Inside LAX with Airport Operation + New Control Tower Visit

I spent a day behind the operation scenes at one of my favorite airports; LAX - Los Angeles International.

I follow Jon, an airport operation superintendent on the runway inspection, we drove on the longest runway at LAX among busy airfield traffic. Jon showed me what airport operations do to maintain airfield safety. We picked up some FOD (foreign objects and debris), escorted a Korean Air B747-8 (Group 6 aircraft), did ground inspection, and visited several airfield construction sites.

Then, I visited the new LAX Traffic Ramp tower at Bradley Terminal West. The new tower was opened last year and operated by LA Airport Operation. The ramp tower controls 2 taxiways to the East and 2 taxiways to the West of the new Bradley West terminal due to reduced visibility from the ATC tower. Enjoy some great traffic and plane spotting from the new tower location. The International traffic is bouncing back. I spotted some new airlines such as ITA Airways A350, Zip Air B787, Korean Air B747-8, SAS A350 and many others.

Finally, I visited LAX Airport Response Coordination Center (ARCC) where all the departments such as Airport Ops, Fire department,

Credit: @chrispzero for timelapse footage

[SamChui]

There seems to be a scam running around using my name in the comments on this video. There is no prize and do not give any personal information or reply to this scammer. I have reported to YouTube already.

[mastercontrol]

Seeing the complexities behind the scenes at LAX astonished me. Great job. I knew LAX was a complex environment but you revealed so much more. I loved the final time lapse work by a true artist.

[airbusloverorboeinglover]

Can we just appreciate the quality of this man’s videos 😩

[graciousdignity]

Thank you very much for introducing such a fancy LAX operational status with a beautiful 747-8I from Korean Air including Asiana Airlines A350-900!

[phd]

LAX is magnified through your lenses Sam ! Thank you so much

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

It takes skill to be able to keep track of so many movements of so many planes every day and control stress. But ATC is just one part of an airport. All these other people also play a role in keeping an airport functioning. Teamwork really does make the dream work. It's no wonder LAX is able to handle so many. Kudos to Jon, he's such an awesome guy taking care of the runways while at the same time making sure the wildlife are also safe. And I agree, gotta love seeing a 747-8 in action. Even when they retire, the 747 remains the Queen of the Skies in our hearts.

[aviationalpha]

That Timelapse footage was absolutely incredible showing how busy LAX gets and the variety of different aircraft and airlines from all over the world

[reeltridesS]

Absolutely beautiful video. I grew up at LAX in the early eighties while in flight school and throwing bags onto a USAir 727 and working for Lufthansa as a ticket agent. Lots of great memories and good times. Met my wife there. Thanks Sam.

[davew]

This video brings back a lot of great memories for me, from my years of working the ramp in the mid 80's into the mid 90's, at the Ontario International Airport (ONT) approximately 50 miles east of LAX, Working for a contract service company called Ontario Aircraft Service/OAS, having many great opportunities while working there working with UPS, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Braniff Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to dealing with horse charters with Kalitta's "Connie One" 727 that would carry race horses from Ontario to Louisville, Kentucky for the Kentucky derby to dealing with military charters with Tower Air with their 747's and World Airways with their DC-10's sending Marines to and from the middle east in the first gulf war to dealing with Air Force One when it would fly into Ontario and having the great opportunity of going up into the Ontario Tower during a few down times in between working Alaska Airlines flights to visit the Tower and spend time enjoying watching the amazing air traffic controllers handling flights in and out of Ontario to having the opportunity to ride with Airport Operations with a person who had previously worked for Ontario Aircraft Service, who one day, drove up next to me on the ramp and said "Do you want to go on a runway inspection?" I immediately said YES as I was getting into the car, it was amazing and then afterwards he showed me things about the airport that I had not known before, showing me old taxiways that had what looked like cul-de-sacs at the ends of them where B-29 bombers would park when the airport was a military base during world war two.

That was Awesome Sam, I am glad that you have such a great friend in LAX Operations who enjoys escorting you around and showing you things and places that only people who work there usually get to see👍🙂

[ryan_a]

It’s hard to express how grateful I am for your videos Sam. Keep it up!

[ridgetaylor]

I had the chance to tour the PDX Tower / TRACON two weeks ago. The TRACON was steeped in safety protocol and professionalism. The controllers were very professional and highly motivated. We weren’t allowed pictures but we did get to take photos from the catwalk up top. It was fantastic.

Great video installment about LAX

[SDKlCK]

That 787-8i landing was absolutely perfect- butter smooth. 747 pilots are such a skilled bunch.

[sergiorivera]

I am definitely in the right channel. Since I was a kid, I loved to fly (window seats obviously), plane spoting and Flight sim hours (even as an ATC). I am a mechanical engineer and now that I'm 52 y/o, still love it as back then. Sam shows that is not all about first class traveling... is about planes, airports, operations, ATCs, and a whole universe behind a flight ticket.

[kidjudge]

Awesome Video...Been doing Airport Ops for 13 years and still like to see videos like this....GREAT JOB

[JasonB]

Awesome footage. When Sam said "If you catch one you miss another" I got chills. Would love to just spend the day at a major airport like this.

[xihuantiyu]

Great video. Your tarmac visit is not a ticket of front row seat. You are literally on stage. I visited LA a few times. I will try to watch airplanes taking off and landing. LAX is the best airplane for plane spotting. By the way, Boeing-747 is also my favorite airplane.

[Zulu-time]

Thanks for sharing the video Sam. I too work for airport ops in NYC . We often have difficulties explaining what we do to other people . From escorts to wildlife, this video describes it to a tee .

[TheGospelQuartetParadise]

Sam, I have said this before, and I'll say it again. You're the man. You go places mere mortals cannot access. There are some great planespotters at LAX, and the one thing missing is a location on the airport for spotting. They either have to go to Clutters Park on the South, and several places along Lincoln Blvd on the West. Keep up your excellent content and adventures.

[DashPar]

Ok, this is the greatest plane video ever!!! This is the side we don’t see. Gorgeous 747-8 and 787-9. I want to be on ops now!! Meanwhile, 747-8 is the best looking plane in existence! The Queen!

[redact]

That’s me @2:55 🤣 happy to meet you @Samchui