Kerry Airport Flight Paths - Seasonal??

mk6705

Hi everyone...not much of a planespotter (yet!) but I notice alot more flights are flying over me after take-off over the last few days. Usually they take off in the opposite direction but one even woke me up a few days ago.

The thing is, I noticed the same thing this time last year so can anyone explain this? Thanks.

highlydebased

Its possible that they request 08 for departure to save the backtrack on 26, which might explain

Oscar Bravo

Runway 26 would be the runway in use most of the time due to the prevailing SW/W winds but if you got the wind from the East for example then 08 would be used.Wind direction would be the answer to your question.Also if there was little wind/calm 08 would be favoured for Eastbound departures.

mk6705

Those theories don't seem to work because - two planes took off - an Aer Arran plane (not sure what it's called) and a Ryanair 737-800 within a few minutes of each other. While I'm sure the Aer Arran plane could be capable of take off from a smaller runway, the 737 would want to be flown by an insane pilot. Also, the smaller runway has a few planes parked on it.

My best guess is that they are taking off from the other side of the runway, but for what reason I cannot ponder... However I saw an other plane later that day (while passing near the airport) taking off normally. I can only presume that took the same path but I cannot be sure.

I think it's also possible that they are just turning on the opposite direction after takeoff, but I cannot ponder why.

xflyer

Adro947 by two runways we mean the same runway, it's 26 one way and 08 the other. Magnetic headings, 260 degrees and 080 deg. The old runway is a taxyway or for parking.

I flew out of there recently and Neon circles is correct. I often took off on 08 and landed on 26. Particularly when the wind was calm or directly across the runway. The Ryanairs were doing the same. Because of the layout of the taxyway, 26 means a long backtrack. The only aircraft I saw do that when I was there was a foreign light aircraft who insisted on 26 and then took off from halfway Which meant he had less runway available than if he used 08, Daft!

If the wind is strong, there's no choice but to use 26 and backtrack. But lately we have had a lot of changeable winds so the runway direction can change over quite a short period.

mk6705

Thanks for that - I was actually going to start a thread asking why every runway seems to be either 3-7 or 2-8.

Judging by the way they are all going 26 seems to be the only way (I'm presuming that means taking off away from Currow rather than towards it) they could pass over here.

Oscar Bravo

Ya 26 would be the useual takeoff/landing runway as its faceing more or less W,SW. Nearly all runways around the place are East/west or thereabouts.eg Sligo is 11/29,Knock is 09/27,Galway is 08/26 and likewise with Kerry as stated above. Cork has 17/35 and a shorter 07/25.

mk6705

Oscar Bravo wrote: »

Ya 26 would be the useual takeoff/landing runway as its faceing more or less W,SW. Nearly all runways around the place are East/west or thereabouts.eg Sligo is 11/29,Knock is 09/27,Galway is 08/26 and likewise with Kerry as stated above. Cork has 17/35 and a shorter 07/25.

Actually most planes take off and land in the opposite direction (from observing them) because of the runway only being accessible from one side.

Delta Kilo

I just looked at the runway on google earth there because im not familiar with it.

From looking at the picture, most aircraft do indeed land on runway 26 (you can see the rubber marks on the ground, there are no rubber marks visible on the 08 end.)

Im not sure about take off, it seems a long backtrack but then again, it is taking off into the prevailing wind so it may be something that has to be done.

To clarify, runway 26 pointing towards Castlemaine and Killorglin, and runway 8 is in the direction of castleisland.

xflyer

Actually in Ireland as in most countries the wind it from the west most of the time. So we land and take off to or from the west.

Cessna_Pilot

Delta Kilo wrote: »

Im not sure about take off, it seems a long backtrack but then again, it is taking off into the prevailing wind so it may be something that has to be done.
.

Depending on performance considerations, namely tailwind component runway 08 would be the preferred runway for departure.