Barcelona Path Question

[wrafter]

[Apologies if placed in wrong forum/location/]

SLF here, not in industry.

At 14.46hrs local time today a large passenger plane flew directly overhead, over Barcelona city centre and over Barcelona's central park (Ciutadella) and proceeded over the twin towers (Mafre/Hotel Arts) before swinging right and onto the airport.

It's pretty rare for a plane to fly over the city, but it happens once or so a week - I work alone in the top floor of a building in city centre - and it's quiet up here but for the birds and planes, so I can tell.

Normally planes come in on a more or less parallel line with the shoreline.

What might result in a plane taking this route over the city? Does it mean it's late, or in trouble, or has political/important passengers?

Or what's happening?

Thanks.

[5150]

Probably ATC cutting an Iberia in, in front of a British aircraft . . .

[learner001]

Hi wrafter,

In the aviation industry (generally speaking in a 'nutshell') a lot is done to prevent the environment from disturbance from aircraft flying around. The idea is to avoided populated areas, especially cities, as much as possible.

Normally the majority of aircraft inbound to Barcelona are flying along one of the the instrument approach paths towards the runway. Runway 25L(eft) or 25R(ight) with south-westerly winds. These paths are positionned on the extended centerline of the runway. In Barcelona (Runways 25...) more or less straight out to the sea of the Mediteranean.

Coming from Sabadell, north-east of the airport, you would normally go out to sea and then turn right towards the extended centerline of one of El Pratt airport's runways 25L or 25R.

So usually aircraft do not fly over the city.

Every once in a while however, (depending on local rules, 'traffic density', weather and/or other factors) an aircraft will be allowed to make a, so called, 'visual approach' during which it will not be using the complete and/or exact instument approach path.

If this 'visual approach' is done then the trajectory towards the runway may be determined more or less (limited according to certain criteria...) by the pilots themselves.

Kind regards, learner . . . ;)

[wrafter]

I read a thread about that before :)

To my knowledge it wasn't an Iberia plane, no red/orange visible - very white body.

Looking at this (http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByFlight.do?id=150027284&airlineCode=LO&flightNumber=437) it looks to have been a Spanair/LOT codeshare from Warsaw.

But what makes >this< flight special, there's been no other (low-flying) air traffic over city since the aforementioned.

Alternatively, could be this (http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByFlight.do?id=150044848&airlineCode=UX&flightNumber=2004) (Air Europa).

Since writing above, have seen learner001's response: thank you kindly.

@ learner001: Are "visual approach(es)" given for some reason? Or totally on an ad-hoc basis (perhaps if there's little traffic)?

[learner001]

Totally ad-hoc...

Usually on request of the pilots, if there is a 'wide enough gap' between them and the 'following' aircraft... So it could be very busy as well...

Indeed to 'cut some flight time and fuel...' or just to 'enjoy the nice view...' :)

Kind regards, learner . . . ;)

[wrafter]

Sweet. Thanks for response(s).