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.