[Full Video] Flying a Private Jet from El Paso to Van Nuys - Temperature and Performance Limitations

Derek and AJ flying from El Paso (ELP) to Van Nuys (VNY). We had to make a fuel stop in Phoenix (PHX) due to hot temperatures and performance limitations of the Phenom 100.

Departing ELP (Atlantic Aviation) received clearance and a wheels up time for flow into PHX (wasn't a long wait at all). Short of 8R watched a bunch of F16's join the overhead for 22 (not super visible on stream but was fun to see in person). We received alternate instructions with the takeoff clearance from the ATKNN departure (which would have taken us south around the airport before heading west). I'm not certain if this was due to traffic operating near the border (lots of military/coast guard training/activity around ELP throughout the day) or if it was due to climb rates with the heat and terrain/MVAs. We received vectors around the north side of the field and eventually direct DRRVR for the PINNG arrival into PHX.

There was a lot of interesting military activity going on throughout the day not only at ELP but also enroute talking with Albuquerque center (which can be overheard on comms throughout the flight). A bit of sequencing complexity being a slower jet on the PINNG arrival into PHX between larger (and faster) commercial jets. Albuquerque had to slow a FedEx jet behind us a bit until we could comply with speeds of the arrival. Final wasn't too busy, they had us remain on the arrival until joining the final approach course (to avoid overshooting with traffic on final to 26 north of us). Bit of a long landing on 25L, but wasn't a huge deal as we needed to vacate at the end for the fuel canopy anyhow.

Fuel canopy is interesting - don't recommend calling for clearance under there as the tower had a bit of trouble hearing us with the obstruction - but man that thing is a life-saver in the summer heat. There was some minor confusion/missed coordination with which runway we were departing out of PHX (we required 25R for performance and made this request with ground) but somehow this either wasn't conveyed or was missed by the tower/local controller. It wasn't a huge issue as we simply needed to cross 25L and join F full length to 25R and get sequenced between a couple of Southwest departures. Departing 25R we were cleared straight up to FL210 upon radar identification, but the controller quickly realized we would need to be step-climbed under same-direction faster commercial jet traffic in-trail of us so they amended the climb shortly thereafter to a lower initial altitude. This step climbing continued well into Albuquerque center airspace as well. We only cruised at FL220 to Van Nuys on this leg. The heat made the sequencing interesting throughout the day for sure.

Descending into Van Nuys on the THRNE arrival during "golden hour" was very picturesque on our way down past the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains with the setting sun (albeit this was tough to see on video because of the camera direction and smog). Received a vector north off the arrival overhead BUR for a left-downwind visual approach to runway 16R at VNY. Vacated right on K straight in to Castle & Cooke Aviation.

Recorded using the InFlightCam Audio Cable (available on Amazon) connected to a Go Pro Hero 8 BLK (courtesy of FresnoJay1976 on Twitch). I mistakenly changed the audio setting to a bit lower quality so the audio had to be boosted for this video (not as clean as it could have been) - Noted for future reference.