Kobe Bryant's chopper circled for 15 minutes over Burbank waiting for landing clearance in dangerously poor visibility... - kobe crash diagram.jpg

....with 'pilot relying on eyesight rather than instruments'- before crashing

more at
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Burbank.html

Kobe Bryant's helicopter pilot was given a special clearance to fly under foggy
conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their
choppers. New audio that was captured by LiveATC.net has revealed that the
pilot, who has been named as Ara Zobayan, had requested to fly under special
visual flight rules (SVFR). The conversation between the pilot and the Burbank
Airport control tower shed some light on why the aircraft, which was carrying
Bryant, his daughter Gianna, 13, and six others, was granted clearance in the
first place.

Under an SVFR clearance, pilots are allowed to fly in weather conditions worse
than those allowed for visual flight rules (VFR). Special VFR clearances are
only issued when cloud ceilings are below 1,000 feet above ground level. Flying
that low to the ground can be very disorienting and risky. 'Maintain special VFR
at or below 2,500,' the pilot is heard confirming to the controller. Bryant's
helicopter left Santa Ana in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, shortly after
9am, a time when conditions were not suitable for flying, according to the Los
Angeles Police Department. There was an overcast at 1,300 feet and visibility of
about five miles.

The pilot was initially flying under visual flight rules (VFR), meaning that he
was relying on his ability to see the terrain below him. That changed when he
was granted the SVFR. Around 9.20am, the helicopter circled for about 15 minutes
just east of Interstate 5, near Glendale. Air traffic controllers (ATC) held up
the helicopter for other aircraft for about 11 minutes, before clearing the
Sikorsky S-76 to proceed north along Interstate 5 through Burbank's airspace.
Air traffic controllers noted poor visibility around Burbank, just to the north,
and Van Nuys, to the northwest.


more at
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Burbank.html



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