LA mid-air, American Flyers

One was an AF airplane, the other was from Berlin Avionics. News reports are still sketchy, but I have a friend who investigates accidents out of the Van Nuys FSDO. I'll poke her for some info and see what she comes up with.
 
We'll. Thoughts and prayers for the Berlin Avionics plane. The news is saying one on board. Maybe a good reason to take a spotter pilot on avionics test flights rather than being heads down pushing buttons? Total speculation on my part but I've made that mistake myself trying to figure out how my 430 works.
 
Sad stuff. I just got to fly through the LAX SFRA and into VNY for the first time recently. It was pretty wild flying northbound into the SFRA, getting radar service terminated, flying over the top of LAX and realizing that I wasn't obligated to talk to any ATC on the other side as long as I stayed out of the BUR Class C. From what I've heard that whole area from Santa Monica west to Malibu and Thousand Oaks is kind of a no man's land for VFR (since LAX Departure really doesn't want to talk to you).
 
DE727UPS said:
We'll. Thoughts and prayers for the Berlin Avionics plane. The news is saying one on board. Maybe a good reason to take a spotter pilot on avionics test flights rather than being heads down pushing buttons? Total speculation on my part but I've made that mistake myself trying to figure out how my 430 works.
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You make a good point. In fact, I recently flew for a friend while he tested his new ads-b out equipment. Afterall, how can you see and avoid if you can't see?
 
DE727UPS said:
We'll. Thoughts and prayers for the Berlin Avionics plane. The news is saying one on board. Maybe a good reason to take a spotter pilot on avionics test flights rather than being heads down pushing buttons? Total speculation on my part but I've made that mistake myself trying to figure out how my 430 works.
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From what I heard, it was an engine test flight of their airplane. And now it's been confirmed from people I know at SMO that there was only one on board. The practice area out there can get pretty busy sometimes, and they are all confined into a pretty small space, goegraphically and altitude wise. You have terrian below that can top out as high as 3k, and South West coming into Burbank sometimes as low as 4500, LAX airspace out to the south east and an active aerobatic area to the north west. If you are in anything other than a 172, you can work the entire simi valley practice area very quickly. A flight from VNY to CMA in a 172, right through the heart of the practice are only takes about .2/3 on the hobbs. There are three airports that use the area, all of them with multiple schools, which is why SoCal usually doesn't issue advisories to people out there learning. They would get WAY to busy.
 
inigo88 said:
Sad stuff. I just got to fly through the LAX SFRA and into VNY for the first time recently. It was pretty wild flying northbound into the SFRA, getting radar service terminated, flying over the top of LAX and realizing that I wasn't obligated to talk to any ATC on the other side as long as I stayed out of the BUR Class C. From what I've heard that whole area from Santa Monica west to Malibu and Thousand Oaks is kind of a no man's land for VFR (since LAX Departure really doesn't want to talk to you).
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It is a no man's land at times especially if you choose the SFRA. I would either file instruments, go over the top of class B, or go around it all together. Fly safely!!
 
inigo88 said:
Sad stuff. I just got to fly through the LAX SFRA and into VNY for the first time recently. It was pretty wild flying northbound into the SFRA, getting radar service terminated, flying over the top of LAX and realizing that I wasn't obligated to talk to any ATC on the other side as long as I stayed out of the BUR Class C. From what I've heard that whole area from Santa Monica west to Malibu and Thousand Oaks is kind of a no man's land for VFR (since LAX Departure really doesn't want to talk to you).
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Yea that area is nuts. I always try and call Socal right after leaving the corridor. Way to many planes on the way to CMA.
 
smack300 said:
Yea that area is nuts. I always try and call Socal right after leaving the corridor. Way to many planes on the way to CMA.
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That's why I only file IFR. It doesn't give you complete protection but an extra set of eyes when you need it.
 
I know there has been a lot of talk trying to close that airport for years. Will this accident be the final nail in that coffin?
 
Stomp16 said:
I know there has been a lot of talk trying to close that airport for years. Will this accident be the final nail in that coffin?
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What airport are you referring to? It sounds like the midair occurred over Calabasas and Westlake Village, between VNY and CMA.
 
mshunter said:
From what I heard, it was an engine test flight of their airplane. And now it's been confirmed from people I know at SMO that there was only one on board. The practice area out there can get pretty busy sometimes, and they are all confined into a pretty small space, goegraphically and altitude wise. You have terrian below that can top out as high as 3k, and South West coming into Burbank sometimes as low as 4500, LAX airspace out to the south east and an active aerobatic area to the north west. If you are in anything other than a 172, you can work the entire simi valley practice area very quickly. A flight from VNY to CMA in a 172, right through the heart of the practice are only takes about .2/3 on the hobbs. There are three airports that use the area, all of them with multiple schools, which is why SoCal usually doesn't issue advisories to people out there learning. They would get WAY to busy.
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Do you happen to know what the exact boundaries are of the Simi Valley Practice Area? I know some of them are listed in the AF/D (like the LA Harbor one) but I wasn't aware of that one.
 
inigo88 said:
Do you happen to know what the exact boundaries are of the Simi Valley Practice Area? I know some of them are listed in the AF/D (like the LA Harbor one) but I wasn't aware of that one.
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It's not really charted, just local knowledge. No alert area or anything, although there is a note on the sectional chart about it.
 
One of my former students was supposed to take his CFI checkride in that AF 182RG this week. So he's kinda SOL now, which obviously doesn't compare to the tragedy of lives lost. Just sucks all the way around. I was on my way to SBP and back when it happened. It was a crappy vis afternoon between haze and sun glare. Without the TIS for help, I never woulda seen any of SoCal's traffic calls. Safe flyin everyone.
 
As much as I'd like to say who it is to give support... I can't... just know that the CFI, and students are ok. The other plane however.... not so much... :-/

EDIT: I flew that plane from DPA-ADS about 8 months ago, and took my CFI-I Part 141 ride in that plane... sad to see it down and out...
 
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