Dalaman Airport

[AeroSpark]

Hi, wife and I have booked our first ever child free holiday next august, flying Bournemouth to Dalaman. I haven't flown for probably 15 years and it will be her first time in the air ever. Just been looking at some pics of Dalaman so I can give her an idea of what to expect. It looks like theres some fairly high mountains in the area, are we likely to make an approach from that end of the airport or just come in over the sea?
Also does anyone know what type Thomson will be using on that route next year, I'm guessing the 737-800?
Cheers.

[Leecj1]

DLM is one of my regular jaunts! From BOH THomson usually fly the-800 as they have one or two based there I think.
Approaches - 'usually' during the summer approach over the sea but it really depends of course on the wind. As I go out winter and summer, thinking back I would say it is about a 50/50 split from over the sea or the mountains.
If over the mountains, spectacular views but can become it a bit bouncy. Always an extra tug on the seatbelt for me to tighten things up a tad before touchdown.
Was up the back of a TCX 753 a few years ago on a mountain approach. Interesting to see how looking forward through the cabin how much flexing occurs!

[763 jock]

Probably been there a few hundred times over the years. Almost certain that the runway in use will depend on the time of your arrival. Day arrivals are usually 19 as there nearly always an onshore wind. 01 at night as the wind swings round to offshore. 19 is a visual off a cloud break VOR.

[bucket_and_spade]

Hi AeroSpark,

I'm a pilot for a well-known TOM competitor and our bread and butter during the summer is DLM. In the daytime, you can expect a sea breeze to have developed (wind from the south) so we land on R19 (the southerly facing runway) 99.99% of the time. At night, this breeze becomes a 'land breeze' and the wind will usually be from the north (or negligible) so R01 (the northerly runway) is the one most often used.

Obviously if it's dusk/dawn you are right on the transition in wind and the runway in use could be either.

The approach to R19 will have you approaching the airport (and valley) from the northwest - it's a VOR (non-precision) approach which is just designed to get the aircraft in to a position to break off and land visually early or, if the visibility is bad or the pilot wants to, it can lead you to flying to the overhead of the airport then turning back north (with the runway out the right hand windows) before turning final (heading out towards the sea again) after a few miles.

The R01 approach is an ILS which means it is a precision approach which will get the aircraft lined up on the runway very accurately. You can expect to, again, come in from the northwest (over the mountains - the terrain is one of the biggest considerations for pilots when operating in to DLM) and then be vectored left downwind (heading south, with the runway visible out the left windows) out over the sea before turning left, back north, to land.

So, in the day expect R19 and at night expect R01. If in the day you'll get some nice views of the mountains on the way in. Most pilots will fly in from the northwest, clear the terrain and, once visual with the airfield (usually around 15-20 miles away) will call 'visual' to ATC and fly a visual approach i.e. with reference to what's outside the window as opposed to the info from navigation beacons etc. It's quite a fun approach for us - once we see the runway we'll turn left (heading east) and follow a prominent road to get us in to a good position to turn 90 degrees right to land on the southerly runway.

Hope that helps!

B&S

[AeroSpark]

Thats great, thanks for all the replies. Were due to land about 2200 local so won't be able to see a great deal anyway I'm guessing.

[razorrawe]

Bucket and spade what a lovely informative reply

[tb10er]

As a simple passenger, the approach was at night so pretty un-interesting.

However, there is one thing you should be aware of about DLM - the prices!

We were warned about the high prices being charged, and I can tell you, they were not wrong.

If you do a search for airport quality reviews about this airport, you will find plenty of similar comments.

[Wookey]

Agree with the previous comments about prices and there never seems to be any change so cashiers offer little sweetie bars/packets instead!!
One tip if you haven't visited Turkey before is that you need a tourist Visa which until recently had to be purchased on arrival, cost £10. However you can now obtain visas online - I think mine cost around £12.50 - which saves loads of time, try this link https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en. Validity I think is either. 3 or 6 months.
Hope that helps

[bucket_and_spade]

razor awe,

I try!

;)