Traffic

The LA basin is a wonderful place to fly.  Losing an engine more than 10 miles from an airport is really hard to do and the low level flying provides striking images.  What I like best about it (aside from being in the air) is the radio chatter. The controllers in LA are the best in the country.  They routinely handle a mind boggling number of calls from heavy iron but are still happy to provide flight following for two jokers headed to Catalina for lunch.  On my last trip out to Catalina – to write a grant on the restaurant deck – there were three small planes being released from flight following over Two Harbors while a steady stream of arriving Long Beach traffic kept the controller busy.  A side benefit is that flying here completely removes any fear of the radio you might have.  The fourth or fifth time you hear a commercial airline pilot screw up a call you lose the stage fright and start to talk like a pro.  It’s amazing to hear how clipped, direct and clear Colin has become in asking for altitudes, weather and traffic.  The controllers have no idea how low time we are as we speed to Vegas and back.