Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday 10-27-10
USAF Boeing C-32 (757-2G4 c/n 29026/787) 98-0002 departed LGB from RWY 12 at 14:45 local. The plane was taking Michelle Obama back to D.C. after she was in Long Beach for the International Womens Conference where she gave a key speech. The plane used the call sign of Executive One Foxtrot for the flight.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
JetBlue to Fly Long Beach to Anchorage Seasonal Service
"During the peak summer travel months, Anchorage is in high-demand for California residents and we are pleased to continue offering our Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Orange County customers more variety and more options to the places they want to go," said Scott Laurence, vice president of route planning for JetBlue Airways. "Among many other things, Alaska is known for its wide-open spaces and friendly people - a perfect match to the JetBlue Experience! We offer the friendliest customer service in the skies, more legroom than the other guys, a first checked bag free and complimentary live entertainment on personal seatback TVs. We look forward to welcoming you onboard!"
"I congratulate JetBlue on this exciting new route servicing the Long Beach Airport," said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. "The airport is undergoing several new changes such as a new parking structure and terminal building. The new route to the north will be another welcome addition for Long Beach residents and visitors alike."
"We are excited to add Jet Blue to the list of carriers that serve Alaskans and our guests," said John Parrott, manager of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. "This serves as an indicator of the health and vitality of the tourism industry in Alaska."
JetBlue's schedule between Anchorage and Long Beach:
Depart LGB - 7:40pm
Arrive ANC -11:57pm
Depart ANC - 1:10am
Arrive LGB - 7:33am
JetBlue will offer travelers a variety of in-flight entertainment options on its signature seatback TVs on every flight to/from Anchorage, including complimentary first-run movies from top Hollywood studios. JetBlue's service will be operated with the airline's fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, also featuring convenient, assigned seating; a first-checked bag free; complimentary and unlimited name brand snacks and drinks; comfy leather seats; more legroom than any other carrier in coach (b); and award-winning customer service.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sheriff's helicopter makes emergency landing at Poly High
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.
Updates for July 16-20
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.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
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 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 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.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Allegiant moves Idaho Falls service to LGB from LAX
"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.