Weird Flight Path

By chronological order, this post was supposed to be posted before the Pontiac G6 GT post but I had to hold it back as I was waiting for a reply from Will.

Anyway, I was tracking the flight path of my path as it started to make its descend as it approaches LAX. What I noticed was that as soon as it entered the mainland USA, it made a right turn towards Fresno (see red line depicting flight path in above picture) before looping right back to original line of approach as if there was something there that the plane had to get around.

So, I took a picture of the screen in front of me and email to my good SQ Pilot friend whom holds the answers to all my strange questions like "what do planes land exceptionally harder during rainy weather?" or "why must we keep all windows open during take-off and landing?"

And this was his reply below:

. 1) Most likely to have some military or civilian paraglide/parachute jumping activities. 2) Another possibility is that this approach lines you up to Runways 24L or 24R, facing a bearing of 240 degrees towards the coast where the prevailing winds are blowing from.  3) This also facilitate Air Traffic control in which DEPARTING aircraft takes off toward the coast. Minimise conflicts. That's all my guesses. .

Interesting..... I learned something new today.

- Voxeros

1. Elvina left...

Tuesday, 29 January 2008 11:20 am :: http://www.elvina33.blogspot.com

By the way, I love your Birthday Greets chalkboard tool under Jay Shouts. Where can I get it?

2. desperate addict left...

Wednesday, 30 January 2008 1:15 am :: http://0811.blogdrive.com

Not too long ago Channel 8 had this show called Bu Shuo Ni Bu Zhi and according to them, the reason why the windows have to be open is so that the passengers can see what's going on outside in case of an accident.
Google results show a variety of answers too.
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=200711160359 32AAKK0yz&show=7 http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080122192938AAWGEKV

3. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 31 January 2008 7:59 am :: 

Elvina: Like I said in my tag board, I just anyhow grab a blank chalkboard image and the fill in the rest of the messasge and/or doodle in myself.

Desperate Addict: Welcome to the blog! You are right as far as what my pilot friend said. Apparently, the take off and landing are the most dangerous parts of the flight.

4. hiao auntie left...

Friday, 8 February 2008 3:42 am

if you had asked me airline safety procedure questions e.g. why must you open all windows for take-offs and landings? i would hv been able to answer most of them as i was a trained flight attendant before.... in the case of the odd shape turn before landing, haven't you notice they (planes/pilots) always (or almost always) do that? i think it is to line up the planes for landing as you have to wait as well as queue up before you get your turn....

5. hiao auntie left...

Friday, 8 February 2008 3:50 am

i think i noe the answer to why planes land harder during rainy weather too.... u noe when i was in the airlines, we always have time after landing to go out and have some dinner and drinks (non-alcoholic if we have to fly in the next 24 hours) with the pilots, that's when somebody will post such questions to the pilots and they will answer them for us so that we all learn something and become more aware of flight and safety procedures

6. JayWalk left...

Friday, 8 February 2008 5:56 pm :: 

hiaoauntie: I would have agreed with you on the lining up in to formation to get in line to land if the "detour" were nearer to the airport. In this particular case, the detour happened around Fresno which is about 225 miles away from LAX which probably rules out your rationale.