Back in the 90's I was on a 744 (United) from LAX-HKG. They had to shut down #4 and landed in TPE instead of continuing. The annoying followup is TPE was my destination after connecting thru HKG, so I arrived early! I did not have checked luggage for the 3-day business trip. But I could not leave due to some immigration/passport technicality. We waited about 10 hours in a cordoned off area of the terminal for a relief aircraft to be flown in and take us to HKG. I finally arrived back in TPE 30 hours later, into the SAME gate our diverted flight used!

(Written on 2018年 12月 28日)(Permalink)

...or the B-52 that requested to be expedited due to an engine shutdown. Controller- "Cleared for the dreaded 7-engine approach!"

(Written on 2018年 12月 28日)(Permalink)

KSNA is my "home field". Taxiway C is very distinct from 20L (which has REIL strobes, VASI, etc.) Red-over-white on the VASI is 50-70 feet AGL at the threshold. Not much clearance over the 737...of course he may have been higher / steeper since it was a Husky.

(Written on 2017年 02月 15日)(Permalink)

I'm guessing that many drone hobbyists don't know where it's OK and not OK to fly. A "Recreational UAS" license would be a good idea. Take a 4 hour course mainly about airspace (could even be online) and a knowledge test. No minimum age, medical, or driver's license required....can't fly for commercial purposes or non-hobbyist/commercial drones (already regs in place on those).

(Written on 2015年 10月 19日)(Permalink)

Instead of pilots, they're "Aircraft Concierge"

(Written on 2015年 04月 22日)(Permalink)

I saw a Shamu last week on final to SNA.

(Written on 2015年 04月 22日)(Permalink)

"ON" the localizer versus "INTO" the localizer.....subtle but important difference!! :)

(Written on 2015年 04月 15日)(Permalink)

A cockpit area cam could help with accident investigation. In cases of deliberate malice, a piece of tape over the lens will literally mask all the evidence. I'm a design engineer... backups, interlocks, failsafes, redundant systems, procedures, etc. are excellent protection against mistakes and stupidity. And almost no protection against malicious intent.

(Written on 2015年 03月 27日)(Permalink)

If you're replying to my comments, you're correct. I didn't compare headings to previous flights. It does appear to be a planned heading change. That said, it's interesting (but hardly conclusive of anything) that the turn was at the same time the descent began. The previously mentioned airspeed dip on climbout is unusual...although is simply could be an ATC-requested speed reduction for spacing or traffic.

(Written on 2015年 03月 24日)(Permalink)

The flight log data is being misinterpreted. The rates of descent aren't as dramatic as they seem because they are instantaneous values between data points. The average rate from 37600 to 11400 feet is 2911fpm....an "agressive" descent but not too unusual. I believe an uncommunicated deviation from an airway requires a 10 degree left turn, the track log shows a 12 degree turn, then another 7 degrees. But this could be pure coincidence. There's an unusual, momentary drop in airspeed climbing through 23,200 feet that doesn't seem to affect the climb profile.

(Written on 2015年 03月 24日)(Permalink)