Airports to post flyers
I sent an email to San Fran Int’l Airport asking if we could post flyers somewhere there that pilots might see, or if we could have them search air traffic control records for small planes that might have flown over the Farallons on 1/28. I also asked if there are smaller airports nearby that might let us post flyers as well. The response I received. I will contact the GM at SFIO myself and would appreciate it if those who have flyers to get them posted at the other airports. Are their tourest organizations that might have flown guests over the Farallons on 1/28? Could one of those tourists have taken video while in flight?
FROM SFIO:
There is also a private airport in San Carlos several miles south of SFO on Rt. 101.Â
I found this connection on-line: (650-591-5857) or
San Carlos Airport Pilots Association -http://www.sancarlospilots.org/index.htm.
Also found on-line other area small airports:
Class D towered airports:
Concord/Buchanan Field Airport (KCCR)
Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD)
Livermore Municipal Airport (KLVK)
Moffett Federal Airfield (KNUQ)
Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (KPAO)
Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (KRHV)
San Carlos Airport (KSQL)
Class G non-towered airports:
Half Moon Bay Airport (KHAF)
San Rafael Airport (CA35)
Gnoss Field (KDVO)
February 6th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
SFO doesn’t have a very big general aviation community. The big airport for that in the bay area is Oakland, who has two runways dedicated to non-commercial flights. A friend of mine fly’s out of OAK every so often to build up hours for his pilots liscence– I’m pretty sure he could hook you up with someone in the airport administration.
February 6th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I work at San Carlos, Palo Alto and Hayward so I can flyer there.
San Carlos and Half Moon Bay are both San Mateo county and the main office is in San Carlos. You can contact Don Hogue in San Carlos.
I would also suggest looking into the Seaplane operation in Sausalito.
http://www.seaplane.com/index.html
If they had any sightseeing flights that day they may be a good contact however I do see them more in the Bay then out of the Bay.
I fact, if you call them also get some rates and info to see if they will fly some search operations ( seaplanes like water unlike land planes )
I have a seaplane rating and also would be able to assist if they will provide a pilot and plane willing to do it.
With the Airlines they fly on instruments and are genrally to high by the time they hit the water to see anything.
You can review radar flight tracks here:
http://live.airportnetwork.com/sfo/
Just set the time and date, any aircraft on a flight plan should have a N# or aircraft registration number as well as speed and altitude info.
You can also do a search for the owner if you have the N#
its public info but will only have name and address.
But do understand that 90% of General Aviation Traffic is Single Engine and they rarely ever go offshore, in fact most pilots will not go offshore in single engine only Multi Engine.
The marinas are a better route but you could try Half Moon Bay airport although there are not many aircraft based there due to fog, but there are alot of training flight every clear day.
I have been personally scouring the coast line between HMB and pigieon point everydau with my student pilots, In fact today I spotted what couldve been a string of debris but it turned out to be a string of submirged crab pots with bouyes at the surface.
I will also post this at our Flying Club website (www.wvfc.org) BBS forum.
We operate from HWD SQL PAO and South County and have over 1200 members.
February 6th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
To get ATC records, you’d have to make a Freedom of Information Act request to the Oakland Flight Standards District Office (FSDO):
1420 Harbor Bay Parkway
Suite 280
Alameda, California 94502-7083
Phone: (510) 748-0122 Fax: (510) 748-9559
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Office visits by appointment only
The request needs to be made quickly, or the audio and data tapes will get overwritten.
I have made such requests in the past and can help with parsing the data. Let me know if I can help in any way.