Planes being towed to maintenance
#2
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Half way between SAN and TIJ
Programs: Welfare
Posts: 1,506
Same flight number was in operation either inbound or outbound so it designates the 2 different ones. If they were both 59 it would lead to confusion so 59 and 59a are assigned.
#3




Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: California
Programs: various
Posts: 4,240
If both segments are operating at the same time, that would mean that the passengers on the inbound segment are misconnecting to the outbound segment of their "direct" flight.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Half way between SAN and TIJ
Programs: Welfare
Posts: 1,506
Both. It could be Mongah Airlines flight 999 from Fresno to Sydney with a stop in LAX. Same flight number but the flight from Fresno is a CRJ and the outbound from LAX is a 747. CRJ in flight is Flt999 while the towed 747 is 999A.
You can also have two airborne flights of 999. If the CRJ from Fresno is late with the 3 connecting passengers but the other 250 people made the outbound from LAX and it left, the outbound from LAX would depart as 999A or the CRJ may be assigned 999A if it was delayed and left Fresno after the LAX outbound departure time.
You can also have two airborne flights of 999. If the CRJ from Fresno is late with the 3 connecting passengers but the other 250 people made the outbound from LAX and it left, the outbound from LAX would depart as 999A or the CRJ may be assigned 999A if it was delayed and left Fresno after the LAX outbound departure time.
#5
Senior Moderator




Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,459
Was this possibly an aircraft (Delta or another) using LAX Terminal 5? The protocol used by ground controllers when aircraft are being taxied between gates and hangars is to assign a call sign using the airport gate, with the word "tow" attached. Such as "United 68A tow" if Gate 68A is involved.
See this NTSB report summary where the issue arose: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?...14X41599&key=1
See this NTSB report summary where the issue arose: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?...14X41599&key=1
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Both. It could be Mongah Airlines flight 999 from Fresno to Sydney with a stop in LAX. Same flight number but the flight from Fresno is a CRJ and the outbound from LAX is a 747. CRJ in flight is Flt999 while the towed 747 is 999A.
You can also have two airborne flights of 999. If the CRJ from Fresno is late with the 3 connecting passengers but the other 250 people made the outbound from LAX and it left, the outbound from LAX would depart as 999A or the CRJ may be assigned 999A if it was delayed and left Fresno after the LAX outbound departure time.
You can also have two airborne flights of 999. If the CRJ from Fresno is late with the 3 connecting passengers but the other 250 people made the outbound from LAX and it left, the outbound from LAX would depart as 999A or the CRJ may be assigned 999A if it was delayed and left Fresno after the LAX outbound departure time.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 172
Was this possibly an aircraft (Delta or another) using LAX Terminal 5? The protocol used by ground controllers when aircraft are being taxied between gates and hangars is to assign a call sign using the airport gate, with the word "tow" attached. Such as "United 68A tow" if Gate 68A is involved.
See this NTSB report summary where the issue arose: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?...14X41599&key=1
See this NTSB report summary where the issue arose: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?...14X41599&key=1

