RAREST EVER BAY AREA TAKEOFF | American A321-231 TOGA Takeoff Runway 19R in San Francisco ~ KSFO

Описание: Shockingly enough, this full American Airlines flight with nearby weather left only 30 minutes late. The reason is not what you think. During some AGGRESSIVE winds from nearby mountains, the bay area experienced very variable weather. With massive dark clouds rolling in around sunset and the RARE southernly winds picking up, the traffic flow switched from runway 10 to runway 19. After we pushed back, there was pretty much a ground stop as the controllers tried to organize traffic. There was a lengthy departure line for runway 10L. Runway 10R was closed and used for taxiing. Runway 19L was used for landings. Both of the 28s were closed because of the winds. Therefore, the controllers assigned us the rarest bay area departure that exists. Runway 19R is only used for departures about once annually. All of the mainline aircraft waiting to send it off runway 10L were sent to 19R, a couple 737-MAX9s routed to 19L, a thousand feet longer of a runway. Once that traffic flow smoothed out as we waited on the closed runway 10R, a couple 787s launched off 10L in front of us. Once that heavy line left the ground, we taxied to runway 19R. As we did so, the winds were too strong for them to use runway 10L so it was closed. About 36 aircraft were in the takeoff line for 19R. We were cleared for takeoff, and as I fought the camera to focus beyond those rain droplets on the window we spooled up the engines on runway 19R with runway code 5 5 5 , so TO/GA was required for us. Flaps 2 got us in the air relatively quickly, especially with the massive headwind we had. We QUICKLY reduced thrust to CLB once at 1500ft AGL. After breaking through the clouds, the people behind me in row 5 decided to light up all of their belongings, probably just to annoy me as I filmed. There was something going on but they gave me the stare of annoyance if you will. I moved up the camera to the forward window in my row as can be seen almost at the end of the video, so apoligies for any disruptions :)

I think this may be the best takeoff video I've ever filmed. Please Enjoy!


The reason runway 19R is so rarely operated on is because of the steep mountains pretty close to the end of the runway, along with hotels, buildings, and parking lots. This requires pretty much an immediate turn to the left to continue the climb out. I am not sure if there is a noise abatment procedure as I'm not fully familiar with the area. If anyone is from San Francisco and very familiar with the runway 19 departure procedures, let me know in the comments.

Wind: 190/39G61

Aircraft: N121AN
Departure: KSFO RWY 19R
Arrival: KPHX RWY 25L
Seat: 4A (First Class)
Callsign: AAL1914
Date: February 18, 2024
Flight Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Cruise Altitude: FL270, FL330
Takeoff Thrust: TO/GA

TAKEOFF RWY19R
Performance Specs: A321 -A5 SHARKLET WET
Wind: no factor (standard)
Flaps: 02
Assumed Temperature: MAX-WT
APU: OFF