Does anyone know why N2142U is at ONT? It flew from LAX-ONT last night and is still on the ground.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... u/#e353923

It will fly to SFO on July 27. I don't know why it flew into ONT.

There's a little bit of speculation that it's for filming a new safety video or other promotional filming purposes.

adamblang wrote:

There's a little bit of speculation that it's for filming a new safety video or other promotional filming purposes.

Why this speculation? Any links to confirm?

There wouldn't be any links publicizing internal company functions, no.

What else would you do with a 77W for four days at an airport that doesn't do maintenance for United in the vicinity of Hollywood's video production companies ?

YVAMWB1900 wrote:

adamblang wrote:

There's a little bit of speculation that it's for filming a new safety video or other promotional filming purposes.

Why this speculation? Any links to confirm?

It wouldn't be speculation if there were links to confirm...........

There is definitely something going on at ONT. LAX sent 5 technicians and supervisor on a field trip to ONT. So far they have removed 11 sections of seating, flight attendant seat at door 3R, and overhead storage bin above door 5R for "commercial access" (whatever that means). I am getting this information from the maintenance log.

KVH68 wrote:

There is definitely something going on at ONT. LAX sent 5 technicians and supervisor on a field trip to ONT. So far they have removed 11 sections of seating, flight attendant seat at door 3R, and overhead storage bin above door 5R for "commercial access" (whatever that means). I am getting this information from the maintenance log.

Definitely sounds like shooting a commercial or safety video. You need room for camera and sound equipment, as well as the production staff.

ONT is frequently used to filming due to lots of empty tarmac and apron available for setup. So sounds entirely possible this plane is at ONT for some sort of commercial or video shoot.

My buddy is a 777 pilot and flew that flight. I know the answer but can't say. Y'all will find out soon.

According to the US Olympian Gus Kenworthy's Instagram story, United is shooting a new Olympics commercial.

There ya have it. Thanks need2fly!

Ya think this is part of UA's problem? Its summer with traditional high loads of the year. This is a brand new plane that cost a couple hundred million and it is out of service to shoot a commercial? Can't that same scene be created in a hanger or studio lot someplace? But then maybe the co Einsteins that now run the airline have figured out a way to make money while the plane is on the ground; defying all logic.

727200 wrote:

Ya think this is part of UA's problem? Its summer with traditional high loads of the year. This is a brand new plane that cost a couple hundred million and it is out of service to shoot a commercial? Can't that same scene be created in a hanger or studio lot someplace? But then maybe the co Einsteins that now run the airline have figured out a way to make money while the plane is on the ground; defying all logic.

This 77W was delivered 5 days ago.

727200 wrote:

Ya think this is part of UA's problem? Its summer with traditional high loads of the year. This is a brand new plane that cost a couple hundred million and it is out of service to shoot a commercial? Can't that same scene be created in a hanger or studio lot someplace? But then maybe the co Einsteins that now run the airline have figured out a way to make money while the plane is on the ground; defying all logic.

The 747 is not retired yet, where do you want them to fly it?

Don't forget, this plane completed induction in SEA and sat there for like 7 days after induction. It flew an employee flight from PAE to ORD. Then it was ferried to LAX where it sat for another 5 days.

Certainly an add of some type, as suggested above. There were all manner of studio and production vehicles around it.


Between this and the water canon salute for Dynamic, a pretty eventful day for ONT.

727200 wrote:

Ya think this is part of UA's problem?

The fact that they are producing promotional material like every other airline on the planet is a problem?

Unlikely.

adamblang wrote:

There wouldn't be any links publicizing internal company functions, no.

What else would you do with a 77W for four days at an airport that doesn't do maintenance for United in the vicinity of Hollywood's video production companies ?

Could also be a film company rental for scenes for a TV show or movie. But likewise those are not normally publicly announced either.

KVH68 wrote:

There is definitely something going on at ONT. LAX sent 5 technicians and supervisor on a field trip to ONT. So far they have removed 11 sections of seating, flight attendant seat at door 3R, and overhead storage bin above door 5R for "commercial access" (whatever that means). I am getting this information from the maintenance log.

Commercial access means they removed some seats & bins to allow the lighting & cameras to be inside the plane.

727200 wrote:

Ya think this is part of UA's problem? Its summer with traditional high loads of the year. This is a brand new plane that cost a couple hundred million and it is out of service to shoot a commercial? Can't that same scene be created in a hanger or studio lot someplace? But then maybe the co Einsteins that now run the airline have figured out a way to make money while the plane is on the ground; defying all logic.

This might be one of the more unfounded attacks I've read here. Plenty of valid ways to criticize United, but this one is silly.

b747400erf wrote:

727200 wrote:

Ya think this is part of UA's problem? Its summer with traditional high loads of the year. This is a brand new plane that cost a couple hundred million and it is out of service to shoot a commercial? Can't that same scene be created in a hanger or studio lot someplace? But then maybe the co Einsteins that now run the airline have figured out a way to make money while the plane is on the ground; defying all logic.

This 77W was delivered 5 days ago.

Yes and it could be a week or 2 before the route it is set to operate has been active for seat sales. Just because its delivered does not mean it's in service the next day. If it's new route has only sold 40% of tickets and the plane was delivered early or on time, why not use the older frame for a few more days when reting out a brand new ie. no worn or damaged seats for an advo or a movie could work to UA's advantage in some way.

rbavfan wrote:

Could also be a film company rental for scenes for a TV show or movie. But likewise those are not normally publicly announced either.

Correct, except to clarify that these are never publicly announced.

It also isn't for a movie or show. The studios and production companies already have sets and airframes (including one permanently stationed at ONT) dedicated to their purposes. There's no reason to pay whatever UA would want just to end up posting out half the airplane.
This will be either an add or promotional for UA, for something UA is tightly bound to (Credit Card, sponsored sport event, etc...), or a company use video (safety video, etc.)

The rumor I hear is that they are shooting a commercial for the Olympics. I guess United is a sponsor. I don't know which Olympics. Before anyone jumps on me I work at the tower and this what we've heard.

FX1816 wrote:

The rumor I hear is that they are shooting a commercial for the Olympics. I guess United is a sponsor. I don't know which Olympics. Before anyone jumps on me I work at the tower and this what we've heard.

It was mentioned upthread that an Instagram user was posting the filming of the commercial. Check out @guskenworthy. His story has about 2 hours left before it disappears. I'd say it's pretty much confirmed at this point.

FX1816 wrote:

The rumor I hear is that they are shooting a commercial for the Olympics. I guess United is a sponsor. I don't know which Olympics. Before anyone jumps on me I work at the tower and this what we've heard.

It would be for the 2018 Winter Olympics held in February.

FX1816 wrote:

I guess United is a sponsor.

United has been a sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee for more than 35 years.

727200 wrote:
Ya think this is part of UA's problem? Its summer with traditional high loads of the year. This is a brand new plane that cost a couple hundred million and it is out of service to shoot a commercial? Can't that same scene be created in a hanger or studio lot someplace? But then maybe the co Einsteins that now run the airline have figured out a way to make money while the plane is on the ground; defying all logic.

Actually, I'm going to defend UAL here. using a brand new, clean, sparkling new aircraft for a video makes perfect sense. since it hasn't officially entered revenue service, what is UAL losing? Instead of pulling an operational plane from actual missions, they get to use a plane that hasn't yet carried a paying passenger, doesn't have any creaks or wrinkles, and generally will put their best face forward. With the Olympics tie in, they obviously want to look their best and using a new 77& will aid in this. What should they use? A twenty year old 737 with a beat up interior?

Also don't forget that United has slack in their 77W fleet right now as they have more than enough frames in service to cover the set operating routes and some others that are flying familiarization and training for ground crews on 772 sub outs.

Next a.net attack against United will be if 2143 gets delivered with nothing special on it for marking the 1,500th 777.

need2fly wrote:

According to the US Olympian Gus Kenworthy's Instagram story, United is shooting a new Olympics commercial.

This is exactly what 2142 is doing in ONT

why all the Speculation? Airframes are used for commercials pretty regularly, This airframe isn't even in revenue service yet. No better time for it to be a commercial. When it goes into revenue service? Getting it for a commercial would REALLY be a pain!!

wn676 wrote:

FX1816 wrote:

The rumor I hear is that they are shooting a commercial for the Olympics. I guess United is a sponsor. I don't know which Olympics. Before anyone jumps on me I work at the tower and this what we've heard.

It was mentioned upthread that an Instagram user was posting the filming of the commercial. Check out @guskenworthy. His story has about 2 hours left before it disappears. I'd say it's pretty much confirmed at this point.

Don't have Instagram and since I'm on vacation, out of the country, that is what I'm told by my coworkers. Besides I don't have proof that I can put on here I know many of the new users on here jump all over you if you don't have proof. So that is why I put rumor, I knew it was fact.

Junction wrote:

FX1816 wrote:

I guess United is a sponsor.

United has been a sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee for more than 35 years.

Cool, I don't follow the Olympics since I find them quite boring.

FX1816 wrote:

wn676 wrote:

FX1816 wrote:

The rumor I hear is that they are shooting a commercial for the Olympics. I guess United is a sponsor. I don't know which Olympics. Before anyone jumps on me I work at the tower and this what we've heard.

It was mentioned upthread that an Instagram user was posting the filming of the commercial. Check out @guskenworthy. His story has about 2 hours left before it disappears. I'd say it's pretty much confirmed at this point.

Don't have Instagram and since I'm on vacation, out of the country, that is what I'm told by my coworkers. Besides I don't have proof that I can put on here I know many of the new users on here jump all over you if you don't have proof. So that is why I put rumor, I knew it was fact.

Wasn't trying to attack you or anything, just pointing you in the direction of definitive proof. And you don't need the app; you can Google the handle + "instagram" and it will bring you to a browser version.

Ship 2142 went ONTSFO -UA2787. Hopefully they put everything back in just as they found it.
I tried to post a pic of Gus standing in the engine (naturally.. don't they all do that )
But the link won't work of course.

Instagram doesn't allow public access to the image URLs, but you can share the URL to the post itself. This should work for everyone whether on a desktop or mobile:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW_vr4_gKMk ... skenworthy

intotheair wrote:

Instagram doesn't allow public access to the image URLs, but you can share the URL to the post itself. This should work for everyone whether on a desktop or mobile:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW_vr4_gKMk ... skenworthy

Thank you