Santa Barbara Airport
Tuesday was priceless, unlimited visibility and smooth as glass up there!
Going to Santa Barbara airport, we flew northwest-bound and the shoreline at 4,500' with flight following. SB Approach will have you follow the 101 for a left base entry to runway 15L. After checking in with the tower near the harbor, they will request a report at 2 miles out. There is almost always a right crosswind when landing on 15. Atlantic, the FBO will give you free parking if you get at least 7 gallons of gas. We used 11 gallons on our flight from VNY. Atlantic will give you a ride down to the beachside cafe or you can walk. We chose to walk back after lunch, it's only a mile up a bike path and over a wooden bridge. The beachside cafe has great food and a great view, right next to the pier and on the beach. On departure, clearance will instruct you to depart runway 15 and remain on runway heading at or below 1,500' until instructed further. We flew southeast-bound at 3,500' watching the sun go down behind the Channel Islands, great times!
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Going to Santa Barbara airport, we flew northwest-bound and the shoreline at 4,500' with flight following. SB Approach will have you follow the 101 for a left base entry to runway 15L. After checking in with the tower near the harbor, they will request a report at 2 miles out. There is almost always a right crosswind when landing on 15. Atlantic, the FBO will give you free parking if you get at least 7 gallons of gas. We used 11 gallons on our flight from VNY. Atlantic will give you a ride down to the beachside cafe or you can walk. We chose to walk back after lunch, it's only a mile up a bike path and over a wooden bridge. The beachside cafe has great food and a great view, right next to the pier and on the beach. On departure, clearance will instruct you to depart runway 15 and remain on runway heading at or below 1,500' until instructed further. We flew southeast-bound at 3,500' watching the sun go down behind the Channel Islands, great times!
El Monte Airport, KEMT, San Gabriel Valley
Approaching EMT from the west we checked in over the Rose Bowl. The tower had us do a right base entry for runway 19, and report at the Santa Anita Racetrack. There is free parking at EMT and Annia's Kitchen has good food and a nice patio with a view of the runway. I noticed El Monte now has painted green "islands" now on the tarmac creating distinct taxiways. The last time I was here it was just a huge blacktop where you would exit the runway anywhere, similar to Santa Monica. Departing a right crosswind to the west from here you can fly below the LAX Bravo and catch a nice view of Dodger Stadium, Griffith Park, the Hollywood Sign, and Universal Studios as you join the Burbank Class C. There's usually some helo traffic in these areas, so be sure and use 123.025.
Airport Information at SkyVector.com
Flying to Camarillo (KCMA)
Taking the shoreline to Camarillo or Oxnard, be sure sure your landing lights are on and make plenty of announcements on 123.025, there will be other low level fixed wing, and helos on this frequency expecting you to be on board.
It's an unforgettable sight seeing trip for your passengers. Sometimes I will continue all the way to the Ventura marina before turning inbound to KCMA.
northwestbound along the Malibu shoreline
an LAPD helo goes up the beach
Russion Billionares Yacht anchored off Malibu Pier
stay clear of the Class Bravo at Point Dume that comes down to 2,000'
be sure and make comms with the other low aircraft 123.025
Sycamore Campground, request a transition with Point Mugu Tower
Camarillo Airport was formerly known as Oxnard Air Force Base
The Waypoint Cafe
The Ventura Marina
A great day for lunch in Camarillo. The weather was clear along the shoreline, so we went northwestbound along the coast and around the hills near Point Mugu. We saw the Russian Billionaires yacht anchored off the Malubu pier, and the LAPD helo that was going up the beach joked with me about it on "025". I transitioned the Point Mugu Naval Air Station, and followed the foothills away from the shoreline, Mugu NAS requested we stay north of PCH. I checked in with CMA at Channel Islands CSU (VPCSU), and joined the left base for Runway 26. CMA used to be an Air Force Base, hence the huge displaced threshold of Rwy 26. The Waypoint Cafe has a great patio right next to transient parking and great view of the airport, judging from the crowds it's a popular place with the locals even on weekdays. We took a quick loop around the beach at the Ventura Marina before heading home.
Flight Planning at SkyVector.com
Santa Monica Airport
with my favorite girls
Griffith Observatory
Spitfire Grill at the end of this path through the park
Breakfast at the Spitfire Grill, KSMO
patio view from The Typhoon Restaurant
departing Runway 21 and over the Santa Monica pier
MORE PICS (SLIDE SHOW)
We approached KSMO straight in to runway 21 from the Griffith Observatory. Once tied down at the transient parking on the East side of the field, there is a short walk south through a park to the Spitfire Grill. It's aviation themed, just not right on the tarmac, but a great place to fly in for breakfast. The Typhoon restaurant has the most amazing patio view I have ever seen at an airport, but they are open for lunch and dinner only. Be sure and tell ground "runup complete" and request taxi to the runway on the ground freq. before leaving the runup area. Also be sure and veer left 10 deg. and overfly the golf course as you depart 21 to the shoreline. Request "straight out departure, and right turn at the shoreline", otherwise they will remind you of the Bravo surface area that is straight out from 21.
We approached KSMO straight in to runway 21 from the Griffith Observatory. Once tied down at the transient parking on the East side of the field, there is a short walk south through a park to the Spitfire Grill. It's aviation themed, just not right on the tarmac, but a great place to fly in for breakfast. The Typhoon restaurant has the most amazing patio view I have ever seen at an airport, but they are open for lunch and dinner only. Be sure and tell ground "runup complete" and request taxi to the runway on the ground freq. before leaving the runup area. Also be sure and veer left 10 deg. and overfly the golf course as you depart 21 to the shoreline. Request "straight out departure, and right turn at the shoreline", otherwise they will remind you of the Bravo surface area that is straight out from 21.
Flying to Long Beach, LA Harbor, and the OC
The marine layer hangs over West LA, and the South Bay
Banner Tow over the Huntington Pier
The Queen Mary
Sea Launch, satellite launching ship
Vincent Thomas Bridge
Fort MacArthur, San Pedro
Palos Verdes
We did some shoreline flying down to Huntington Pier with Cessna N5199J. I just joined a flying club based out of VNY, it was my first time taking the clubs beautiful Skyhawk SP out for a sightseeing trip, and it was a real joy to fly. We took the LAX Special Flight Rules corridor both there and back. The marine layer was still hanging around the Torrance and LAX area, so we went over the top of it. It was awesome to look down and see the big iron popping up through the cloud layer as they climbed out over the sea. The OP Pro surf contest was still going on out at Huntington, and we were behind a low flying banner tow. We got some nice views of the LA Harbor and the Queen Mary on the way back. I got in a quick landing at Long Beach airport on the way down there. I checked in at the 405/Harbor freeway and did a left downwind entry for Runway 25L. They changed runways because of the shifting winds right after we landed, so we were given Runway 7R for departure. Just a quick 180 on the taxiway and off we went again. Brian got some great pics and videos.
Flight Planning at SkyVector.com
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