DeeKnow’s Grotto

Much to the dismay of my domestic operations manager (the missus) I got up this morning at 5am, signed on to VATSIM, and flew two domestic B733 legs for SouthWest Airlines as part of the ZLA California-Screaming event.

First up was a leg from Las Vegas (McCarran International) to Los Angeles. Things were heating up traffic wise, lots on the GND at KLAS and a few departures as I taxied out. Up and away on 25R, its a fairly steep climb with the mountains in front of you, then leveling off on the SID profile until cleared up to Cruise level. It’s a nice short leg, with loads of way-points along the way and a nice busy descent into KLAX considering its more or less straight in. There’s a fairly complex STAR profile and ATC expect you to follow it without too much prompting (specially on busy days like today). So it was I touched down in LAX, and taxied to the SouthWest terminal right next door to where the AirNZ long-hauls arrive/depart.

Approaching 24R KLAX to land (check out the swarm of aircraft labels on the GND)

Next leg was KLAX to KOAK (Metropolitan Oakland). Once again its a fairly short hop, but the SID at LAX is pretty full on with parallel operations the norm, you’re expected to hold your line on the way out until vectored away to connect with your departure. Have heard many a pilot get chewed out there when they’ve begun their departure procedure without being cleared to deviate from RWY heading. Also at LAX 24R you need to keep below 3000′ until crossing a radial of a nearby VOR so there’s plenty to keep you busy.

The Oakland arrival is an interesting one too. Pretty detailed STAR procedure, a serious kink at the end to get lined up for the ILS on RWY29 which is typically used. Plus the CTR freqs are VERY busy up there on a day like this as they’re covering airspace used by traffic from San Fran, San Jose and Oakland. To increase the stress a little more for me today and to expedite movements I was offered a visual approach to KOAK which I’ve never taken before, shouldn’t have worried, the trusty old SouthWest 733 handled it beautifully.

Landed and shut-down at KOAK at 8am on the dot. Two flights with planning, ground movements and delays all wrapped up in 3-hours. Not bad. The ATC coverage was just FANTASTIC. At each location I left/arrived at today there was GND, TWR and APP, and at LAX a pair of both for the two sides of the aerodrome. The CTR coverage was incredible, musta been passed between at least 10 different CTR positions on the two legs. The ZLA guys are very professional, and very patient, and seem to keep their cool even when the pressure is full on. Much kudos to them.

Following is a screenie of the positions manned in the California area alone, pretty impressive..

The event wasn’t quite as busy traffic wise as other swarm type events can be, but if you’re looking for some ATC that’s as real-as-it-gets then drop on in to the ZLA area some time. You wont be disappointed.