Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc...

[Revolutionist]

I'll be flying for the first time in the L.A. area. I'm already checked out at my flight school. Will LA Center usually let you fly into Class B airspace and tour Downtown LA, the Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc?

 

[ozziecat35]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

When I saw the Queen Mary from the air, it was after doing the VFR transition over the top of LAX at 3500 feet I believe...It's all in the sectional. Basically Socal wouldn't give us our IFR clearance enroute, so we hit the deck and did the corridor. There's a freq. for the corridor and a squawk code for it too IIRC. As far as the Hollywood sign, :dunno:

 

[subpilot]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

You can't just fly around LAX. You have to be on a VFR transition route, in the VFR cooridor, or stay below and clear. Read all the details on the LAX TAC. The Mini route takes you right over LAX and toward the Queen Mary southbound.

 

[launchpad]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

The queen mary is in LGB's class D airspace, so it shouldn't be too hard to be able to see that. The Hollywood sign may be a little harder because of LAX arrivals and BUR airspace. You may be able to do it if you stay below 2000 (I don't have a TAC here, so make sure on your own). Downtown LA is probably not going to happen. LAX arrivals from the north and west are vectored right over it, and I'm pretty sure the class B goes down pretty low. With all that being said, SoCal approach controllers are pretty good, and it never hurts to ask...

 

[MarkE]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

The Hollywood sign is doable however I've only done it once as a passenger. Looking at the TAC though if you stay below 3000, fly towards the Observatory you should have no problem avoiding the Bravo and BUR's Charlie while getting a good view of the sign. As stated above you can transition through the special flight rules area and make it down the the Queen Mary. As for downtown I've never done it but it looks doable as well if you stay below 2500. DEFINITELY talk to SoCal as there's a lot of traffic in that area. They really are a helpful bunch. Come to think of it I'm going about this as if you're flying out of the valley. What airport you flying out of?

 

[Jshutt64]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

You're probably not going to get cleared through the Bravo, but you can tour downtown and all that without it. This is how I've done it in the past.

Start at LGB. Follow the river/710 north at 1800 while avoiding the SFC Bravo to the west. Get to downtown area, circle around it (not too close, though) at 1800 or 2000-2500 if you want to get a little higher. Once you circle downtown, get a Burbank Charlie clearance from SoCal. Once/if you get that, head north to the Hollywood sign. Watch the mountain obstructions, climb up to the 3000 feet area as soon as you're clear of the LAX. Once you've seen what you want to see, head west over to the Sepulveda Pass. Climb to 3500, and transition through the LAX Special Flight Rules southeastbound. Then, you can head over the Queen Mary and go check that out.

It works, but it's hard if you're not familiar with the area. I wouldn't suggest trying it until you have done a few flights around here.

 

[Jayrock]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

You're probably not going to get cleared through the Bravo, but you can tour downtown and all that without it. This is how I've done it in the past.

Start at LGB. Follow the river/710 north at 1800 while avoiding the SFC Bravo to the west. Get to downtown area, circle around it (not too close, though) at 1800 or 2000-2500 if you want to get a little higher. Once you circle downtown, get a Burbank Charlie clearance from SoCal. Once/if you get that, head north to the Hollywood sign. Watch the mountain obstructions, climb up to the 3000 feet area as soon as you're clear of the LAX. Once you've seen what you want to see, head west over to the Sepulveda Pass. Climb to 3500, and transition through the LAX Special Flight Rules southeastbound. Then, you can head over the Queen Mary and go check that out.

It works, but it's hard if you're not familiar with the area. I wouldn't suggest trying it until you have done a few flights around here.

That's pretty much the way I have done it for downtown LA/Hollywood. As already mentioned, you NEED to be familiar with the area.

 

[francis03]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

You're probably not going to get cleared through the Bravo, but you can tour downtown and all that without it. This is how I've done it in the past.

Start at LGB. Follow the river/710 north at 1800 while avoiding the SFC Bravo to the west. Get to downtown area, circle around it (not too close, though) at 1800 or 2000-2500 if you want to get a little higher. Once you circle downtown, get a Burbank Charlie clearance from SoCal. Once/if you get that, head north to the Hollywood sign. Watch the mountain obstructions, climb up to the 3000 feet area as soon as you're clear of the LAX. Once you've seen what you want to see, head west over to the Sepulveda Pass. Climb to 3500, and transition through the LAX Special Flight Rules southeastbound. Then, you can head over the Queen Mary and go check that out.

It works, but it's hard if you're not familiar with the area. I wouldn't suggest trying it until you have done a few flights around here.

when ur by the queen mary, make sure that ur on the practice area frequency and when ur following the river its also good to be on the helicopter frequency (123.025 if i recall)..... also, after the hollywood sign, u can call santa monica and request for a mini route southbound thru Bravo. It gives u a good view of LAX from 2500ft...

here are some pics I took when I lazily flew around...

the Hollywood Sign is right beside the mike boom

Have Fun!!! Socal is a great place to fly!!!

 

[Jshutt64]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

when ur by the queen mary, make sure that ur on the practice area frequency

:yeahthat:

When you're flying south of LB over the water, you really need to be on the practice area frequency. The Long Beach practice area can get dangerously busy, and I had more than a couple instances that I've came way too close for comfort with some buffoon not on frequency.

 

[Jshutt64]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

Oh and nice pics Splitz. Pretty good vis, which can be a rarity down here.

 

[fholbert]

Re: Flying to Downtown LA, Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc..

I'll be flying for the first time in the L.A. area. I'm already checked out at my flight school. Will LA Center usually let you fly into Class B airspace and tour Downtown LA, the Hollywood Sign, Queen Mary, etc?

It will be SoCal Approach, not LA Center. Just for sightseeing they usually will keep you out of class B. Have you looked at this chart? Study the VFR routes. http://skyvector.com/?ll=33.93316734421168,-118.43202152210432&chart=114&zoom=3