Europe-USA

[JFK1979]

Hello,
I was wondering why the approach path of European flights into my home airport (JFK) tend to vary so much. Sometimes they come from the SE, at other times from the due N. The normal approach is from the NE Is there a specific reason for this?
Thanks,
Greg

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

It's almost certainly due to the same factors which determine which way they leave the UK - the weather pattern over the Atlantic. Depending on where the best tailwainds are, flights will choose varying oceanic tracks. Hence on some days flights from the UK to a US destination will leave us over Land's End whilst on other days the same flights will leave over Scotland.

That's a simplification anyway - maybe somebody will come up with a more precise explanation.