Sheriff's helicopter makes emergency landing at Poly High

As a side note, the helicopter in the article is Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King (S-61B) N950DF - 152702/5 (c/n 61360) which is based at Long Beach Airport (LGB).


A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter dumped fuel near the Port of Long Beach and made an emergency landing this afternoon at Poly High School.

The Air-5 Sikorsky rescue helicopter was on a maintenance flight check when one of the helicopter's two engines failed at 12:40 p.m., Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said. The crew immediately headed back to Long Beach Airport, he said.

"While en route, the pilots detected a sudden loss of a significant amount of engine oil, and prepared for an emergency landing," Parker said. "In order to land safely, it was necessary, under emergency procedures, to offload some fuel to lighten the aircraft over downtown Long Beach from an altitude of about 1,000 feet."

The aircraft released 100 gallons of jet fuel over the Port of Long Beach and downtown before landing on Poly High's baseball field, officials said.

The two pilots and two mechanics aboard the helicopter were uninjured, and no one on the ground was hurt, Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Steve Yamamoto said.

Summer school is in session at Poly High, 1600 Atlantic Ave., but it's in the morning. Students who were using other sports fields there said they didn't see the helicopter arrive.
The landing didn't damage the aircraft or school property, Yamamoto said.

The flight path in which the fuel was released was roughly from the old Long Beach Naval Shipyard on a direct flight path to the high school, Parker said. The path included the naval yard, port loading docks, some residential areas and downtown Long Beach.

Yamamoto said fuel also spilled onto the Golden Shore RV Resort at the western edge of downtown, where one person was struck. Paramedics were called to the scene but determined that the person hadn't been injured, he said.

The Fire Department received several calls from the public complaining of an unknown liquid falling from the sky on them, Parker said. There were no reports of hospitalizations, he said.

According to a hazardous material spill report from the California Emergency Management Agency, two fuel sheens, one 300 feet long and one 100 feet long, were initially reported on the water in Long Beach Harbor near Pier F.

At 1:38 p.m., personnel from a ship sighted a sheen almost 1,000 feet long and 500 feet wide, according to the report. Cleanup of the spill is being handled by National Response Corp. Environmental Services, the report says.

Parker said the helicopter blades are being dismantled so that the main aircraft body can be loaded onto a truck.

(Paul Eakins - Press Telegram)

Updates for July 16-20

A C-130 landed at 7:30pm on 7/16 and parked at Signature. The plane departed at 8:24am on 7/19.

Boeing C-17 08-8200 (P-200) departed on 7/20 at 1:41pm on its first flight. The plane returned later in the afternoon. This plane will be delivered to McGuire AFB.

Raytheon 727-223 (c/n 22467/1765) N289MT arrived from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) at 12:05pm on 7/20 and parked at Signature. The plane performed about 5 noise test flights before departing back to LAX later that afternoon.

The Bahrain Amiri Flight 747-4P8 (c/n 33684/1324) A9C-HMK arrived from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (KPHX) where it had done 3 missed approaches. The 747 performed three missed approaches at LGB before returning to Victorville (VCV/KVCV) where the airplane originated from. Interesting enought the plane used a Fed Ex call sign. The flight number was FDX9091. Maybe Bahrain bought the antimissle system from Fed Ex and they were testing it on the plane? Who knows.

Allegiant Air announces Colorado Springs to Long Beach Service

LAS VEGAS – Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) and its subsidiary low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, today announced nonstop jet service to Long Beach, Calif., and Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., from Colorado Springs, Colo., will begin September 15. The company, known for its great travel deals, will offer fares as low as $29.99* one-way to and from Southern California and Arizona.

"We're pleased to bring two more affordable and convenient ways for our customers to get away," Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant President, said. "In 2002, we began serving Colorado Springs residents by offering nonstop flights to Las Vegas. We now look forward to offering the community the only nonstop, low-cost service to Long Beach and Phoenix-Mesa."

"The Allegiant service to Las Vegas has been a very successful route at Colorado Springs Airport," Mark Earle, Colorado Springs Airport Director of Aviation, said. "The addition of new nonstop Allegiant service to Phoenix and Long Beach means our customers will now have low-cost service to three of our top destinations."

The new flights will operate five times weekly between Colorado Springs Airport (COS) and Long Beach Airport (LGB) with service Wednesday and Saturday. Flights will depart Colorado Springs at 9:25 a.m. arriving in Long Beach at 10:40 a.m. Flights leaving Long Beach will depart at 11:20 a.m. arriving in Colorado Springs at 2:30 p.m. (all flight times are local).

The new service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) will operate on Wednesday and Saturday. Flights will depart Colorado Springs at 3:10 p.m. arriving in Phoenix-Mesa at 3:55 p.m. Flights leaving Phoenix-Mesa will depart at 6 a.m. arriving in Colorado Springs at 8:45 a.m. (all flight times are local).

The airline commented market research and input from local community leaders indicate the Colorado Springs community will welcome the new nonstop flights and low fares to both Long Beach and Phoenix-Mesa. Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet aircraft on the routes. Allegiant began low-cost, nonstop service to Las Vegas Feb. 14, 2002.

Southern California is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Stretching from San Diego to the northern most outskirts of Los Angeles County, Southern California is celebrated for its breathtaking scenery, theme parks, world-famous beaches, unsurpassed shopping, diverse nightlife and renowned entertainment. With landmarks like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Santa Monica Pier and the Queen Mary to its world-famous theme parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, Southern California is full of entertainment.

With breathtaking scenery, endless sun, unmatched resorts and miles of world-class golf courses, Phoenix-Mesa is a gateway to all that Arizona has to offer, including the Grand Canyon, Scottsdale, Tempe and Sedona. Not only is the area considered "The Golf Capital of the World," but also the "Resort Capital of the World," with numerous four- and five-diamond resorts. These premier resort communities feature shopping, dining, spa, activities and luxury accommodations for the perfect getaway to Arizona's unique Southwestern hospitality.

Allegiant is more than an airline, it is a full-service travel company that offers great value to its customers through its hotel, car rental and entertainment packages. The company partners with more than 30 of Southern California's most exciting hotel properties, including: Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Best Western Pavilions, Best Western Stovall's Inn, Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort. The company also partners with more than 40 of Arizona's most exciting hotel properties, including: Arizona Biltmore, Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa, Sheraton Crescent Hotel, Arizona Golf Resort, Hyatt Place Phoenix-Mesa, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa and the Phoenician. Allegiant provides low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car.

Allegiant's $29.99* one-way introductory fare is limited, must be purchased by Aug. 4, 2010 and is valid for travel through Jan. 31, 2011. Introductory fares are not available on all flights. After the introductory fare period, regular one-way fares on the route start as low as $49.99 one-way.

Reservations can be made on the airline's website at www.allegiant.com or by calling the company's travel experts at 702-505-8888.

Updates for Tuesday 7-13-10

NASA T-38 N960NA (c/n T.6242) arrived at 12:35pm from El Paso Int'l (KELP) as NASA960 and parked at Signature. The plane departed back to El Paso Int'l (KELP) at 6:34pm as NASA960.

NASA T-38 N920NS (c/n N.5956) arrived at 5:02pm from Miramar MCAS (KNKX) as NASA920 and parked at Signature. The plane departed to El Paso Int'l (KELP) at 6:38pm as NASA920.

Updates for Monday 7-12-10

NASA T-38 N918NA (c/n N.5954) arrived at 9:50am from El Paso Int'l (KELP) as NASA918 and parked at Signature. The plane departed back to El Paso Int'l (KELP) at 1:45pm as NASA918.

NASA T-38 N917NA (c/n N.5953) arrived at 10:46am from El Paso Int'l (KELP) as NASA917 and parked at Signature. The plane departed back to El Paso Int'l (KELP) at 1:38pm as NASA917.

Allegiant moves Idaho Falls service to LGB from LAX

LAS VEGAS – Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), and its subsidiary low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, today announced as of October 8 it will move its service between Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Long Beach Airport (LGB).

"Southeast Idaho residents will appreciate the simple facility design and easy customer experience at Long Beach Airport," Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant president, said. "We are confident our customers will continue to enjoy Allegiant's popular low-fare, nonstop flights and hotel packages to and from Southern California."

The route will operate twice weekly between Idaho Falls and Long Beach Airport, with service Monday and Friday. Flights will depart Idaho Falls at 2 p.m. arriving in Long Beach at 3:10 p.m. Flights leaving Long Beach will depart at 3:50 p.m. arriving in Idaho Falls at 7 p.m. (all flight times are local). The carrier will utilize a full-size, 150-seat MD-80 jet aircraft on the route. Allegiant began nonstop flights to Las Vegas Nov. 11, 2005, and service to Los Angeles June 3, 2010.

Reservations can be made on the airline's website at www.allegiant.com or by calling the company's travel experts at 702-505-8888.

Polet AN-124 Arrives in Long Beach

Polet Flight Anotonov AN-124 RA-82075 (c/n 9773053459147) arrived on Tuesday at 1:35pm from Ladd Aaf (PAFB/FBK) (Fairbanks/Ft Wainwright, AK) as POT2027 and parked on taxiway Alpha. The plane picked up a mach up of a russian airliner for the Farnborough Air Show which is July 19-25, 2010. The plane departed at 2:35pm for London Stansted (EGSS/STN) as POT2026.

Allegiant Air begins service to Long Beach

LONG BEACH -- Allegiant Airlines made its debut flight Thursday into Long Beach Airport, joining recent arrival Frontier as the latest carrier at Daugherty Field.

Allegiant will operate five non-stop flights weekly to Stockton and three to northern Washington, just across the border from Vancouver, Canada.

The airline's first flight to Long Beach, from Bellingham, Washington, arrived just after 5 p.m. Thursday, carrying about 140 people aboard an MD-80 jet.

Long Beach Airport Director Mario Rodriguez said the new carrier should push annual passenger volumes well above 3 million.

"It's a good deal for the Long Beach community and the airport because we have new jobs, new revenues and new locations that expand the airport's reach," Rodriguez said.

The airline is the sixth to service Long Beach Airport, which city leaders contend remains on the few bright spots in a depressed local economy.

"We're hoping that with this new airline we can attract more people to spend a day or two in Long Beach, and get to love the city and come back," said Val Lerch, a Long Beach City Councilwoman whose Ninth District borders the airport. "And when they come back and visit the shoreline and eat at our restaurants and take in the atmosphere, they spend money, money, money."

The small, low-cost carrier signed a deal with Long Beach in late 2009 for service to Washington and Central California, though they may end up switching flight destinations based on demand.
Allegiant Spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo said the airport was a perfect fit because of its famously short wait times and low carrier rates.

"Going to an airport like Long Beach is a perfect fit and gives us more opportunities to expand as well as fitting in with our business model, said LoPiccolo.

With Allegiant, Long Beach now has six airlines serving 17 destinations across the country.

Allegiant arrives just as the airport is launching a multi-year modernization plan that includes a nearly $140-million makeover with new passenger terminal, jet tarmacs, parking, food court and screening lanes.

(Kristopher Hanson - Press Telegram)

A few updates

Here we go with some updates from June that I did not get around to posting.

June 22
Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Cessna T210M N732WQ (c/n 21061836) took off at 10:52am and there was several puffs of smoke coming from the aircraft. The plane did a 360 turn and almost landed on rwy 12 with the gear up but then circled around and landed on rwy 25R. The plane taxied back to the Sheriffs ramp with the fire department in trail.

June 27
Allegiant Air MD-87 N945MA (c/n 49725/1552) arrived from San Diego Intl (KSAN) at 6:41pm as AAY5275. The planed departed to Laughlin/Bullhead Intl (KIFP) at 7:35pm as AAY5275.

June 30
Mid East Jet 757-200 N757MA (c/n 28463/739) arrived from Bangor Intl (KBGR) at 7:04pm and parked at AirFlite. The plane brought in a Prince from the Mid East region and his family. The plane ferried to Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD) at 8:04pm.