Today's simple flight made not totally simple.

I have a meeting with a client in Torrance. LVK to TOA is pretty much GPS direct, with a small diversion for the shoreline transition near LAX.

Unfortunately yesterdays clear skies have turned to not just IFR (Sloppy is VFK only, but you guessed that already), but below IFR minimums. I overheard several pilots telling ATC that they would have to call home to get recommendations.

Anyway, after a less sloppy preflight and departure, including a stop at the smoothy shop next to the airport open at 5AM? I launched with the hope that the weather would lift on the way. The flight down was one of the best ever for trips to the southland. Being early I followed the hills of the west side of the valley, with out the later in the day turbulence and was treated to some wonderful early morning colors reflecting off the worn hillsides. It was reminiscent of the desert southwest in the morning.

After getting a good look at the LA Basin, and hearing the before mentioned radio calls it was apparent the TOA was not to be the first stop. A little back and forth with ATC and VNY was selected with it's clear skies and large unfamiliar runway (better large unfamiliar than small in this case).

So now here I sit, not too sloppy, at Raytheon; wifi, coffee in hand and work to do. Not bad.

Two last things on how the transition to a new destination was made less sloppy. The radio, I've always enjoyed the radio part of flying and feel I have a pretty good and professional tone when using it. As I've read and observed, good radio will get you good treatment and patience fro the very busy controller. Next, the autopilot; vectors, altitude changes, getting new airport info, radio calls. All made easy with auto flying the plane. The more I fly the more consider this required equipment.(I know 50nm Saturday burger runs are different than 300nm business trips)