Saturday, February 28, 2009

February 28th Long Beach Aviation History

Feb. 28, 1938 – Four big airlines (United, TWA, American, Western) announce plans to use Long Beach Municipal Airport.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Friday 2-27-09

Emerald Aviation Gulfstream G550 (c/n 5170) arrived from McCarran Intl (KLAS) at 2:18pm and parked on the Gulfstream ramp.

2 F/A-18 Hornets arrived at 2:45pm and parked at Signature. The planed departed at 4:20pm.

TIA Leasing Gulfstream G-V (c/n 692) arrived from N Kentucky Intl (KCVG) at 3:50pm and did one flight around the pattern for rwy 30 before returning and parking at AirFlight.

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 07-7184 (P-184) departed at 3:15pm on a test flight and returned at 3:52pm.

Sunrider Corp. MD-87 N168CF arrived from Miami Intl (KMIA) at 5:26pm and parked at AirFlite.

Tail numbers noted at Gulfstream: N944AL

February 27th Long Beach Aviation History

Feb. 27, 1929 – First successful glider tow accomplished by Lloyd O’Donnell of Long Beach and Dale Drake of Huntington Park.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Wednesday 2-25-09

Tonight JetBlue Airways used an Embraer E-190 on the LGB-IAD route. The aircraft used was N294JB (c/n 19000185) "Room with a Blue". Here is a link to the route on Flight Aware:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU300

JetBlue says “Welcome Bigwigs”


In full page ads in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Boston Globe, JetBlue has extended a simple message to CEOs, CMOs, CTOs, CFOs and basically anyone with a “C” in their title: welcome aboard. These full page ads started 1 weeks ago. The company is also running 30 second and 60 second radio ads in 3 markets including Boston, New York and Los Angeles. You can hear the ads on the following LA area radio stations: KCBS -FM Jack, KFI-AM News/Talk, KFWB-AM News, KLAC-AM Sports, KLOS-FM Classic Rock, KNX-AM News, KTWV-FM Smooth Jazz.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tuesday 2-24-09

Tail number noted at Gulfstream: N131GA (green), N518QS, N502QS, N615GA (pulled out of hangar and did engine run on ramp)

Monday, February 23, 2009

Monday 2-23-09

Boeing C-17A 07-7184 (P-184) departed on a test flight at 3:56pm and returned at 5:28pm.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sunday 2-22-09

Netjets Gulfstream G-V N502QS (c/n 601) arrived from Los Angeles Intl (KLAX) at 4:47pm and parked on the Gulfstream ramp.

Netjets Gulfstream G-V N516QS (c/n 658) arrived from Santa Barbara Muni (KSBA) at 7:15pm and parked on the Gulfstream ramp.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

February 18th Long Beach Aviation History

Feb. 18, 1957 – Douglas Aircraft starts DC-8 assembly. Douglas went on to build 556 total DC-8 airframes with the first flight being made on May 30, 1958. This first two customers of the DC-8 were United Airlines and Delta Air Lines who introduced the airplane in September 1959.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

February 16th Long Beach Aviation History

Feb. 16, 1978 - Trans Catalina begins new Long Beach-Avalon air service. Flying the beautiful Grumman Mallard amphibian, Trans Catalina touted having the only "wide body" service to Catalina. The airline's owner was Dan Hill and Manager was Frank Strobel. TCA flew three Grumman Mallards and provided service from Long Beach, San Pedro and Orange County Airport until 1981. Their fleet consisted of N36DF (c/n J-18), N95DF (c/n J-19), N51151 (c/n J-42).

Rainbow After The Rain





Yesterday afternoon (2/16/09), there was a rainbow that came out for about 10 minutes and provided a few nice photos which were taken with my camera phone.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

February 14th Long Beach Aviation History

Feb. 14, 1916 – Long Beach aviators Earl Daugherty and Harry Christofferson stage a 20-mile air race, which is filmed by Balboa Studios for national distribution. Daugherty wins.

Saturday 2-14-09

Miami Air 737-400 N753MA arrived from Hartsfield-Jackson Intl (KATL) as BSK691 at 4:09pm and parked at Airflite. The plane was carrying the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team. The plane ferried to Hollywood Int'l (KFLL) as BSK512 at 7:03am Sunday morning (Feb 15).

JetBlue Airways newest A320 N768JB passed through LGB arriving from Salt Lake City Intl (KSLC) at 8:55pm and departed to Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD) at 9:59pm. This plane currently does not carry a name on the nose of the airplane.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Talks on leasing Long Beach Airport are shelved

By Dan Weikel
February 12, 2009

Further discussions about leasing all or part of the Long Beach Airport to private investors have been shelved, at least temporarily, because of a lack of interest on the City Council, municipal officials said Wednesday.

"Our plate is full right now, and a lot of things are happening," said Long Beach City Manager Patrick West. Privatization of the airport "went to the back burner."

Council members had planned to discuss the matter in closed session Jan. 6, but they voted instead to hold a public hearing after three council members and four citizens complained that secrecy should not surround such an important policy discussion. The hearing was postponed to a later date, but never scheduled.

Late last year, the city received unsolicited inquiries about the sale or lease of Long Beach Airport assets from major banks and Wall Street firms, including Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.Long Beach Airport serves about 3 million commercial airline passengers a year and is home to a variety of private aircraft and aviation-related businesses.

Supporters of airport privatization say it is a good way for local governments to raise substantial amounts of money. Because of the economic downturn, Long Beach is facing a projected $15.7-million revenue shortfall this year.

The only commercial airport in the nation now considering privatization is Chicago Midway, which served about 17 million commercial passengers last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is evaluating a proposed 99-year lease to a consortium of investors that would provide about $2.5 billion to the city of Chicago.

A decision to approve the plan has been postponed until April because financial arrangements are still being negotiated.

Thursday 2-12-09

Allegiant Air MD-87 N945MA arrived as AAY5124 from Laughlin/Bullhead Intl (KIFP) at 5:27pm. The plane departed as AAY5125 to San Diego Intl (KSAN) at 6pm.

Gulfstream G550 N624GA (c/n 5224) was towed to the paint shop at 8:34pm from the Gulfstream ramp in a flat white paint/primer.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Long Beach airport director chosen


By Pamela Hale-Burns, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/10/2009 11:46:33 AM PST



LONG BEACH - There's a new airport director in town. Mario Rodriguez, an aviation expert with 20 years experience has been named director of the Long Beach Airport.

His experience includes being deputy director at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where he was responsible for a staff of 186 and a $25 million annual operation budget.

Beginning Feb. 23, Rodriguez will oversee a staff of about 125 and an annual operation budget of about $28 million. Here his responsibilities will include airport operations, finances and leases, the Airport Noise Ordinance, community outreach and environmental matters.

"Mr. Rodriguez's exemplary background in the private and public sector provides him with a unique understanding of the industry, which will be an asset to the Long Beach community as he faces many significant challenges in his new role," said City Manager Patrick West. "We conducted a rigorous national recruitment and Mario stood out with the interview panel which included several community members. Simply put, we are very excited to have Mario join our team."

Monday, February 9, 2009

Monday 2-9-09

National Science Foundation Gulfstream G-V (c/n 677) N677F arrived at 11:23am from Rocky Mtn Metropolitan (KBJC) and parked on the Gulfstream ramp.

NetJets Gulfstream G-IV(SP) N493QS (c/n 1293) arrived at 11:54am from Van Nuys (KVNY) and parked on the GUlfstream ramp.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Sunday 2-8-09

Gulfstream G450 N117WR was towed from the Gulfstream paint shop to the Gulfstream ramp at 4:53pm.

Allegiant Air MD-87 N945MA arrived as AAY5085 at 6:14pm from Bob Hope (KBUR). The plane departed as AAY5086 at 7:09pm to San Diego Intl (KSAN).


NetJets Gulfstream G-V (c/n 601) arrived from Los Angeles Intl (KLAX) at 6:28pm and parked at Gulfstream.

Tail numbers noted at Gulfstream: N475QS

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tuesday 2-3-09

Miami Air 737-400 N752MA arrived at 6:45am as BSK531 from Port Columbus Intl (KCMH) carrying the Buffalo Sabres hockey team. The plane ferried out at 8:39am as BSK697 to Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF).

Monday 2-2-09

Allegiant Air MD-87 N945MA arrived at 2:34pm as AAY5023 from Laughlin/Bullhead Intl (KIFP). The plane departed at 3:46pm as AAY5024 to Bob Hope (KBUR).