Pizzapolli From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 243 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1737 times:
I hear that most nights a/c land on the 6's and 7's so to avoid the neighborhoods. I really want to see that from imperial hill so I was wondering is it pretty much every night, and at about what time does that occur (as a general rule)? I guess the second part of the question would be is there much traffic at all to see if I did make it there late at night?
UA777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1713 times:
Probably 8-9ish. When there is actually no night. I'm not a big LAX guy but that's my educated guess. And sure you'll get traffic. The red eyes heading out. The flights to Asia that leave at the crack of dawn. The usualy late flights from say PHX or SFO. And CARGO! <------can always expect to see at least one or two cargo a/c. Hope this helps.
Mizzou65201 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 195 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1675 times:
LAX doesn't "turn around" until after the little burst of activity at 2330-2345L. Then all takeoffs are on the 24s/25s and all landings are on the 6/7s wx permitting.
AAR90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3410 posts, RR: 50 Reply 3, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1547 times:
Normally LAX changes to 06 landings and 25 takeoffs around midnight. Actual time varies depending (primarily) upon inbound traffic density. If inbounds are running late, LAX will probably change directions late as well. Normal westbound flow begins again at around 06:30am... again, depending upon inbound traffic flow.
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1801 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1508 times:
LAX turns around at about 1am once all of the New Zealand, Australia, and Asian flights clear out. 130am has a few Central America flights, and a few United arrivals along with an America West flight, but that's about it. I've worked at LAX from 1am to 11am and the pattern turns back to "normal" at around 6am. The innaugural flight for the official turnaround is usually the Qantas flight from Sydney at 630am. The 6/7 approaches at 3am, 415am, 5am, 545am, etc are the cargo flights. There are lots of UPS, ABX, FedEx, World, etc. There may be around 10-15 flights for the cargo airlines between 1-6am. But yes, it is correct that they takeoff on 24/25 and land 6/7.
If someone were to go to LAX at 1-6am, then you'd want to be fairly patient. It would be good to estimate an aircraft landing once every half hour with the exception of a few large pockets of traffic. There are times when the cargo airlines seem to be following eachother and all roll in at the same time. The flow of traffic is very predictable until 6am when QF flies in, followed by NZ with a UA arriving. Then as the sun rises, you'll get more and more until before you know it, you're back to LAX's standard arrival once every 20 seconds.
If you really wanted to see some night action, go at around 10pm and stay until 1am. LOTS of heavy departures. If you've got a thing for cargo, then stay during the reverse pattern times, which does occur every single night.
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
747srule From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 419 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1418 times:
You could do this during the day in October and November when the Santa Ana winds start blowing.
Wilax From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 465 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1320 times:
Its a damn shame that they closed Sandpiper ln. You could reach up and slap the belly of aircraft approaching 6L.
WesternDC1010 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 320 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1291 times:
>>You could do this during the day in October and November when the Santa Ana winds start blowing.<<
Or, if there are heavy rainstrorms where winds come out of the east, you will see departures to the east and arrivals from the west. During normal weather night time operations, departures are still to the west and arrivals are from the west.
I've never ventured up to Imperial Hill anytime after 11PM and if I did, I would think that El Segundo Police patrol that area often since it is adjacent to a residential neighborhood with a neighborhood watch group. If anyone has ventured up there overnight for spotting, are you usually left alone?
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