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Sixpack, I didn't think you liked SoCal that much. I guess smog provides a good substitute for clouds.
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I was flying in Socal just before the fires started. Visibility was reported as "3 socal miles". Seems that most of the airports do their best to remain VFR. Spotting an airport through smog and haze must be a skill that takes some time to acquire, because I couldn't see the runway until I was more like 1.5 miles.
The neat thing about Socal is the variety of flying. If you want Approaches down to minimums, just head towards the beach airports. If you want mountains, you can take-off from KRAL at 1000msl and be within 20 minutes of 12,000' peaks. Airports: LAX, ONT, LGB, VNY, BUR, SNA, to name a few ... all within shouting distance.
You gotta hand it to the controllers at Socal Approach. The do an incredible job with huge traffic loads, yet they are among the most helpful controllers in the land.
Yeah, I do love flying in Oregon. And I do like working with Seattle Center. But I have to say, there's a pace in Southern California that I sometimes really miss.