Flying into HHR

Nick Geber

Nick Geber

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Flew into HHR on Sunday. got the LOC 25 approach - is there a reason I got that rather than the RNAV 25? I'm hopeful local LA area pilots can let me know their experiences. Thanks!
 
Because that's what ATC is used to giving out most likely, nearly everybody can fly that. If you wanted the RNAV, you could have asked for it and most likely gotten it.
 
flyingron said:
Because that's what ATC is used to giving out most likely, nearly everybody can fly that. If you wanted the RNAV, you could have asked for it and most likely gotten it.
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I was wondering if it had more to do with IAF and the traffic routing given that HHR is a stones throw from LAX. Although now I see they are basically identical. Yup, should've just asked!
 
Nick Geber said:
I was wondering if it had more to do with IAF and the traffic routing given that HHR is a stones throw from LAX. Although now I see they are basically identical. Yup, should've just asked!
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If an ILS or LOC approach exists, RNAV approaches to the same runway tend to be collocated with them, following identical paths (even if some of the waypoints are different). So far, I've never been refused an RNAV when I've asked for it. Which is almost always these days, even vs an ILS.
 
Controllers aren't mind readers. They don't know if you prefer the RNAV over the ILS or LOC. Many times they don't even know if you want to land upwind or not. My airport had LPVs to both ends of the runway, but the controllers always gave me the approach that would have been straight in from the direction I was coming from even if the winds were howling from the opposite direction.

ATC: Expect the RNAV 22 approach.
27K: I'd like the RNAV 4 approach.
ATC: OK, expect that.
 
Can't answer your question, but were you wing to wing with a A380 by chance? There were a couple of times when going in there, there would be some big boys (and girls) going into the LAX South Complex off the right wing.

That was one of the practice airports when I did the instrument rating out of KLGB... along with Fullerton, Torrence, and Santa Ana...
 
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Ventucky Red said:
Can't answer your question, but were you wing to wing with a A380 by chance? There were a couple of times when going in there, there would be some big boys (and girls) going into the LAX South Complex off the right wing.

That was one of the practice airports when I did the instrument rating out of KLGB... along with Fullerton, Torrence, and Santa Ana...
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No, actually, this was my first time back at HHR since I took my PPL check ride from there in 1986.
 
I fly out of HHR. As others have mentioned you could have just ask for the RNAV and they will say yes. The localizer usually will get you in and the path of the RNAV is identical. Hawthorne operates with a waiver due to it's proximity to LAX. If it's low IFR at LAX and HHR tower is closed usually you can't get a clearance because the MAP conflicts with LAX.
 
Is it still as much of a PITA to get a clearance there (due to proximity to LAX) or has that gotten better? I remember flying in there on an IFR flight plan on a clear night and was told to expect a 3 hour hold (at LIMBO, no less) due to arrivals into LAX. I wanted to fly the approach, but said eff it and cancelled.
 
AA5Bman said:
Is it still as much of a PITA to get a clearance there (due to proximity to LAX) or has that gotten better? I remember flying in there on an IFR flight plan on a clear night and was told to expect a 3 hour hold (at LIMBO, no less) due to arrivals into LAX. I wanted to fly the approach, but said eff it and cancelled.
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If the tower is closed then it can be a problem. The tower is open much longer these days.
 
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