Flieger empor!
17th Mar 2008, 02:46
Ex-ATC (Shanwick), I recently visited GCRR for the first time and was intrigued. Can anyone explain the following:
Arrivals onto RWY 03 from the north (i.e. most traffic from Europe): why do most flights overfly GCRR at circa 5, 000 ft and then head away out over the sea for ? 10 miles before turning 180 degrees back? Why do some flights overfly and then turn back much sooner? As RWY 03 is in use almost all the time, it struck me that incoming flights are directly in the path of flights departing.
As I don't have Charts for STARs or SIDs, I am a bit in the dark here.
Departures from RWY 03 northbound seem to steer right immediately on take-off, but I am unclear as to whether this is because of 1) mountains directly ahead or 2) to avoid incoming traffic as I just mentioned. This turn brings the a/c directly over Arrecife at low altitude (I am unaware if noise abatement is required). There are then two almost right-angle turns, left and right, while over the island. Most northbound flights I saw were banking all over the sky until they were north of Lanzarote.
Also, if RWY 21 is ever used, I would imagine the approach over the mountains immediately to the north is "challenging", to say the least.
In addition to the terrain, the strong winds on Lanzarote make the picture even more intriguing.
I would be interested in feedback from any pilots familiar with getting into and out of GCRR.
Many thanks, best wishes to all.
John.
Arrivals onto RWY 03 from the north (i.e. most traffic from Europe): why do most flights overfly GCRR at circa 5, 000 ft and then head away out over the sea for ? 10 miles before turning 180 degrees back? Why do some flights overfly and then turn back much sooner? As RWY 03 is in use almost all the time, it struck me that incoming flights are directly in the path of flights departing.
As I don't have Charts for STARs or SIDs, I am a bit in the dark here.
Departures from RWY 03 northbound seem to steer right immediately on take-off, but I am unclear as to whether this is because of 1) mountains directly ahead or 2) to avoid incoming traffic as I just mentioned. This turn brings the a/c directly over Arrecife at low altitude (I am unaware if noise abatement is required). There are then two almost right-angle turns, left and right, while over the island. Most northbound flights I saw were banking all over the sky until they were north of Lanzarote.
Also, if RWY 21 is ever used, I would imagine the approach over the mountains immediately to the north is "challenging", to say the least.
In addition to the terrain, the strong winds on Lanzarote make the picture even more intriguing.
I would be interested in feedback from any pilots familiar with getting into and out of GCRR.
Many thanks, best wishes to all.
John.