Photography Forum | How is this possible

Hi All
I was on Airliners.net looking at trip-reports so I could plan a trip that had some recomnedations on it and this picture came up and it is really good but I was wondering how you could take it. I had a strategy that the photographer had rented or used a helicopter and flew on top and shot away. Any realistic possiblies will be really apprieciated.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Airways/Boeing-777-236-ER/2015003/&sid=63bdad6160c0f9b5ad4c0d9f8453db39" alt="Posted Photo" />

probably a light aircraft,cessna etc,with special atc permission to fly within tight limits around the airport,theres a similar pic of a JAL 747 departing heavy with massive wing flex...
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Japan-Airlines--/Boeing-747-446/0640853/&sid=41814a598c00115e79464138471a6913
Tango

In his text he asked for no discussion, maybe the aircraft he was in was in the wrong place.

It's fairly easy, but relatively expensive. You could charter a Cessna 172 from a local flight school, like Santa Monica and request a flight plan around LAX. You need good visibility obviously for taking pictures because you'll be around 4000ft and generally your pilot needs his head on a swivle to keep an eye on traffic which in the Los Angeles vicinity is pretty heavy. For an hours hop you won't see much change out of $200 so most of us need to make every shot count.
Same goes for SAN. The awesome and legendary shot of the landing 777 would be taken from a 172 or similar high wing rented from Mongomery or Gillespie Field (El Cajon).
I don't know what the rules are but it appears to me that if the pilot is willing and he knows the score he'll slot right in where you want to go as best he can.
The other thing is you need a pretty good sharp lens, ideally a prime of around 300mm. Sticking your lens out the window of a C172 tends to cause massive movement so high shutter speeds, image stab, sunny days and a firm grip are what you need. Unlikely to get full frame shots from the distance you shoot from so high res helps once you get cropping.
If you are going to travel to California I'd say it's worth the extra few bucks just for the heck of flying around over the variety of fields available.
Arizona is also a great place for air to ground, especially around Tucson where you have AMARG, Pinal, Mirana and TUS. Air traffic is not so busy and I've done a run down runway centre in a C172 at both TUS and Pinal. And then you have Monthan which has to be done even if military isn't your thing. If you do Pinal, might as well do the whole of Tucson area.
Takes a bit of planning is all, but worth it.