Originally Posted by
Sykes
That’s almost certainly a delay vector requested by ATC for spacing.
0% chance the pilot was lost there.
) 0.05%?
Originally Posted by
SFO 1K
Lots of possible reasons, including delayed for spacing into SFO. Not a turn toward OAK.
I have been aboard zig zag and also flying out to the ocean then back.
A common San Jose take off is going north but not in a straight line. Instead, the plane takes off going north then does an almost immediate left (west turn) then goes south past San Jose airport then makes a wide turn north. In doing so it is now higher in altitude and flying over the East Bay slightly east of Oakland Airport. In contrast, SFO flight often take off to the northeast then make a slight left turn so they are going north but are flying on a trajectory west of the SJC north bound planes. They are also probably flying a little lower.
See post #1 for a map.