Transatlantic flight paths.

Agree with most of what has been said. The only thing I would add is that sometimes, when it is more economical to do so, airlines fly “random routings” north or south of the established track system. It all just depends on the city pair and the winds for that particular day, and of course where the track system is. The people who make the tracks try to take advantage of the most favorable winds for the bulk of the flights.

My sister is currently flying on DAL239 from Amsterdam to Atlanta, but I have noticed that they are heading South West whereas yesterday all U.S transatlantic flights where heading towards Newcastle then overhead here in Scotland. Is this to do with wind direction?

ps. Off the radar now. I can only assume the transatlantic routes vary due to the jet stream.

Just curious, is there a European version of Flight Aware??

(www.flightaware.com)

To be honest Al there is a “great circle” route between any origin & destination anywhere on the planet and in any direction. Just think of a globe, and stretch an elastic band between 2 points, this is a great circle path. (as you may well know) If a NAT Track encompasses a GC then this is luck of the draw. It will all depend on which NAT Track is open at any time, and whether the Westerly or Easterly tracks are North or South on a given day of the week.

Sometimes the upper winds will favour the northerly Great Circle route (the shortest distance between two points on the spherical Earth), which goes roughly north west through Stornoway, south of Iceland and Greenland, to Canada, sometimes they favour the southerly Great Circle, which goes roughly south west towards the Azores.
Airlines use forecast upper winds and temperatures to compute the most economical flightpath…

Thanks Dean, my knowledge for today has been enhanced. 🙂

i have had varied routes, going from Newcastle to Orlando went a more up and over route then down the eastern seaboard, while both Heathrow and Manchester to Antigua took direct SW routes. Franfurt to Toronto was interesting, as the route took us nearly directly over Morecambe bay where we live, then across Nothern Ireland.

It’s to do with what NAT Tracks are open to cross the atlantic, based on Jetstream winds on the day. The Eastbound tracks will be open where the strongest tailwind is and the Westbound tracks will be open where the least amount of headwind is.

Rgds

Dean