Travel Waiver: Northern California Wildfires (October 11, 2017 - October 15, 2017)
#76
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Just landed at SFO, and I can't remember the last time I saw such a beautiful, clear day over the entire bay.
We overflew 2 fires to the north, but the wind was obviously blowing the smoke from them out to sea well north of the bay area.
Overflying the airport headed south I could make out every single aircraft on the ground, and then as we turned at the very south of the bay even the city was clearly visible.
UA's crystal ball obviously misfired on this one...
We overflew 2 fires to the north, but the wind was obviously blowing the smoke from them out to sea well north of the bay area.
Overflying the airport headed south I could make out every single aircraft on the ground, and then as we turned at the very south of the bay even the city was clearly visible.
UA's crystal ball obviously misfired on this one...
#78
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We've had a few days of relatively clear skies; things are a bit worse today on the Peninsula but not nearly as bad as last week. All depends on the prevailing winds. Looks like there is a GDP for SFO today due to taxiway work shortening 28L. Honestly, I wouldn't worry unduly about SFO at this point - it's already delay prone due to low ceilings, so just allow your normal caution regarding that and you should be ok.
#79
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
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We've had a few days of relatively clear skies; things are a bit worse today on the Peninsula but not nearly as bad as last week. All depends on the prevailing winds. Looks like there is a GDP for SFO today due to taxiway work shortening 28L. Honestly, I wouldn't worry unduly about SFO at this point - it's already delay prone due to low ceilings, so just allow your normal caution regarding that and you should be ok.
Visibility @ SFO is down to 6 miles, but the ceiling is 18,000 ft, so things should be OK if they stay as-is, but conditions are trending rapidly worse.
https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=...4025&submit=Go
#80
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It's getting significantly worse this afternoon on the Peninsula. The Air Quality Index was 68 ("Moderate") yesterday here in Menlo Park. Today it's 165 ("Unhealthy"). We're getting nailed by smoke from the fires in the North Bay, plus smoke from new fires in the Santa Cruz mountains to the south. My kids just had all outdoor activities cancelled.
Visibility @ SFO is down to 6 miles, but the ceiling is 18,000 ft, so things should be OK if they stay as-is, but conditions are trending rapidly worse.
Visibility @ SFO is down to 6 miles, but the ceiling is 18,000 ft, so things should be OK if they stay as-is, but conditions are trending rapidly worse.
Hopefully things clear out eventually!
#81
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#83
Join Date: Jul 2007
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SFO's morning issues are normally delays to inbound flights, which then flow onto delays to outbound flights - any aircraft that arrives the night before generally go out early far more frequently than they go out late - regardless of the weather.
Thankfully the aircraft for my 10:40am flight SFO-ORD tomorrow also arrives tonight
#84
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS after 40+ SFO/OAK
Programs: UA MM (recovering former 1K), Marriott Titanium Lifetime
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Air quality has been quite volatile over the last couple of days. For example, where I live (Albany facing east), we went from smoky @ 0730 Saturday to virtually clear by 0830 for about 1 1/2 days, then back to smoky.
This is the hourly measurement of particulate matter pollution from various stations over the last 18 hours. Normally this is a problem in the winter when people are burning wood fires. The 8-hour r/t including a 100% increase at Redwood City (just south of SFO) is a good illustration of the volatility. Also, in the Napa school district, which has not burned, but undoubtedly has suffered greatly from the smoke since they are between two major fires, they had planned to reopen the schools tomorrow, but announced this afternoon that due to the poor air quality they won't reopen until Monday, air quality permitting.
This is the hourly measurement of particulate matter pollution from various stations over the last 18 hours. Normally this is a problem in the winter when people are burning wood fires. The 8-hour r/t including a 100% increase at Redwood City (just south of SFO) is a good illustration of the volatility. Also, in the Napa school district, which has not burned, but undoubtedly has suffered greatly from the smoke since they are between two major fires, they had planned to reopen the schools tomorrow, but announced this afternoon that due to the poor air quality they won't reopen until Monday, air quality permitting.
#85
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Inbound from IAD I was delayed 1.5 hours and I think it got worse into the evening. However winds off the ocean are supposed to blow the smoke out tomorrow and rain is predicted for a few hours on Thursday. So there is reason for optimism going into the weekend.
#88
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Could be or just could be "a normal morning for SFO"
From the FAA website
From the FAA website
Due to WEATHER / LOW CEILINGS, there is a Traffic Management Program in effect for traffic arriving San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA (SFO). This is causing some arriving flights to be delayed an average of 1 hour and 21 minutes
#89
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 338
So LAS>SFO UA1136 is not expected to SFO until 12:36pm.
How come the SFO>SAN UA1900 is showing estimated departure of 12:28pm, before the incoming aircraft arrives?
When the UA 1900 comes to so SAN, it is supposed to turn around and go to SFO as UA1424. This is the flight I am supposed to be on.
I planned for up to three hours delay to make a connection in SFO. But delay right now is:
UA1136: 3hrs 14 mins (still not taken off)
UA1900: 2hrs 21 min
UA1424: 1hrs 45 min
Can they make up the time as estimates show, or should I try to find alternative?
Thank you.
How come the SFO>SAN UA1900 is showing estimated departure of 12:28pm, before the incoming aircraft arrives?
When the UA 1900 comes to so SAN, it is supposed to turn around and go to SFO as UA1424. This is the flight I am supposed to be on.
I planned for up to three hours delay to make a connection in SFO. But delay right now is:
UA1136: 3hrs 14 mins (still not taken off)
UA1900: 2hrs 21 min
UA1424: 1hrs 45 min
Can they make up the time as estimates show, or should I try to find alternative?
Thank you.
#90
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We had low clouds early this morning, but it burned off early. Super smokey in Oakland right now . . . at least as bad as yesterday.
At SAN, they will put you on the flight that's most likely to depart next. I would go to the airport asap and try to get on the next flight.
At SAN, they will put you on the flight that's most likely to depart next. I would go to the airport asap and try to get on the next flight.