PacificWest From United States of America, joined May 2007, 77 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 9 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 7322 times:
Today, 8-22-09.. I flew flight 2425 (QXE425) from MFR-LAX. Q400.... The Crew was really something special... pilot told us he got permission from ATC to do a nice little maneuver around Mt. Shasta. We were heading south right towards it, he turns east, gives the pax on right side a nice one minute view of one of Shasta, then makes a hard right turn, for the left side (who really got lucky)... we were only at 18,000 (Mt. Shasta is 14,150 ft) and had a good 2-3 min view it was really incredible. He made a slow left bank around the mountain to go back on course. This might sound typical, but I've flown in and out of MFR at least a hundred times and have never had such a close up, breathtaking view of Mt. Shasta. After the mountain was out of view the entire cabin started clapping, loud enough that they definitely heard up front. The rest of the trip the co-pilot was pointing out landmarks, and the F/A's were engaging passengers... it was really a wonderful experience. The aerial tour of Mt. Shasta alone was worth the ticket. a one-way $200 ticket on a 600mi flight never felt so inexpensive.
I will post a trip report with pics I took from my phone camera, but I thought I'd share this with the main board, especially when flights like this are becoming few and far between. Thanks Horizon!
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5532 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 7052 times:
I was on a DL flight from SFO-ATL back in the early 1990's who did a similar maneuver over Yosemite National Park with a 763. It was quite the unique experience.
Flyboy80 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1856 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 6993 times:
I wish QX- undoubtingly the best regional brand in the skies- would have ordered their Q400s with some more ammenities for the longer flights. Reclining seats for instance, and at least a potable water system.
my views expressed here are my own, and do not represent any company or organization
KGAIflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 3651 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 5881 times:
Quoting Wedgetail737 (Reply 1): I was on a DL flight from SFO-ATL back in the early 1990's who did a similar maneuver over Yosemite National Park with a 763.
I had a similar experience several years ago flying Delta ANC-SLC. We took a short tour of the glaciers on Kenai Peninsula. Most of us forgot that our plane was a rickety, old 762 with broken lavatories and simply snapped pictures.
It made the trip for me.
I hope the airframe has been sent to the desert by this time.
Cschleic From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 1033 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 5 days ago) and read 4770 times:
I was on a SEA - PDX Horizon flight a couple of years ago and the captain, who was on his last flight before moving on to another type of plane, gave us a similar tour over the crater of Mt. St. Helens. It was February and there was a lot of snow on the mountain. Absolutely spectacular. He few just north of the crater (which faces north), then did a 180 so the other side of the plane could get the same view. It was a great experience.
Unfortunately I, and a couple of other passengers, once had an absolutely horrible experience with a Horizon flight attendant, but all other flights have been good.
Hatbutton From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1453 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3554 times:
Quoting Flyboy80 (Reply 2): I wish QX- undoubtingly the best regional brand in the skies- would have ordered their Q400s with some more ammenities for the longer flights. Reclining seats for instance, and at least a potable water system.
You don't ever let any opportunity pass you up, when QX is talked about, to rip on the QX Q400s do you?
Ditzyboy From Australia, joined Feb 2008, 680 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3449 times:
Quoting Flyboy80 (Reply 2):
I wish QX- undoubtingly the best regional brand in the skies- would have ordered their Q400s with some more ammenities for the longer flights. Reclining seats for instance, and at least a potable water system.
Don't worry FlyBoy. Qantas did the same thing with their DH8/Q400 fleet. There isn't even carts in the DH8 fleet, with crew having to 'run' the service. The Q400s have water in the lavs now, I believe (and they have always had carts).
Acey559 From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1341 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3286 times:
When I flew ATL-HNL a few summers ago the Captain gave us a nice bank towards the island of Maui on approach to HNL. We were pretty low and on the arrival so we couldn't really do too much maneuvering, but it was nice to know the guys up front were thinking about us.
Citation501SP From United States of America, joined May 2000, 194 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2894 times:
It just proves there are still Pilots out there that enjoy their jobs so much they want to share with everyone the beauty of the earth from above with everyone. Of course cudos need to be handed to the Controller who gave the go ahead for the Sightseeing pass as well.
I had a flight on AS where the Flight crew gave a guided tour from SEA to LAS just about every 20 minutes he pointed out landmarks on both sides of the aircraft. I guess I'm just old fashioned and thing the best IFE is the window.
Acidradio From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 1855 posts, RR: 10 Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2820 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
I've only flown QX one time, ACV-RDD-PDX, but they were truly a gem, it was a great flight with a magnificent crew flown on a substantial Q400 bird. There are many other regionals who could stand to take a lesson from them.
ZKEOJ From New Zealand, joined Feb 2005, 924 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2345 times:
In 2006, we had an iceberg drifting up from Antarctica, and eventually appeared on New Zealand's south coasts. When it - then much smaller already - was close to Dunedin, Air NZ pilots often did a short detour to show passengers the iceberg. When I was on a flight, the iceberg ha gone for a couple of days - sad I missed it, but great of the NZ crews to go out of their way to give passengers this unique experience..
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16826 posts, RR: 57 Reply 14, posted (3 years 9 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1983 times:
Quoting Wedgetail737 (Reply 1): I was on a DL flight from SFO-ATL back in the early 1990's who did a similar maneuver over Yosemite National Park with a 763. It was quite the unique experience.
You know, even a quick "point-out" is appreciated on a daylight flight. I remember on a NW DC-10, the Captain came on and told us to look out the right side and there was Half Dome at Yosemite. And there it was, gorgeous view from FL 360.
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