los Angeles International Airport from the rooftop of the H Hotel Los Angeles really can’t be beat. From the 12th floor, you can see nearly the entire north complex of the airport, along with many aircraft on approach. Then there’s the rooftop lounge seating, the site of many discussions on the finer points of commercial aviation. And lest we forget, there are the ever present smells of burnt jet fuel and rubber that complete the atmosphere. Plus, the hotel’s centralized location makes it easy to access the various other plane spotting locations in the area. For most of the weekend, access to the roof deck is reserved for hotel guests only. As in years past, we’ve arranged for a discounted room rate for the event. This year, in order to book you must use this booking link. Rooms start at $219 per night for a king sized bed.

UPDATE May 6, 9:00PM: 

We’ve been able to secure a few more rooms for our block. Airport view rooms are close to sold out, and are completely sold out for Friday evening.

The #SpotLAX2024 Opening Night Party Returns

Get your tickets here beginning June 15th at 9am Eastern!

For the second year in a row, we’ll be hosting the SpotLAX Opening Night Party on Friday evening with our friends from Airline Videos Live. This hugely popular event saw over 200 aviation enthusiasts gather on the rooftop deck of the H Hotel last year. It is a great way to be able to enjoy the rooftop for a few hours without needing to spend the night at the hotel. Just like last year, our friends at AVL will be streaming live from the roof that evening and serving as our master of ceremonies. There will be food and beverage available for purchase. We’ll also have an airplane model raffle like we did last year.

Tickets for this year’s party will be $15 and will go on sale Saturday June 15th. All attendees will need a paid ticket this year, including hotel guests. We’ll have more info on how to get tickets as we get closer to the on sale date. Check our social media channels or sign up for the email newsletter for those updates.

Join the #SpotLAX2024 WhatsApp Chat

Following last year’s event, we launched a new WhatsApp Chat so folks can interact with each other before and during the event. You can join it here!

That’s all for now! We’re looking forward to once again welcoming you to LA this September!

Oh and one more thing. We’ll be attending Airliners International in Kansas City from June 26th-30th along with a few other familiar SpotLAX faces. We hope to see some of you there!

The post Exciting #SpotLAX2024 Updates! appeared first on NYCAviation.

The ANA R2D2 special livery was a highlight of Thursday’s pre-SpotLAX2023 arrivals.

I had only be to Los Angeles once before, and that was more than 10 years ago. During that trip, I had managed to spot at the Proud Bird Restaurant for a few hours. I remember just staring in amazement at all the different airlines and aircraft compared to what I was usually photographing. This time, I was going to make sure I took full advantage of the time I could take. So, I booked the very first flight leaving Thursday morning. With my flights booked months in advance, there was a great deal of waiting for the day to finally come. 

Finally, Thursday morning arrived. I left home at 4:30AM to head to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and the first flight of the morning on JetBlue to LAX. A 5½ hour flight only served to build up the excitement of getting there. Finally, there were those magic words from the cabin crew, “Welcome to Los Angeles where the local time is 9:20am and because we are early, there will be a 15-minute wait for our gate to open up”. Yes, every thrill must have a slight hiccup.

Hawaiian Airlines’ A321neo fleet making one of its only appearances during SpotLAX2023.

Before I knew it, I had retrieved my bags and picked up my rental car. Then, I embarked on the first day of abusing my camera shutter with masses of photographs. The rest of Thursday was spent meeting up with friends I had only talked to online but meeting for the first time in person, and making a lot of new friends that share the same passion as I do, aviation.

I also took a few hours on Thursday to check an item off my bucket list with a helicopter flight over the airport. Another great decision I made for the trip was to book a room at the H Hotel Los Angeles. The hotel has a deck on the top of the hotel specifically for viewing aircraft movements at LAX Airport. Getting a room on the same level as that deck also was a huge bonus. I could go from my room to the deck in under a minute! 

This UPS MD-11F made the drive out to Ontario International Airport worthwhile.

After spending the rest of Thursday evening helping to prepare for the weekend’s events, it was off to bed. Friday morning I awoke just before dawn. A small group of us had decided to the drive out to Ontario International Airport. There, I would get what was possibly my last chance to photograph a UPS MD-11 before they are retired. While we were in the area, we also paid a visit to the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino.

Arriving back in Los Angeles and back to the hotel, there was the chance to meet up with lots and lots of people. Again, I was meeting people in person for the first time that I had spoken to for years.

The official opening of SpotLAX2023 was held on the top deck of the H Hotel. This was the first ever SpotLAX Opening Night Spotting Party. What a wonderful event that was. With the crew of Airline Videos Live broadcasting from the corner of the deck, 200 or so aviation enthusiasts gathered. There was food and drink, and many shared experiences and discussed all things aviation. Added to this was a raffle of amazing prizes that made some people, myself included, very happy when winning a prize. 

Saturday morning featured an event that has been running for one year longer than the SpotLAX events, Crankyflier’s annual Cranky Dorkfest. Picture this: 400 or so aviation enthusiasts gathered in the park located outside the famed Sepulveda In-n-Out burger. The crowd watches the arrivals and departures at LAX Airport, while talking shop with all sorts of aviation enthusiasts. This was again the opportunity to meet up with old friends not seen for years, and make new friends. And of course, I was able to indulge in some wonderful In-n-Out Burger food offerings.

The crowd at Cranky Dorkfest gathers to hear who won some of the wonderful raffle prizes that had been donated.

Later on, it was another afternoon of shooting hundreds of exposures at the top of the H Hotel. That then led to the annual SpotLAX dinner at the best restaurant location around the airport, The Proud Bird. There, I enjoyed another wonderful evening of eating, drinking, raffles and discussing all things aviation. 

A Korean Air 747-8i is seen from the roof deck of the H Hotel durning SpotLAX2023.

Sunday morning arrived and it was time to check out of the amazing hotel that had been my base for the time in Los Angeles. Then it was time to head for donuts and coffee provided by JetTip. This was held at another iconic LAX spotting location: Clutters Park. In the plane spotting world, it is better known by the name Imperial Hill. Early clouds gave way to bright Southern California sunshine. The morning turned into a perfect photography day.

As the heat grew and heat haze popped in, people started to leave having enjoyed a wonderful weekend, while some of us headed back to Proud Bird Restaurant to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. All too soon it was time to shower, change and head to the airport myself for the redeye flight home. I do have to admit that by the end of Sunday, I was photographed-out and very ready to get home. 

Sunday afternoon at The Proud Bird saw more than just SpotLAX2023 attendees as many families came out to enjoy the ambiance there.

It was a most amazing and enjoyable weekend. I feel every aviation enthusiast should get to enjoy it at least once. A few more personal observations. Firstly, it is wonderful to see how many younger generation enthusiasts there are. From 4 years old all the way through teen years, young people were well represented at the event. They could be seen running from one corner of the roof deck to the other, trying to photograph everything. Secondly, the aviation community is one of the most giving and friendly communities that you can ever wish for. People were willing to help people all weekend. Finally, I am sure that I am going to see a lot of these wonderful people for many years to come!

The post A Newcomer’s Perspective on SpotLAX2023 appeared first on NYCAviation.

The city of Opa-locka, with a population of just over 16,000 residents was founded in 1926 by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss. It is located in Miami-Dade County in South Eastern Florida. Within the city limits can be found the joint civil-military operated Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport. This is an 1,880 acre facility with 3 runways and full FBO services including aircraft repair and maintenance. It is also home to the busiest U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue Station.

In September 2023, the city of Opa-locka and the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) launched a cooperative program. This program will provide a workforce education program that guarantees jobs for city residents in the aviation field. This one-of-a-kind program will utilize the facilities of Captain Irving’s Flying Classroom to provide students with all the technical training and job-ready skills to enter the aviation industry. This training is being provided at no cost to the students. The facilities located at Miami-Opa-Locka Executive Airport give students the ability to witness first-hand the workings of the industry. Airport tenants including Signature Aviation and Bombardier are providing support for the Flying Classroom. In addition, they are hiring students after they complete the course.

NYCAviation was very fortunate and privileged to be able to talk to the two driving forces behind this venture, Opa-locka City Manager Darvin Williams and Captain Barrington Irving. They gave us more insight into the establishment of the joint venture, the vision they both have, and the future of the program.

An Interview With Barrington Irving and Darvin Williams

NYCA: Captain Irving, thank you for your time to be able to talk about this amazing program. Obviously, this goes back to when you starting flying and saw a need in the industry to be able to educate people. Can you please give a bit of background as to how you first thought about this?

BI: When I flew around the world, back then we knew we needed to get more people involved. After that, I was doing hands on projects with students here at Opa-locka Airport through my non-profit organization. We were working to get kids to pursue different careers in the field. It wasn’t until about 2010 or 2011. I said to myself, we need to do more and take the approach of having students replicate elements of what adults do. So we started to get kids to build airplanes. We then expanded that to having kids build high performance race cars. Then it expanded to solar go-karts and boats. I realized at that point, we need to do more. We need to get directly into the classroom. At the time, aviation was maybe an ancillary after school program, and so at that point I created Flying Classroom. At that point, manufacturers came to me and asked if I could take what I was doing for kids and do it for adults. I resisted at first, because I wanted to perfect what we were doing. 

Just prior to COVID, I was approached by Bombardier in Canada who wanted to really move forward with the idea and my reply was that I would only do it if I could do it my way. The industry was crying out saying that they have a recruitment issue. I didn’t agree with that, I said that the industry has a marketing issue. That is, we really need a way to engage an audience to want to even consider this field as a career. We also have a message issue. If you want to become a pilot or a technician, there isn’t really a straight way that the path is explained. Aviation hasn’t really done a good job of explaining the career paths. I started to see an underlying issue that exists in our industry and that is, yes, we are getting people that have certificates, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are competent.

NYCA: In other words, a piece of paper is one thing, actual experience is a different thing?

BI: The industry wants competency even more than they want a certificate, even though the certificate is a necessary by-product. When I started to observe that, that became my niche. How do I focus on competencies? How do I focus on really preparing an individual? Everyone talks about recruitment, no one talks about attrition. We live in a world now where if you get a technician, you better hold onto him as long as possible. It’s so ironic in the we say that we need people in the industry and we say we need quality people but there are two key populations that we don’t pay attention to. Even in education, we are incentivized to support students who make A’s in school or who are failing in order to help them. I realized that no one pays attention to the B, C and D students and that is the majority of who we work with. Yes, we work with A students, but to some degree it doesn’t matter how book smart they are. They might struggle with hands-on technical skills whereas the lower grade students, the B and C type students tend to thrive a more with the hands-on skills. So we are potentially missing out on a good deal of the population. 

The other group we are missing out on is the age group say from ages 21 to 45 or so. They might be employed, they might have jobs. But they don’t have the ability, knowledge or guidance to upscale themselves or make a pivot into our industry. For example, I might be a 30 year-old that is employed but who has no background in aviation. I drive past an airport and it intrigues me. However I don’t know the first place to start outside of college or a technical school. Meanwhile, you have companies that are looking for willing, dedicated individuals who might not even need a certification, or smaller certification skills that takes a few weeks or months. These companies are more than willing to hire them. This is what I started to pay attention to. I am not trying to be the next Broward College or George T. Baker Technical School. I have realized the real niche is upscaling communities. It’s short term and accessing a unique population of people that aren’t as easy to access and involving them in our industry. This advancement of the community is definitely a culture change.

NYCA: That seems to be more pertinent hosting it in Opa-locka where you have a large population right there. Opa-locka is unfortunately a city where the news to come out of the community is not always the best news. There are a lot of people there that want to advance in life, want to be able to provide better for their families. That provides the potential for a large number of students for the program.

BI: In a lot of cities, airports are located adjacent to Opa-locka type environments. Instead of distancing themselves from the environments that these communities are unfortunately known for, there is so much potential within that community that is simply untapped. We currently have a program where 5 local partners, whose names are well known in the industry, have 20 jobs waiting for candidates, so what we are doing is providing specified training for the needs of these different partners. Candidates go through a learning phase of 10 weeks and then they go out for a period of time that is on the job training and they have the ability to get a job and flourish and grow their career. But you have to have that support mechanism. We are not only doing this for the community, but also for a few individuals that are transitioning back to society for non-major crimes. They are some of our highest performers because they want another chance at life.

NYCA: You have a market of people that can really sustain large numbers to be able to benefit from your program.

BI: Yes, and part of our secret really is making it exclusive. One of the biggest mistakes our industry is making is that because they are so desperate, we just need anyone that can do the task. We are working with human beings here. Make them feel special, make it feel that you are appreciated. One of the first things we have done with our candidates is ask them, “have you ever taken a personality test? Do you know who you are and what you like? What are your strengths and weaknesses?” It is so fulfilling for an individual to see what their personality characteristic is, what are my interests that show through. When you treat people like people and not like a number that is on an aircraft part, it makes a world of difference packing some exclusivity around them. It started with 10 people, that turned into 30, 30 has turned into 160 people.

NYCA: How is this all growing at the moment?

BI: The city of Opa-locka has provided us with 4 acres of land, to go along with the 3 acres that is currently provided by Miami-Dade County and asked what we can do with it. My plan at the moment is, warehousing is a massive shortage in the industry and you also have people that are looking to be able to do various type of repairs or overhauls in the area. So why not pursue having some type of MRO facility here and the company does their professional operations. On the second or third floor, you can create an on-the-job training facility. Not everyone will be hired but you have the direct ability to start training people. It is too much for a for-profit company to try and start unless you are one of the major industry leaders. These are the type of strategic collaborations where the benefit is for the company, but also for the community. Incentives are being created for the potential employers as well, but the key is the specified training and the time to build that out. The hard part is implementing it and making it rigorous enough where you don’t want to discourage people, but build people up and allow them to thrive in the community and to thrive in the company as well.

NYCA: Mr. Williams, thank you for the opportunity to speak to speak to you. After receiving all the information about the project and talking to Captain Irving, it really is a privilege to be able to talk to you because this really is a unique opportunity.

DW: We are truly excited about it to be able to talk about the opportunity. How we can get the word out, how we can expand it, and how we can highlight it so that maybe other municipalities can incorporate aviation and mechanics and this unique opportunity for training into their models as well.

NYCA: How did you first get involved with Captain Irving and this program?

DW: As you probably know, Flying Classroom is located within the city limits of Opa-locka. As the new City Manager, I made it my business to go out into the community to find out what the residents are doing What the needs of the residents are, what businesses are doing and what their needs are. That is how I was introduced to Captain Irving.

NYCA: Captain Irving refers to his program as a culture change. Do you see that in the city of Opa-locka?

DW: Absolutely. We have a pretty archaic law in our charter, and this is to promote the hiring of Opa-locka residents. I have really tried to follow the spirit of the law. One of the first things that I did was to implement in development agreements for new construction coming into the city. We put in a requirement that they have a job fair for Opa-locka city residents to try and get them hired. It was exciting for the residents, for the city and for the companies involved. However, we found unfortunately that a lot of the residents did not have the appropriate background and training to get it done. What Captain Irving is doing is really filling a huge gap between a demand and a need which is always needed for a road to success. So we have the interested residents. We know there is a huge employee shortage in this industry. Captain Irving has put together a unique program that I know is going to take off because of the interest that we have found with it that is going to bridge that gap. I am very excited that the city of Opa-locka can be part of this journey.

NYCA: It is easy in a way because you have the airport right there in the city and you have support mechanisms right there, and Opa-locka airport is a huge airport.

DW: It is a huge airport. People in the industry know that, but outside of the industry, it is not well known. From statistics that I have for flights, Opa-locka is 10^th in the nation and 12^th in the world in international traffic. So yes, for what they are doing at the airport, it is tremendous.

NYCA: Obviously feeding people from the program into the airport, you have everything. They live in Opa-locka, they work in Opa-locka, there is pride in their community now.

DW: Most definitely! So, I do agree with Captain Irving’s statement, it is a culture change or a culture shift.

NYCA: Do you see this type of program expanding in Opa-locka to other industries in the city? Do you think you will be able to champion other industries knowing what is going on with this program?

DW: Yes, we are already having that discussion. We are looking at expanding this program to other industries. We are looking at some mass production and we are looking at development a training program on that side.

NYCA: That is good for the city as a whole. You have a large population that typically have not had access to these types of programs. Yes there are 2- and 4-year colleges close to the area, but those cost money. People from Opa-locka have not always been able to afford that type of education in any industry.

DW: Yes, for those reasons exactly, this is going to be a game changer.

NYCA: What have you seen so far as the feedback from the residents that have been through the program?

DW: I think it is still new and so because of that there seems to be a perception that this is going to go away. If you didn’t get into it, you don’t have the opportunity. But we are promoting every class as though it is the first one. We are ready for that ground swell so that people get comfortable with it. The numbers show at the moment that the average household income for a family of 3 in the city is around $36,000. If one member of a household gets a job from the program, the household income can more than double. When that information is spread around the community, this will become a staple that people will rely on and look towards for furtherment.

NYCA: Programs such as this can only grow a city that, in all honesty, hasn’t always been seen in the best light over the years.

DW: While I have not been in my position that long, just short of two years, that has been a major hurdle and concern of mine. I am addressing that head on. We are doing a lot of firsts across every department. That is what this is, it is a transformation. We are transforming the community, transforming the reputation and transforming the perspective. We have just been through one of the longest crime free periods in the city. That only goes to show that we are making a change in the city, a transformation.

NYCA: While it would be perfect for people in the program the work in their home city, the aviation industry is huge in South Florida. So people working in other locations need the infrastructure to be able to get to and from work, and that does exist.

DW: Yes, but we are making changes to that as well. I am currently in negotiations to provide free transportation from residents’ homes to public transportation hubs. Services like Brightline, the TriRail system, the public bus system can get you anywhere in the city. In fact one of the things we are addressing is for people at Captain Irving’s school. The nearest public bus stop is a 30 minute walk from the facility. So we are looking at putting in free transportation to take them from that bus stop right to the door of the facility. We are doing everything to facilitate the program and grow it.

NYCA: The program is growing in support from industry leaders. You are providing the support for your residents, it is a win-win for everyone.

DW: It absolutely is and that is what makes this so exciting. There is not a stakeholder that does not benefit from participating in the program.

The author wishes to thank Captain Irving and Mr. Williams for their time in completing the interviews for this article.

The post The Flying Classroom: Culture Change and City Transformation appeared first on NYCAviation.

Today, we’re thrilled to announce the dates for next year’s SpotLAX event. #SpotLAX2024 will take place September 13-15th 2024. It will be a fun filled weekend as we once again descend on Los Angeles International Airport for our annual plane spotting weekend. 

Once again, we’ve teamed up with Crankyflier’s Brett Snyder so that SpotLAX and Cranky Dorkfest will be held the same weekend. Cranky Dorkfest will be held on Saturday, September 14th beginning at 11:00am at the park across from In-N-Out at the end of LAX’s Runway 24R. You can find out more about that event here.

We’ll have lots more info to share in the coming months. We’re already working with the H Hotel to plan next year’s room block and spotting party. Expect those details to be announced in the spring.

Got some ideas for what you’d like to see next year? Maybe a discount code for you can SpotLAX from a helicopter like Mark Lawrence did? Let us know in the comments down below.

For all the latest updates on next year’s event, make sure you sign up for our SpotLAX Newsletter. Newsletter subscribers find out first when new event details are released.

Want to chat with other attendees about SpotLAX? Join our new SpotLAX Chat on WhatsApp!

In the meantime, if you’re missing that awesome LAX plane spotting atmosphere, be sure to check out our friends over at Airline Videos, where they livestream several times a week on YouTube.

The post Save The Dates: SpotLAX Returns Next September appeared first on NYCAviation.

Wait, that might just be achievable!

Let’s start out several months ago. The moment I realized that I would be able to attend the SpotLAX2023 event in September, I knew that there would be one thing that I really would love to be able to do: Spend an hour in a helicopter over LAX airport photographing the airport and aircraft.

I began to research the details on how this could be achieved. The first item was to search for the company that provided such flights. I came across Star Helicopters, based at Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles. The first item checked off the list was an answer to the question, “Dad, what would you like for Father’s Day?” My family’s answer to that set the whole experience in motion.

Knowing the dates I’d be in the Los Angeles area, I set about researching when wouldbe the best day and time to take the flight. This involved several hours of looking at flight arrivals and departures for LAX airport. Once I knew what I wanted to photograph, I could figure out what times worked best. Once my preferred date and time were set, I contacted Star Helicopters online to reserve my flight. This just required me to fill out the reservation request form and select the date and time of my flight. Within hours, I received a confirmation from Star Helicopters that it was all set. Following this was months of “Is it time to go to LA yet?”

Finally,  the trip to Los Angeles happened and the day of the helicopter trip had finally arrived! The minute I walked into Star Helicopters, the amazing experience began. The staff are all so welcoming and friendly. My pilot, Philipp was doing all the checks on the helicopter when I arrived. Once complete, he came into the office to discuss the details of the flight. Here is it important to note that there is a description on their website of the locations that are permissible. Every flight is permitted one transition between locations, so make that choice wisely. I chose to spend the first half of the time aloft in between the two sets of runways, and then transition to the south of the airfield.

After the regulatory phone call to LAX tower for approval to complete the flight, we headed out to the helicopter, a Robinson R-44, registration N91AV. Philipp went through the final safety briefing for the flight and then it was all aboard. Also to be noted is that there is no passenger door on the left hand side of the aircraft which allows for the ease of photography. If you suffer from vertigo, it’s important to be aware of this.

From the moment we took off and headed down runway 25 at Hawthorne, Philipp’s local knowledge and experience of doing these flights came to the fore. Wearing a headset for the flight, the passenger gets to hear all the interaction with LAX Tower, and it is also the method of communication with the pilot. Philipp started pointing out all the interesting sights.

Click here to playback our flight on FlightRadar24 (subscription required).

The first location we headed to was between the complexes at a height of 2,500’. Once we received our permission to transition there, we both started looking for inbound aircraft. At the same time, I was pointing out interesting things on the ground that I wanted to photograph. The wonderful thing that Philipp was able to do for me was each time I was photographing a subject, he would turn the helicopter in the air. All I needed to do was concentrate on what I was taking photographs of.

During the flight, a local TV station news helicopter transitioned through the LAX airspace not far from us. This gave a perfect opportunity for an air-to-air shot. This was a very interesting, and unexpected, opportunity. We circled over the location between the complexes for roughly 30 minutes photographing everything that was available. Before long, it was time to make our transition to the south of the airfield and lower our altitude to 1,000’. Again, Philipp searched the skies for all the arrivals, allowing me to concentrate on what I was photographing. This allowed me to allowed me to add many more images to the memory card in my camera. 

All too soon, it was time to make the short flight back to Hawthorne airport. After saying goodbye to the incredible staff, I got into the car and immediately called my family and the first words out of my mouth were “Wow, that was incredible”. This is most definitely a bucket list item that can be achieved. It was an experience that will live in my mind for many years to come.

For anyone wishing to check their one bucket list off, contact Star Helicopters via their website or call them at (310) 355-1959.

The post Get To The Chopper! My First Time Spotting From A Helicopter. appeared first on NYCAviation.

First off, a note on activities. SpotLAX was initially conceived as an informal gathering of planespotters, and that spirit largely remains today. It’s an event where groups of friends both new and old gather to chat, enjoy the aviation ambiance, and take photos. We want all to feel welcomed at SpotLAX, especially our new attendees. Please feel free to jump in and join the conversation. While some of us may gather like we’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in a year, we all look forward to meeting new faces each year as much as we enjoy seeing old ones.

Once again this year, JetTip will be free for LAX the entire weekend so you can keep tabs on the best aricraft to arrive and depart. Also, make sure you grab an aircraft checklist from JetTip’s Nick Benson. Its a fun way to keep track of all the different airlines and aircraft types you see this weekend. 

If you have any questions during the weekend, just ask one of our SpotLAX Ambassadors. Check back soon for more information on who they are and how to find them.

Notices

Introducing the SpotLAX2023 Ambassadors! We’ve asked a group of  multi-year returning attendees to help with greeting attendees and answering questions. In alphabetical order, the ambassadors are: Heather Abbott, Glenn Beltz, Nick Benson, Jillian Johnson, JL Johnson, Ben Granucci, Henry Griffiths, Annie Kwan, Kent Matthiesen, Peter Melander, and Tom Rainey. You’ll be able to easily find our Ambassadors by looking for their orange nametags. 

Wondering what’s new and different at LAX this year? JetTip’s Nick Benson has published a comprehensive roundup.

Be on the lookout for Alaska Airlines A321NEOs this weekend. They are the last Airbus aircraft remaining in the fleet and only 5 of them are still in revenue service as of today.

The runway closure that was expected to begin early Saturday morning now looks to have been pushed back a few days. We’ve seen a planning document with the new dates, and a number of NOTAMS associated with the closure have been removed. As of right now, the closure looks to begin Tuesday, September 12th and continue until early 2024. This is excellent news indeed! It’s looking very likely that Runway 06L/24R will begin a long term closure at 12:30am on Saturday September 9th. We’ve been hearing rumblings about this for about a week but at this point we’re confident enough in it happening that we feel it’s worth sharing. So what does this mean for us if it pans out? First off, it will be normal operations during the SpotLAX2023 Opening Night Rooftop Party. Some arrivals and departures that would normally use the North Complex will be routed to the South Complex (Runway 7L/24R and Runway 7R/24L) instead. Runway 6R/24L will see both arrivals and departures. We’ll post more info here if and when we receive it.

You can also join our email newsletter for updates during the weekend and about future events.

Getting Around

There are many ways to get around the LAX area. Rental cars are an option, albeit an expensive one. Uber and Lyft are another option you can utilize. There is also bus service in the area:

Beach Cities Transit Route 109 begins at the LAX City Bus Center, a block north of the H Hotel. The route will take you to both The Proud Bird and Imperial Hill. The cash fare is $1.00 each way, and they also accept the TAP App for mobile payments. Buses depart on average every 40-60 minutes. In-N-Out and spots along Sepulveda Blvd are walkable from the H Hotel and the LAX City Bus Center.

Big Blue Bus Route 3 will take you from the LAX City Bus Center and get you to about a 10 minute walk from the Westchester Parkway Bridge. The cash fare is $1.25 each way, and there is a small discount for paying with the TAP App or one of the other mobile ticket apps that they accept. Buses depart on average every 13-20 minutes throughout the day.

Popular Spotting Locations Around LAX

Here are several of the most popular spotting locations around LAX:

Imperial Hill

One of the iconic LAX plane spotting locations. Very popular and well attended by the locals. It is best for Runway 25R departures. Some will cross the ATC tower as they take off. You’ll also see Runway 25L arrivals on the ground as they hold short before crossing 25R and lots of taxiing aircraft. There is also an excellent view of the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the alleyway between the main terminal and the West Gates. Bring a telephoto lens that is capable of at least 250mm for this location. A lens capable of 300mm-400mm is better. On-street parking is usually readily available within a short walk, and it is very close to the bus stop.

In-N-Out Burger and the park across the street

You wanna get close to planes? This is the place! Though the planes are backlit for photos most of the day, the avgeek ambiance can’t be beat! You’ll see Runway 24R arrivals here. Any lens from a wide angle to a super telephoto can work here if you get creative. For more ‘vanilla’ shots, a standard telephoto lens that covers the 24mm-70mm range will suit you well here. We suggest trying some head-on/tail-on shots from near the approach light towers. Wide angle panning shots after dark can also be a lot of fun.  Be aware that the street here can get a little crazy between the vehicles going to In-N-Out and the traffic in and out of the Parking Spot garage. A line of vehicles often forms from the Sepulveda Blvd intersection waiting to access the drive thru. Approach from the Westchester Parkway end of the street for the best results.

Spotting from the roof of The Parking Spot is strongly discouraged. Their security patrols are frequent and they will kick you out whether you’ve parked there or not.

The Proud Bird

Great for 25L arrivals on short final. Grab a drink, a snack, or even a full meal and enjoy one of the most family friendly spots around LAX.  For heavies, you’ll want a lens in the 50mm to 100mm range. For narrowbodies, regional jets, and business jets, you’ll want a lens that can cover 100mm to 200mm. Park in their parking lot at the corner of W 111th Street and Aviation Blvd. The bus stop is also at that intersection. When you arrive, walk straight through the restaurant to access the patio and outdoor space. This is a private business, so be sure to show your appreciation for the use of their facilities by making a purchase on every visit. The Proud Bird opens at 11:00am Tuesday through Sunday. It closes at 9:00pm Friday and Saturday and 7:00pm all other days.

Sepulveda Blvd

This is a great place to catch Runway 24R arrivals as they cross Sepulveda Blvd. Stand on the grass or sidewalk on either side of the street. You can also take the stairs up to the Vicksburg Ave bridge for an elevated view. Anything from 24mm to 400mm can work in this area, depending on where you position yourself.

Park by In-N-Out and walk south along Sepulveda Blvd. It is also within walking distance of both the H Hotel and the LAX passenger terminals. Be very mindful of the traffic in this area. There are several converging and diverging roadways off of Sepulveda Blvd, some of which do not have marked crosswalks. Bring water with you as there is very little shade here. 

Westchester Parkway Bridge

One of our favorite spots at LAX.  Enjoy 24R arrivals as they touch down and 24L departures as they rotate. You will want a lens that can go to 300mm or 400mm here, but that also goes to at least 100mm on the wide end. The light here is only good for photos after about 5:00pm in September, so keep that in mind.

Park at the lot for Westchester Park on Lincoln Blvd and walk in (5 minutes). The nearest bus stop is located at Lincoln Blvd and W Manchester Ave, an 11 minute walk. From either place, walk along Lincoln Blvd towards the airport. At the bridge and entrance to the police station, you’ll find a path up the embankment. Cross Westchester Pkwy to the area behind the guardrail directly across the street. Use great care as the cars and bicycles move very quickly here.

Along Lincoln Blvd

An alternative to the Westchester Parkway bridge, with the same considerations regarding time of day. 24R arrivals touch down in front of you, while 24L departures begin their takeoff roll. A 70-200mm lens is ideal here for most arrivals and departures. For the longest aircraft, you will want something wider or to get creative with your shots.

Parking is the same as for IN-N-Out. Walk down Lincoln Blvd from In-N-Out until you’re at the line of trees on the hill. There aren’t any good public transportation options here, though you could try having a rideshare drop you off at the closest safe spot. Do not park along Lincoln Blvd.

H Hotel Roof Deck

The elevated view from the roof deck on the 12th floor of the H Hotel is hard to beat. Arrivals on Runway 24R are nearly level with you as they approach the runway. You also have an excellent overhead view of Runway 24L and can see down the length of the runway. Though often backlit, there are also views of arrivals and departures on the south side of the airport. You’ll want at least a 300mm to 400mm lens up here. An even longer lens can work as well, the photo to the left was taken with an almost fully extended Sigma 150-600mm lens.

Access to the roof deck is usually reserved for hotel guests. They may have day passes available, inquire at the front desk. There are restrooms on the 12th floor. There is a coffee shop and a bar on the first floor, as well as a Subway outside the rear entrance.

Vista Del Mar

Located on the opposite side of the hill at the end of the LAX runways. Parking here can be very challenging. Good for a view of departing long-haul heavies as they climb out. Anything lighter will probably be too high in the sky for good photos. This area is your best bet for arrivals in the early morning (before 6:30am or so) while the airport is still on reverse ops. 

A note about Dockweiler Beach State Park: One of the most common questions we’re asked is “What is the spotting like along the beach?” The answer is simple: not great. The beach is about 100′ below the runways and anywhere from 1 1/4 to 2 miles from where they rotated. Even the heaviest aircraft will probably be too high in the sky for a good photo.

Events

Friday, September 8

6:30am – 4:00pm: Spotting All Day!

Enjoy the various spotting locations around LAX. Meet up with friends and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the airport. The Flight Path Museum on Imperial Highway near Qantas Cargo is open from noon until 4:00pm. The H Overlook roof deck at the H Hotel opens for guests at 6:30am.

4:00pm – 9:00pm: SpotLAX2023 Opening Night Party
A brand new event on the calendar this year is the #SpotLAX2023 Opening Night Rooftop Spotting Party. It will be held on the roof of the H Hotel Los Angeles (6151 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045).  This event is open to all and gives the perfect opportunity to meet new friends, renew friendships and with the ambiance of landing and taking off aircraft in the background, spend an evening talking all subjects aviation.  For those staying at the H Hotel, the event is free and for all others, there will be a $10 entrance fee. A limited amount of discounted $8 parking is available at the hotel for this event. Buy your tickets here, supplies are limited.

Saturday, September 9

6:30am – 11:00am: Morning Spotting

Enjoy that golden early morning light! Cargo and flights from Australia are the highlights of the first hour. Flights from Asia and South America Are highlights of the rest of the morning.  

11:00am: Cranky Dorkfest
Crankyflier’s annual Cranky Dorkfest will be held at In-n-Out Burger (9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045).  A chance to meet up with all the weekend’s attendees with aircraft of all sizes buzzing overhead.  For more details on Cranky Dorkfest, head on over to Crankyflier.com

1:00pm – 6:30pm: Afternoon Spotting

Pick the location of your choice around LAX. You’re sure to run into some other spotters while you’re there.

6:30pm – 8:30pm: Annual Dinner and Raffle

At the original “NYCAviation LAX Meetup” in 2013, dinner at The Proud Bird was our singular organized event. 10 years later, the event is now known as SpotLAX and The Proud Bird has completely reinvented itself. However our tradition of holding a dinner and raffle continues. By popular demand, we’ve once again reserved the patio behind the restaurant for this year’s dinner. Order in person or online from the wide range of food and beverage options their food hall format has to offer. Our raffle will include SpotLAX Hats, JetTip and FlightRadar24 memberships, and gift certificates from Jetset Shirts and Panic Vectors (aviation themed stickers). The Proud Bird is open until 9pm on Saturday evening.

8:00pm – 10:00pm: LAX After Dark

Grab your tripod and your fast lenses, and enjoy one of the most photogenic airports at night! Imperial Hill, In-N-Out Burger, and the H Hotel Roof Deck all provide great and varied opportunities for nighttime photography.

Sunday, September 10th

6:30am – 9:00am: Early Morning Spotting

Catch your favorite arrivals from Asia, Australia, South America, and more!

9:00am – 11:00am: Donuts on the Deck Hill, Sponsored by JetTip

This perennial favorite returns, now in a new location! Head on over to Imperial Hill (aka Clutters Park) for coffee and a donut or two from the world famous Randy’s Donuts. We thank JetTip for once again sponsoring this event.

11:00am – 5:30pm: Afternoon spotting and farewells

Enjoy a quieter afternoon of spotting around LAX. With the Chargers playing an afternoon game at SoFi Stadium nearby, there is a chance we’ll see the Goodyear Blimp again this year.

5:30pm – 7:30pm: Straggler Meetup at the Westchester Parkway Bridge

If you’re still around, join us at one of our favorite LAX spots: the Westchester Parkway Bridge over Lincoln Blvd.

7:30pm – 10:00pm: The Last Hurrah

Grab a bite for dinner and enjoy the last few hours of SpotLAX2023.

Please keep an eye on this post for other exciting events that will become part of the weekend festivities.  Please remember to use the hashtag #SpotLAX2023 on any social media posts so we can share them.

We look forward to seeing everyone in Los Angeles For SpotLAX!!

The post Here’s Everything You Need To Know About #SpotLAX2023 appeared first on NYCAviation.

For the sixth time, we will be holding our event the same weekend as Brett Snyder’s “Cranky Dorkfest“. That event will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 9, at the world famous park across from the Sepulveda Blvd In-N-Out Burger. 

Who attends SpotLAX? Anybody who enjoys spending time watching airplanes with a group of like-minded people. While many of us bring lots of camera equipment, it is by no means a requirement. Quite a few attendees bring nothing more than a cell phone, yet they have a great time just watching what arrives. 

Many people return year after year for this event, though each year we see a number of first time attendees. All are welcome! Some attendees extend their weekend to include the days before and/or after the official event dates. There is no shortage of great planespotting or other aviation themed events in Southern California.

While we don’t anticipate needing to make major changes to the event due to Covid, it remains a possibility should there be a significant uptick in cases. We will be following any applicable CDC and local health department recommendations, requirements, and guidelines, up to and including cancellation of the event. We encourage all participants to make their own decisions regarding masks and social distancing, and would ask that everyone respect their fellow attendees choices. NYCAviation-designed masks (and a whole lot of other items) are available in our store.

Our Sunday morning “Donuts On The Deck,” sponsored by JetTip will be held once again this year. The location will be announced closer to the event dates. From founder Nick Benson: “JetTip is proud to support aviation enthusiasts everywhere, whether it be through our new smart flight alert app, or delicious donuts at LAX.”

Once again, our home base will be the fabulous H Hotel Los Angeles and a new block of rooms is now open! One of the closest hotels to the terminals at LAX, the hotel offers stunning views from its rooftop observation deck. The H Overlook offers some of the best views of airport arrivals, and rooftop access is limited to hotel guests. Our room block includes Friday and Saturday nights, along with a limited number of rooms on Thursday night. Space permitting, the hotel will offer our event rates ($209/night for a Deluxe King, $229/night for Deluxe 2 Queens) to extend your stay before or after the block. To book, simply visit the hotel’s website and use group code “AVIATI”. To extend your stay, or if you have issues booking, please reach out to our event planner Heather at Heather.Abbott@nycaviation.com. 

Our room block is limited so we strongly recommend that you book soon. 

For all the latest updates, be sure to sign up for our SpotLAX newsletter. It is the best place to find our latest announcements about #SpotLAX2023 including information on our hotel room block, potential Saturday evening dinner, and other new and exciting things we’re working on for this 10th anniversary year.

We look forward to seeing you all in September at #SpotLAX2023. Until then, stay safe.

The post #SpotLAX2023 Hotel Rooms Now Available! appeared first on NYCAviation.

NYCAviation: Where did your passion for flying originate?

Scott Bateman: My passion for flying started at a really young age. In fact, for as long as I can remember I was always fascinated with aviation. This was cemented deep though, when my dad took me on an adventure to my first military airshow at RAF Leuchars, in Scotland, back in the early 1980’s. I saw a Lightning scramble to intercept a “Russian intruder” as part of the show and remember as it pitched upwards in reheat that I thought that was the job for me. Later that day sitting the rather cramped cockpit, I felt at home and that started a love affair that has now lasted over 4 decades.

NYCA: How did you start flying? Was there a special mentor that guided your path to start with and was it self-driven?

SB: My dad was always my mentor, but he had no experience in flying, he just supported anything that I wanted to do. He spent a small fortune on books, posters, and models to keep my passion alive until at the age of 13 years I could join the Air Cadets. Being an air cadet did two things for me, it gave me structure in my life and fueled my passion for aviation in way that my dad couldn’t. So, although I had no specific mentor, you could say that the Air Cadets as an organisation mentored me into the person I am today, giving me the confidence and tools to follow my dream of being an aviator. This led to me eventual entry in the RAF as a young adult in the role of Air Loadmaster.

NYCA: You spent time flying in the RAF.  How did you end up joining the RAF and what were the highlights of that part of your career?

SB: I was privileged to be able to serve in the RAF for a period of just over 18-years and this allowed me the opportunity to grow as a person and as an aviator. I flew in the C130 as an Air Loadmaster for 7 years before being selected for commissioning in the pilot branch leading to a return to the C130 for a few tours before flying the BN2-T in a specialist role. I think the highlight of any pilot’s career is their first solo, that time when you are the captain of your own ship for the first time. It is both terrifying and wholly satisfying at the same time. That aside, I would say that being able to work, and socialise, with some of the most professional crewmembers I have ever met, will always be a highlight.

NYCA: Was a move to the commercial airlines a natural progression in your flying career after the RAF?

SB: I think that most military pilots realise that there is time when you need to move on from that career and seek out a new challenge. The well-trodden path to the airlines is the one that I chose and is still one that I do not regret. As an aviator we are always learning, and I think that the RAF taught me how to fly aircraft and the airline taught me how to operate them. Whilst many may argue that this is the same thing, it really isn’t. The basics of flying anything from a Cessna 172 to an Airbus A350 are the same, the complexities come in the management of the latter as vehicle to transport 331 people across the globe. Doing the latter is a complex logistical challenge that takes skills far beyond flying alone. I consider myself a much better pilot today than in my RAF career through the addition of those extra skills.

NYCA: You have an array of interests outside of flying: a production company as well as your successful podcast. Can you tell us more about what keeps you busy when you are not flying?

SB: I am very fortunate that my airline employer allows me to have a diverse array of outside interests away from my main role of flying for them. This includes my own television production company which works to bring great aviation and aerospace content to the small screen. I am also passionate about a podcast that I started with pilot friends during the recent pandemic. The Layover is on YouTube and is something that has taken a backseat as we returned to flying but is something we are planning on bringing back later this year in a different format. We have spent a lot of time working on this and we people will like it when it launches in the Autumn. I have very little time away from these things but really enjoy getting out in the fresh air and walking.

NYCA: You had a very successful and interesting documentary on the new Air Force One.  Can you tell us about any other exciting projects in the offing?

SB: I am glad you liked the Air Force One documentary as this is the platform that has allowed me to persuade broadcasters that aviation content is popular if it is done well. It was almost 3-years in the making and involved some unprecedented access to the aircraft and the crews that fly the President. For those who haven’t seen it, this is available on demand on Disney+ (Air Force One – The Flying Fortress).

I have been privileged to be asked to chronicle the first woman and person of colour embarking on their journey to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Artemis project for the Smithsonian Channel. This 17-part series, the first episode of which came out late last year, will follow these inspiring individuals to their boots on the Moon in 2025.

I also have a documentary about The Last 747 which has been filmed in partnership with Boeing and the Smithsonian Institute and Channel. This will show us how this iconic aircraft has changed so many lived during its 54-year production run, as we follow the final aircraft down the assembly line. This is due for release in late Spring.

Although television is my focus, I have also been working on a book, Hercules – San Peur, which is an opportunity for me to stand on the shoulders of some giants and tell some amazing stories spanning 50-years, from the RAF Hercules Wing as they look to retire this type in 2023. This will come out in the Autumn, published by the team at Penguin and Rowland White. If people like the book and it appeals to their inner avgeek, then this may lead to me expanding the written series.

NYCA: I notice in your messages on social media, you focus a great deal on well-being.  How important is being able to detach and give a person a break from the rigors of everyday life?

SB: Like so many people, the pandemic was a tough time for me as an individual and it forced me to reevaluate my life. I have always been someone who lived to work and not worked to live and when I couldn’t work, I felt lost, without any identity, and this was difficult time. I sought help through that period and have come out the other end, stronger and better than I was previously and largely that is due to focusing on what is important and at last I have realized that this isn’t always work.

Taking time every day to slow down and enjoy what life has to offer is really important to me now and lifestyle has triumphed over work. I have found walking hugely cathartic and has made a huge difference to my life. It allows me to think and rationalise many things without the distractions of everyday life, I like to walk 7-10 kilometers a day but taking as little as 10 minutes each day to get out in the fresh air and walk is something that will have a positive impact on anyone, and I try to get that across on my channels. I have had a difficult time and if I can help others to avoid that, then I would feel even happier than I am now.

NYCA: Is there one particular memory in your flying career that especially stands out?

SB: I think the first time you climb the stairs of a 747 to the upper deck and make your way forward to the pilot’s seat in anticipation of your first flight is something I will never forget. Sitting there and looking out from 3-storeys up and panicking about taxiing it to the runway, never mind flying it, is something that I am proud to have done. It is the most iconic aircraft of all time and to think that I flew her for almost 12-years is an utter privilege. But you never forget that first landing, when the wheels touch down and you are still 115ft in the air, something that never leaves you.

NYCA: Rapid fire:

• Favorite aircraft ever flown – Boeing 747
• Favorite city to layover – San Diego
• Favorite destination to fly to if different from layover – LA
• Favorite food – Chicken Wings
• Favorite drink – Chocolate Block (a red wine)
• Favorite way to relax – walking
• One aircraft you would love to fly – Westland Lysander SD (It was the first Airfix model I built with my dad).

The post Social Media Focus – Scott Bateman, Airline Pilot and More appeared first on NYCAviation.

The 10th anniversary edition of SpotLAX will be held September 8-10, 2023! Once again, we’ve teamed up with Brett Snyder so that #SpotLAX2023 will be held the same weekend as Cranky Dorkfest. Brett announced this morning that Dorkfest will be held on Saturday, September 9th.

As always, we’ll have lots more details to share in the coming months. For our 10th year, we’re working to make the event our best yet, while also striving to make the event more accessible to all. We can’t wait to see you in LA next September!

The post Drumroll Please….. Here’s the dates for #SpotLAX2023! appeared first on NYCAviation.

Friday, September 16

1:00pm-4:00pm: Join us on the roof of the new Economy Parking Garage to enjoy the view from this brand new LAX spotting location. Walk in, take the shuttle from the terminals (look for the pink signs), or pay for vehicle parking. The new garage is located at 6100 W 94th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90045.

8:00pm: H Hotel guests, grab your favorite takeout and join us on the rooftop for dinner. For many regular attendees, Benny’s Tacos has become a Friday evening favorite. 

9:00pm: Enjoy some dessert on the H Hotel rooftop. We will have delicious churros provided by Hype Aviation!

 
Saturday, September 17

8:30am: The Aviation Council convenes on the H Hotel rooftop to discuss all things aviation with frequent breaks for airplane photos. 

11:00am: Cranky Dorkfest at the park by In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Blvd. Spend some time watching planes and talking shop. There will also be a raffle with a wide variety of prizes. 

2:00pm: Afternoon spotting at the location of your choice! Some of you may return to the H Hotel rooftop for the afternoon. Others may go to The Proud Bird’s patio, for a post-Dorkfest gathering. And of course there’s always Imperial Hill/Clutter’s Park on the south side of the airport. 

6:00pm-8:00pm: Join us for dinner at The Proud Bird. We’re excited to once again be able to host our annual dinner event at this fan-favorite location! Grab your choice of food from the food hall and join the group. We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to utilize their patio as our meeting place, stay tuned. And of course we’ll have our own raffle, an annual tradition. Please be aware that The Proud Bird currently closes at 8:00pm. 

Sunday, September 18

9:00am: For H Hotel guests, we’ll be having Donuts On The Deck, sponsored by JetTip.net. There will be coffee and donuts from the world famous Randy’s Donuts for all to enjoy. 

Safe travels to Los Angeles and we will see you this weekend!

The post Here Is The #SpotLAX2022 Schedule appeared first on NYCAviation.

For the fifth time, we will be holding our event the same weekend as Brett Snyder’s “Cranky Dorkfest“. That event will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 17th, at the world famous park across from the Sepulveda Blvd In-N-Out Burger. 

Who attends SpotLAX? Anybody who enjoys spending time watching airplanes with a group of like-minded people. While many of us bring lots of camera equipment, it is by no means a requirement. Quite a few attendees bring nothing more than a cell phone, yet they have a great time just watching what comes in. As longtime NYCA contributor Stephanie Gehman said, “Come for the aircraft, stay for the #avgeek community!” 

Many people return year after year for this event, though each year we see a number of first time attendees. One of those in 2021 was John Wetter: “As a newbie this past fall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. (I) Can’t wait to be back!” Each year, we see several attendees extend their weekend to include the days before and/or after the official event dates.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, #SpotLAX2021 was hugely successful. This year, we are following similar guidelines as we did for last year. Among those:

•We will be following all applicable CDC and local health department recommendations, requirements, and guidelines. Please note that these may change between now and the event, and may differ from last year. 

•Masks and social distancing when in groups outdoors are strongly encouraged. NYCAviation-designed masks (and a whole lot of other items) are available in our store.

•As the recent spike in cases from the Omicron Variant showed, conditions for holding an event can change rapidly. Last-minute restrictions, including cancellation of the event entirely, are possible at any time. 

•At this time, we are not planning on holding any indoor events. We are hoping to be able to secure an outdoor location so that we can once again hold our very popular dinner and raffle. That, like most other details, will be announced at a later date.

•Our Sunday morning “Donuts On The Deck,” sponsored by JetTip will be held once again this year. From founder Nick Benson: “JetTip is proud to support aviation enthusiasts everywhere, whether it be through our new smart flight alert app, or delicious donuts at LAX.”

 

 

 

 

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UPDATE>> A new block of rooms at the fabulous H Hotel Los Angeles is now open! One of the closest hotels to the terminals at LAX, the hotel offers stunning views from its rooftop observation deck. The H Overlook offers some of the best views of airport arrivals, and access is limited to hotel guests. Our room block includes Friday and Saturday nights, along with a limited number of rooms on Thursday night. Space permitting, the hotel will offer our event rates ($199/night for a king, $219/night for 2 queens) to extend your stay before or after block. You can book here, or go to the hotel’s website and use group code “NYC”. To extend your stay, or if you have issues booking, please reach out to our event planner Heather at Heather.Abbott@nycaviation.com. 

We have 10 rooms available in this second block. Once they are filled (30 rooms total), we may not be able to get more. We strongly recommend you book soon.

For all the latest updates, be sure to sign up for our SpotLAX newsletter. It is the best place to find our latest announcements about #SpotLAX2022 including information on our hotel room block, potential Saturday evening dinner, and other new and exciting things we’re working on for this year.

We look forward to seeing you all in September at #SpotLAX2022. Until then, stay safe.

The post Our Amazing #SpotLAX2022 Event Returns This September appeared first on NYCAviation.

The forward end of the Boeing 757

Sporting “raccoon mask” paint around the windscreen which is all the rage with newer-designed aircraft, and showing off a super glossy finish along its fuselage, one wonders if this is what a re-engined “757 MAX” might have looked like if Boeing hadn’t ceased production when they did.

After most airlines retired or began a phase-out of the 757 from their fleets, the type has been seeing a common second life in cargo operations. So how did the 757 land at NPA’s passenger outfit?

Their first airplane is registered N627NP. Nearing its 27th birthday, it was delivered to USAir in 1995 as N630AU, was later re-registered as N206UW, and then became an asset of American Airlines after the completion of their merger in 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated American Airlines’ plans to retire the Boeing 757-200, so when aircraft sales and leasing company Aersale grabbed up several of them, it gave the opportunity for Northern Pacific to obtain what is still a very capable airplane.

The tail of the aircraft, showing the N627NP registration.

Though an older type with its last airframe rolling off of the line in 2004, the 757 can still give new aircraft like the 737 MAX 10 and the Airbus A321XLR a run for their money in terms of range, payload capacity, and even outpacing them in terms of takeoff performance and operations on wet runways. Often referred to as “over-powered,” the strong performance of the 757 may be exactly what the doctor ordered for Northern Pacific Airways’ narrowbody long haul plans. Of course, economics plays a large role.

“We look at the 757 as not “Mr. Right” but “Mr. Right Now,” explained CEO Rob McKinney. For all of its advantages, the 757’s age, and its Rolls-Royce RB211 engines, are the variables that affect the bottom line. Although the inventory of the aircraft type is reliable enough for NPA’s plans to own a dozen by launch and work their way up to their goal of operating as many of 50 of the type, the fuel burn of the aircraft puts it nowhere near the Prius of the skies. Thankfully, the 757 being increasingly common in cargo and their engine being used in many places gives Northern Pacific the chance to keep aircraft maintenance costs somewhat manageable until newer aircraft become more readily available, including consideration for widebodies. 

A mockup of the Northern Pacific seats, showing both business class and economy.

The interior has a sea of black, vegan leather seats wearing classy stitching that reflects a mountain and glacier abstract. NPA will offer 3 rows of 2×2 business seating and 176 economy seats in the remainder of the cabin. Service will include a variety of products from PepsiCo and Brown-Forman.

Frequently compared to the Icelandair of the Pacific, the model Northern Pacific is aiming for is tried and true when you look at not just the 757, but having an oceanic mid-point for passengers to either switch aircraft or get off to enjoy a location that is a great destination in itself. McKinney explained his frustration at the number of flights to Asia that overfly Anchorage, forcing Alaskans to fly to Seattle to change flights to backtrack across the Pacific. 

McKinney also said they were striking while the fire is hot with the availability of slots and gates at a premium cost. 

With plans to begin service in the second half of 2022, Northern Pacific’s operations is still “pending government approval.” They intend to serve cities in the states of New York, Florida, California, Texas, and Nevada, with direct flights to cities in Japan and Korea, all of which connect in Anchorage, Alaska.

Read more about the airline at np.com.

The post Northern Pacific Airways Unveils First Aircraft appeared first on NYCAviation.

Sgt. Todd Yoder and Officer Richard Betensky of Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) FLL K-9 unit

Sergeant Todd Yoder and Officer Richard Betensky of BSO explained how deputies become handlers for the unit. First up is a rigorous selection process for the officers. That is followed by an intensive 3-month training course at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX for both officer and dog. Following that course, the BSO handlers return to FLL for K9 assignment and familiarization with the airport. Both the initial familiarization training at FLL and all recurrant training is handled by Officer Betensky. TSA handlers follow a similar procedure.

Because of the climate of South Florida and the amount of time that the dogs spend outside, a wide range of breeds are used. The dogs and their handlers typically work a 10 hour shift. While on duty, their tasks range from terminal patrols to airside tarmac duties. Those duties include the checking of airport personnel working around the aircraft on the ground. The dogs are very closely monitored for excess heat, dehydration, etc, especially while in their patrol vehicles. According to Officer Betensky, the dogs really don’t know that they are working at all.  They are doing what comes naturally to them and they are rewarded for those tasks with a few minutes of play before continuing their workday.

TSA K-9 Brierly and handler TSA Inspector Michael Shade with a successful detection

TSA Inspector Michael Shade and his dog Brierley demonstrated the daily task of explosive detection with a line of passengers passing by. When a suspicious bag was detected, Brierley immediately alerted and was rewarded with his squeaky toy. Next up, BSO Deputy David Kofalk and his dog Darly demonstrated the detection of suspicious elements in a bag that was left in a conspicuous area of the terminal.  Again, once the threat was detected, Darly was rewarded with her squeaky toy and praise from her handler.

K9 units play an immensely important role in the day-to-day operations at FLL and airports all over the world.  They perform tasks that are for the majority of the time are away from the eyes of the traveling public, but they maintain the airport’s safety and security at the highest level. For once, it was wonderful to see one or two of their capabilities close at hand.

The post For National Dog Day, FLL Highlights Canine Capabilities appeared first on NYCAviation.

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UPDATE Aug 17 2021: Just as expected, COVID continues to throw us curveballs, but we’re ready to meet them and update you with the latest on what to expect at #SpotLAX2021!

Here’s what’s new. You can find our original post below.

First, BRING A MASK. Masks are required in all indoor public spaces per LA County mandate. We expect all participants to abide by this, full stop.

If you can’t keep a mask on correctly for ten minutes while waiting for an In & Out burger or riding the hotel elevator, don’t come. Seriously.  

If you need some new masks and want to accessorize, find our NYCA masks here and sport some COVID safety in style. While you’re there, consider a T-Shirt or hoodie too.

Second, with the rise in Delta variant and the inherent risks associated with dining, we have decided to cancel our normal evening dinner event. Don’t worry though, we’ll still be out and about around the field. And we hope to see you there.

Third: Cranky Dorkfest, at the park adjacent to the famed In N’ Out, is still on for Saturday morning at 11am. There will be a raffle. We encourage people to mask up when in a large group.

Fourth: The H Hotel block of rooms have been booked up, but if you slacked off and still haven’t booked, reach out ASAP. We may be able to help you secure a room at our discounted rate, or upgrade to something a bit nicer.

Fifth: Related, the rooftop deck on the H is now open the entire weekend! Please note that the hotel is more stringently screening for guests only to visit the deck.

Fifth point five: Don’t forget to join us for a socially distanced Sunday morning with donuts, sponsored by JetTip.net.  

Sixth and finally, a number of area attractions have changed their hours and accessibility. These are current as of August 17 and supersedes any other information on this site that precedes it. This intel may change between now and September, and we recommend you check yourself before going:
Flight Path Museum is now open weekends from noon to 4pm, by reservation only. Masks and proof of vaccination are required for entry.
California Science Center is open normal hours but timed entry only. Masks are required.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum appears to be operating normally, masks required.
The Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport appears to be closed.
The Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale appears to be operating Saturday and Sunday only from 9am-1pm.
The March Field Air Museum appears to be operating normally. They’re open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

For more details on these off-LAX options, see the descriptions in the original post below.

We can’t wait to see you next month!

Summer is unofficially here, and that can only mean that our annual #SpotLAX2021 event is right around the corner! This year, the event will be held Friday September 17 through Sunday September 19. Once again, this weekend also coincides with Cranky Flier’s annual Cranky Dorkfest on Saturday morning at 11am. Best of all, most events are FREE!

Photo by Heather Abbott

With the ongoing pandemic, there is always the chance that we may have to cancel/change events. We suggest that you book with maximum flexibility. Out of an abundance of caution, some events have not been confirmed yet but, we are working on them in accordance with CDC and local health guidelines. 

What else is going on that weekend? Lots of planespotting, great food, and hanging out with other aviation enthusiasts from across the country. LAX sees a great assortment of airlines from around the world, along with some very special planes that call it home. Bring your camera and plenty of batteries because we guarantee you will have plenty to photograph. Right now, the only thing that is certain on the schedule is that we will have some great planespotting events as well as Cranky Dorkfest. 

Photo by Andrew Poure

We have a limited room block available for the weekend at the H Hotel Los Angeles at LAX. Join us here to take advantage of their spectacular rooftop deck, perfect for catching that early morning or late night arrival. Or visit the H Hotel website and use code: NYC. Rooms in the block are limited so we recommend that you book sooner rather than later. The rates in the room block are good for Thursday-Sunday nights, however the hotel will extend them to the days before and after by special request. If you’re interested in extending your stay before or after the event, email us and we will put you in touch with the hotel. Also, if you’d like to upgrade your room, you can contact us about that as well. 

Below are just a few of the great events we have planned. We’re also working on finalizing the details for a few others, so be sure to check back here.

Friday

Arrival and Evening planespotting

For early arrivals, the Flight Path Learning Center and Museum at LAX is open from 10am-3pm. 

Saturday

Photo by Nick Benson, JetTip.net

11am: Cranky Dorkfest at In N’ Out Burger. Join other aviation enthusiasts to, as host Brett Snyder puts it, eat burgers, watch airplanes, and talk shop. There will also be a raffle.

2pm: Planespotting at a location TBD

6:30pm: Evening event TBD based on safety protocols

Sunday

8am: Doughnuts on the Deck—If you’re staying at the H Hotel, come join us for breakfast and planespotting. Bring your camera and we will supply the coffee and doughnuts!

Other LA Attractions

If you want to get away from LAX for a bit, there are tons of aviation themed activities within driving distance of LAX. Here are a few suggestions:

• Flight Path Learning Center and Museum at LAX is open Friday and Saturday from 10am-3pm. The museum is located on Imperial Highway along the south side of the airport. In addition to exhibits, you may be able to do some ramp-level planespotting.
• The California Science Center is open daily from 10am-5pm and houses the Space Shuttle Endeavor as well as an aviation gallery.
• A VC-137C Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley.
• The Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport is open from 10am-5pm Wednesday-Sunday. (While you’re there, catch a little planespotting while SMO is still open)

If you want to venture further from LA, there are some awesome destinations in the desert surrounding LA:

• The March Field Air Museum is located about 90 minutes west of LAX and offers an extensive collection of military aircraft on display. They also have bleachers for planespotting set up in the shade of a Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter’s wing! It is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday) from 9am to 5 pm.
• The Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale has a collection of military and civilian aircraft near the famed Air Force Plant 42 and Lockheed Skunkworks. Located about 70 miles north of LAX, drive time ranges from 75-135 minutes depending on traffic. At this time, it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 1pm. The adjacent Blackbird Airpark is also open, following its neighbor’s schedule. It is the only place where you can see a Lockheed A-12 Oxcart and SR-71 Blackbird side by side, along with a U2 and a D-21 reconnaissance drone.

Getting Around

Photo by Isaac Alexander

LAX is obviously a large airport, so even if you aren’t leaving the vicinity you’ll still want a plan for how you’ll get around. Rental cars are the most convenient option. However, rental costs are unusually high this year. Additionally, you can expect to pay for parking at nearly all hotels in the area including the H Hotel.  Ridesharing services are another good option that many attendees have used in the past. Public transportation options around LAX are quite limited, so relying on the bus might take much longer than you want to spend and involve a long walk.

This event is open to planespotters and aviation enthusiasts of all experience levels. If you’re just getting into the hobby, or want to improve your skills, this is a great time to learn techniques from more experienced spotters. Bring whatever equipment you have, from a smartphone to a professional camera. With that being said, here are some recommendations on what will give you the best experience:

• A DSLR or mirrorless camera body with a telephoto zoom lens that goes to at least 200mm (35mm film equivalent) along with a standard zoom lens. Or,
• A “point and shoot” or “superzoom” camera with at least an 8x optical zoom. There are plenty of options in this category from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and many other manufacturers, including some for under $200.
• LAX is very photogenic after dark. To take advantage, you’ll want a sturdy tripod to mount your camera on at night. If your camera is capable of remote shutter release, you’ll want a wired or wireless remote as well.

Before arriving in LA, we recommend you familiarize yourself with our LAX Planespotting Guide. At certain times during the weekend, we may have pre-planned meetup spots. For those, check back here the week of the event. At other times, smaller groups will form and you’ll be able to choose which location you’d like to utilize. However, since specific aircraft movements can dictate which spots we use, these spots may be subject to change. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all of our latest location and event updates. Please use the hashtag #SpotLAX2021 if you’re posting from the event so attendees can find one another on social media. 

We will continue to update this post in the coming weeks with any additional information as well as safety precautions for the event. As restrictions are lifted in California, this is a rapidly changing environment.

Remember to use the hashtag #SpotLAX2021, get vaccinated, and we will see you in September!

(Top image by Stephanie Gehman)

The post UPDATED: #SpotLAX2021, What You Need To Know appeared first on NYCAviation.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, additional protocols were put in place. This was done by both the airlines and in the case of the United States, by the FAA. These protocols placed some stringent rules on how passengers would behave onboard an aircraft. For example, the wearing of face masks became a requirement for all access to airports and on flights. At times, certain airlines restricted the amount of seats that were being sold on flights. Some airlines blocked middle seats to ensure social distancing. Airlines controlled how passengers deplaned the aircraft, row by row to ensure the same social distancing. Of course, it remains a federal offence to interfere with any airline crew member in the course of their duties.

In some cases, this has drawn out the worst in some traveling passengers. These have regularly been documented by the news media. The public’s disregard for rules has led to physical altercations both in terminals and onboard aircraft. In the more severe cases, they have resulted in physical assaults on members of the cabin crew. In these cases, law enforcement has become involved, with the disruptive passengers often ending up arrested for their actions. Many airlines have also resorted to banning passengers who violate rules and cause disturbances.

American Airlines passenger was duct taped to her seat after she tried to open the plane door, then bit a flight attendant. pic.twitter.com/nDsu3GWnOP

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 11, 2021

The Federal Aviation Administration has also become heavily involved in enforcement. On an almost bi-weekly basis, the FAA issues press releases listing alleged violations by passengers and the substantial fines proposed. These reports make for interesting reading, and are able to be viewed by anyone wishing to read them on the FAA’s website. Examples of the violations range from the proposed imposition of a fine of $7,500 for a passenger continually lowering the required facemask and causing all passengers about the flight to be deplaned and the flight delayed for 38 minutes to the imposition of a fine of $21,000 for drinking non-airline provided alcohol, refusing to wear a face covering and physical assault of a fellow passenger. 

The FAA clearly states on each press release,

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reminded the traveling public on May 14 that if you travel, you are still required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. Masks are also required in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.

Federal law prohibits interfering with aircraft crew or physically assaulting or threatening to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft. Passengers are subject to civil penalties for such misconduct, which can threaten the safety of the flight by disrupting or distracting cabin crew from their safety duties. Additionally, federal law provides for criminal fines and imprisonment of passengers who interfere with the performance of a crewmember’s duties by assaulting or intimidating that crewmember.

The FAA is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward passengers who cause disturbances on flights, fail to obey flight crew instructions in violation of the FAA’s regulations, or engage in conduct proscribed by federal law.”

Air travel is a privilege granted to all. For the vast majority of the traveling public who are willing to follow the rules and guidelines, it still is a preferred mode of transport. However, a few passengers feel they are above the law. Or feel that their own needs are more important than those of their fellow travelers. For those, be warned that your actions can lead to a sudden and dramatic increase in cost. 

Top Image: “Cops take off unruly passenger” by jeffk is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The post For Disruptive Passengers, The Cost Can Be Sky High appeared first on NYCAviation.

Breeze aims to directly connect smaller, regional airports and earlier this month, Breeze announced 39 routes starting at $39 one-way. By the end of the summer Breeze will serve 16 destinations with 10 Embraer E190s and three E195s. The fares are simple, and the up charges expected. My one-way fare was $49 to CHS (which drops to $39 in June) and I paid $30 to sit in seat 2F. There are three tiers of seating in the cabin. Pre-check in seat assignments cost $10, $20, and $30, based on the seat’s size and location. In addition to the Embraers, Breeze has 81 A220-300s on order. Breeze’s A220s should begin to arrive in October, 2021.

One of those 16 announced destinations is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). The Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) held a contest through their social media channels to award 10 people the opportunity to fly the inaugural flight from SDF to CHS. So, on May 28, 2021, a group of aviation geeks and passengers gathered at to board the first Breeze Airways flight from SDF to CHS, myself included (I flew on a ticket I had purchased). Pre-inaugural flight activities included speeches from Dan Mann, Executive Director of the LRAA; Lukas Johnson, Chief Commercial Officer, Breeze Airways; Jeffrey Taylor, Commissioner, Business Development for the Commonwealth of Kentucky; Dale Boden, Chair, LRAA Board of Directors. Both Breeze and LRAA had gifts for the passengers, along with the requisite snacks.

After the media announcement of the flight, I purchased my ticket via the Breeze website; the process was easy and intuitive. Breeze added 500 BreezePoints, worth $5 to spend with Breeze Airways, to my guest account for downloading their mobile app. Checking in was equally easy with the app; but unfortunately, at this time, the app does not offer the capability to download the boarding pass to your mobile wallet. On top of that, the electronic boarding passes for those of us returning to SDF seemed to be missing. Some of the passengers had to be issued paper boarding passes for the return flight. Normally, a printed boarding pass would incur a $3 fee, or $9 if staff assists you. 

Because I had purchased my ticket prior to setting up my Breeze Guest account; my boarding pass was lacking TSA PreCheck. There is no way to call a Breeze customer service agent, so I utilized their agent via text process to have Pre-Check added to my pass. Flawlessly, Breeze was able to quickly remedy the issue. They corrected the spelling mismatch of my name against the TSA database, checked me out of my flight, added Pre-Check, and had me check back into my flight (with Pre-Check); all via text messaging. This whole process took about 20 minutes. 

Our SDF inaugural flight MX150 was on an Embraer E195, registration N190BZ. This is a former Azul aircraft and is the one that Breeze used to run through all its certification flights. Once onboard, the interior looked and smelled brand new. One could hope for some improved lighting when the A220s arrive, since the lack of mood lighting onboard was disappointing to some passengers. Breeze employees were extremely friendly and sometimes apologetic as they continued training during the launch.

Photo by Will Clark, NewsTalk 840, WHAS. Used with permission.

The captain and company safety officer both gave speeches after boarding, expressing gratitude that we were all on board and that their months of training have finally culminated to flying revenue-generating passengers. The captain stated there were times that they did not think it would happen. During the message from the safety officer, employees asked to have a photo of all of us displaying the Breeze “check mark.” The “check mark” is holding up the index finger and extending the thumb 90° from the index finger, while tilting the hand so that it does not look like a “L” but like a…” check mark.” 

The flight got a late start, most likely due to the concurrent training and a struggle with detaching the tug from the aircraft. We sat for about ten minutes after pushback and positioning. I was watching the fire truck on my side of the aircraft this whole time. Finally, at 12:45 PM EDT, Flight 150, departed under a water cannon salute some 35 minutes late. 

During flight, the appeared to hit all of their marks. They also sounded just like every other airline, though I was hoping for something fun akin to the Southwest safety message. I observed that the crew did not push galley carts down the aisle during the beverage service. They carried all refreshments in baskets or in what appeared to be the drawers from a galley cart. Refreshments consisted of a full-sized bag of Utz potato chips and a miniature KIND bar with a small bottle of water. I felt this was very reasonable, especially considering the price I paid for the flight.

During boarding at CHS for the return flight to SDF, the flight suffered a short maintenance delay. The captain did an excellent job of keeping the passengers informed. His message included why we were delayed, what was being done, and how long to expect to wait. An additional delay occurred after pushback for a F-16 in flight emergency. This closed the CHS runway for 25 minutes. I was impressed that the captain made his briefing to the passengers while standing in the main cabin. He made eye contact with all of us, which made it feel much more personable. 

Even though both flights had departure delays, I do not think most cared. Still, there are some things Breeze needs to smooth out.  Turn time of the flights was slow, though they are still training. The app still needs bugs written out of , and there needs to be a way to download boarding passes to mobile devices for off-network use. Still, it was fun to participate in this launch of Breeze Airways service from Louisville. It appeared the crew was having as much fun as the rest of us. They appear eager to build a “Seriously Nice” airline. I look forward to my next Breeze Airways flight to see how the service has matured, post launch. 

Oh, by the way, there was an email from Breeze Airways waiting for me in Louisville. They sent all of us 2,500 BreezePoints ($25.00) for the delay we incurred in CHS; Seriously Nice, thanks. 

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