VFR into KLAX

nrm2430

nrm2430

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nrm2430
Like many others, I too decided to take the chance to knock a Bravo off my list as a private pilot flying VFR. Went into LAX and couldn’t have a had a better experience. Did all my homework and monitored ATC a couple days prior to get an idea of traffic flow & to see if any other GA pilots were jumping on the opportunity (which more than a few were) and decided I was ready for it. Picked up flight following and from there on everything was a breeze. Aside from needing the Bravo clearance, it felt like flying into a giant Delta that just so happened to handle a couple supers and heavies. Did a simple land and taxi back with ease. For anybody with the itch to do the same, just plan it out and go! It was well worth it for me.

The tower was even kind enough to caution the A319 landing behind me of my wake. We all know how severe that prop wash can be from a 195hp single engine piston...
 

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Been quite a bit of VFR SEL traffic in and out of LAX lately. This guy was in front of me the other day. The 747 behind him had to wait quite a while for his left turn at the shoreline. LAX tower seems to be happy to see the traffic.
 

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Htaylor said:
Been quite a bit of VFR SEL traffic in and out of LAX lately. This guy was in front of me the other day. The 747 behind him had to wait quite a while for his left turn at the shoreline. LAX tower seems to be happy to see the traffic.
Click to expand...
Yea, they’ve been really accommodating to GA from what I’ve been seeing. They guided one guy to a taxiway to do a run-up and allowed another to file an IFR plan with flight service while holding short the active runway. My own experience was a lot easier than I ever thought it was going to be.
 
I made my first flight since the start of the pandemic into Houston this past Tuesday. It was in pretty heavy IMC so there was not very much GA traffic and hardly any airlines because of the plague.

It was really depressing. It almost seemed like a post apocalypse type of situation. ATC still issued my departure clearance with a SID for absolutely no reason other than it was routine. Of course I did not have to fly it!
 
nrm2430 said:
The tower was even kind enough to caution the A319 landing behind me of my wake. We all know how severe that prop wash can be from a 195hp single engine piston...
Click to expand...

Mucho Awesome... thanks for sharing
 
I tried for LAX twice during the past two weeks at night around 11pm and midnight and I got denied. I was told they were starting to charge large landing fees again so I didn’t press any further.
 
195hp DA40?
 
Jonathan Spoer said:
I tried for LAX twice during the past two weeks at night around 11pm and midnight and I got denied. I was told they were starting to charge large landing fees again so I didn’t press any further.
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I was curious about fees too before I went and called the number for the airport manager listed in the AFD. The person who answered said there are landing fees for GA but that I would have to contact FAA personnel in the tower for more info. I got some contact info for the tower and reached out and they told me there are NO FEES for GA. They also said they aren’t encouraging GA aircraft to come to LAX because of the staffing but for any arrivals to LAX, contact SOCAL Approach first.

My guess is that probably night time arrivals are more of a hassle because of their staffing but on my trip, I went on a weekday morning around 10am and had no issues. Only had to make one 360 for sequencing and pretty much had a 12 mile straight-in.

Randomly I’ll check LiveATC to see what’s going there and do hear other single engines making landings and taxiing right back to depart like I did. Try getting in during daylight hours if you can. Tower staff at that time is very accommodating.
 
I flew effortlessly into LAX in a NORDO 65 HP Aeronca Chief and no fees of any kind. Phoned the tower first and they said use 25L, wait for the green light and park at Air Research. Of course this was in 1953. The good Old Days were actually better for small GA. And it's not nostalgia. (And 35 cent AVGAS after tax refund.)
 
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