Comments on: Living off the end of Runways

By: Daniel Seidel

Daniel Seidel — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:37:34 +0000

Very poor and incorrect statements re: “airport…. in the middle of a housing development”. “Living Off the End of the Runway” What you have here is a lot of complicating factors being sorted out by the NTSB. First I suggest you Google the Palo Alto Airport to see where there is housing; then I suggest you look at the Traffic Pattern established by the County of Santa Clara (Operator) which includes Noise Abatement procedures designed to minimize overflight of residences and prevent nuisance and complaints. Statements like yours are incorrect and “add fuel to the fire” that makes keeping the airport open very difficult. You should know better!

Dan Seidel CFI and member Palo Alto Airort Association.

By: Alan Marcum

Alan Marcum — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:47:13 +0000

One other thing about this accident. The IFR departure clearance out of PAO from runway 31 (in use that day) will be, “Turn right heading 060 within one mile of the airport, radar vectors _____.” Why the pilot–someone who’d flown IFR from PAO for years–turned left is still unknown, and is one of the big questions, especially for those of us who fly from PAO, and those who knew the pilot.

By: Bruce Landsberg

Bruce Landsberg — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:55:11 +0000

After the fact, I did check out Google Earth and you’re right! There is no way Palo Alto could be considered in the midst of a housing development. Thank you for keeping me mostly honest!

As with flying aircraft – a little humility is always good for the soul.

By: Carl Hensler

Carl Hensler — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:36:35 +0000

While we are speculating, other possible causes of the sharp left turn after takeoff are AI gyro failure or leaving it caged. With luck, the NTSB will sort it all out.

In any case, taking off from a short runway in a light twin with two passengers in those conditions was probably poor judgment.

By: Rich Greenawald

Rich Greenawald — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:45:11 +0000

Palo Alto is not in the middle of the neighborhood per the above comments.
I heard the shotspotter recording of the crash and I thought I only heard
one engine running.
The most important aspect of this crash is why did he attempt T/O
in zero/zero conditions?
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should…………..

By: Mike Dunlap

Mike Dunlap — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:46:13 +0000

Ditto all of the above comments. Are you planning a move to FOX Bruce? If you are going to speculate then why not speculate like a pilot and suggest that the ground track might indicate loss of critical engine on a 310?
A left turn, failure to establish/maintain positive rate of climb, let’s express some support for the deceased having to possibly fight a machine that failed rather than add to the fodder of those wishing to close yet another airport.

By: Tim Heyboer

Tim Heyboer — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:20:36 +0000

Bruce, the previous commenters are right – you need to do your homework. I’ve flown out of Palo Alto for 20 years, and there is no reason a plane should ever take off and stray over or into the East Palo Alto neighborhood. Our noise abatement procedures send us out over the Bay, away from East Palo Alto.

This accident is squarely a pilot error problem – he should NEVER have turned left and into that neighborhood. Left crosswind departures are NEVER granted by the tower for that very reason! The pilot was reputed to be very experienced and professional, so we are all mystified by what could have gotten him so off course. But in this case, the pilot community has egg on its face, and we need our best PR, humility, and aplogies to the folks in East Palo Alto. And we definitely CANNOT blame community encroachment for this one – and your doing so will not help the PR situation!

By: Marv Kausch

Marv Kausch — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:52:46 +0000

Bruce Landsberg has no clue as to the situation at Palo Alto Airport. It’s a totally un-informed piece of eJournalism. Bruce, next time, check out Google Earth so you can see how close homes are to the runway. Many other airports are completely surrounded by homes. Palo Alto has far less homes near it. Do your homework, man! Otherwise you embarrass those pilots who actually know the neighborhood.

By: Palo Alto Pilot

Palo Alto Pilot — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:29:46 +0000

Bruce,

As a pilot I am also uncomfortable with airport that have little buffer between them and surrounding buildings. As a pilot who flies out of Palo Alto, however, I don’t understand the “airport in the middle of a neighborhood” statement. Palo Alto is in fact surrounded by open water, wildlife refuges, and a golf course. The google map referenc below will give you a good view.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=east+palo+alto&sll=37.332529,-121.811514&sspn=0.02491,0.050125&g=east+palo+alto&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=East+Palo+Alto,+San+Mateo,+California&ll=37.455851,-122.110891&spn=0.049738,0.10025&t=h&z=14

I have followed all of the local media reports and not heard the concern about an airport in the middle of a neighborhood. In fact I thought for once most of the local reporting was mostly accurate and factual. Is AOPA getting calls from local government?

Love your blog, thanks