Dublin Airport Landings from South

g0g

Been meaning to post this question on here for ages and never get around to it. Apologies if it's the type of question that gets asked loads. I've flown into Dublin a reasonable number of times over the years and pretty much >9 times out of 10 we land on the E-W Runway, either in over Howth or else from the West. The very odd time I've come in from the North, but never from the South landing in a Northernly direction. As I understood it with prevailing winds you'd typically always use the "main" runway (E-W), with the other one only when crosswinds got up to a certain strength?

However, since moving back to Bray a year ago I've noticed on what I'd describe as a fairly frequent basis that planes make their approach over Bray, appearing to use Bray/Greystones as a marker/turning point. Last night was one example, where from 21:30ish onwards I heard loads of planes coming in overhead (around 4,000-4,500ft according to flight24 app). From recollection yesterday wasn't a hugely windy day, so why the need to use that runway? Also, it seems to mainly be nighttime when I notice this. Is it typically done only late in the evening (maintenance on the other runway?) or is it just that I don't notice it during the day!?

It just strikes me as odd as I'd have thought from the South is the approach angle that causes the most noise pollution due to flying directly over Dublin at approach altitudes.

Has it always been this way and I haven't noticed, or did it change in recent years?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer!

(apologies, I'm not familiar enough with the terminology to know the runway/airport codes etc to describe this!)

lambayire

I read elsewhere that they were doing maintenance on the 10/28 runway last night.

It is unusual for 34 to be used as you don't normally get the winds from the north.
I flew in to 34 a couple of years back when there was a howling north wind.
It was an awful shaky approach, not helped by the 2 year old puking everywhere just as we touched down.

It was lovely flying in right over the city centre though.

And I'm with you on the terminology too!

Stovepipe

the approach routes to the airport have changed in recent years and in effect, the aircraft make continuous (non-stepped) descents with fewer turns, more directly to the final approach, so as to save fuel and supposedly reduce noise. That may be what you have noticed, as they would appear to be closer to the city than before.

homerjay2005

Stovepipe wrote: »

the approach routes to the airport have changed in recent years and in effect, the aircraft make continuous (non-stepped) descents with fewer turns, more directly to the final approach, so as to save fuel and supposedly reduce noise. That may be what you have noticed, as they would appear to be closer to the city than before.

no last night, planes were approaching from the south from about 9.00 onwards.

very rarely happens unless it either a windy night (which it wasnt) or their is runway maintenance on.

ted1

I tweeted Dublin Airport last night about the flight path. the response was

"hi, crosswind runway in use due to unexpected maintenance on a taxiway adjacent to main runway, Apologies for inconvenience"

As it was such a clear dry night with no wind, the noise was quite noticeable. normally when that runway is in use the wind prevents the noise from reaching use.

g0g

ted1 wrote: »

I tweeted Dublin Airport last night about the flight path. the response was

"hi, crosswind runway in use due to unexpected maintenance on a taxiway adjacent to main runway, Apologies for inconvenience"

As it was such a clear dry night with no wind, the noise was quite noticeable. normally when that runway is in use the wind prevents the noise from reaching use.

Thanks for that. Yeah, the times I've noticed it in the past I think it was windy enough. Just struck me as strange as it's been enough times in 2014 so far to be noticeable. Strange looking out an upstairs window after 22:00 last night to see at least 3 and at one point I think even 4 headlights (or whatever they're called) on planes coming in!

alan4cult

Came in from Budapest last night on this approach. It was quite shaky but a lovely view over the city. It was quite a sharp turn at Greystones though!!

After I went to collect my car in the car park and there was spectacular views of the planes just before touchdown.

urbanjim1

I live in Woodside, so planes come nicely over the house. Must say it is an impressive sight picking up their lights in the distance, and watching them come over.

Trying to hear their engines before they become visible is a game my other half doesn't enjoy playing.

coylemj

Yes, heard and saw lots of them last night crossing over Deansgrange and Blackrock and tracked them on Flightradar24. The flights coming from the Irish Sea came down to a spot at Killiney or thereabouts, turned right and headed direct for runway 34. The last inbound flight was from Burgas on the Black Sea in Bulgaria at just after 3 a.m.