Flightpaths

[dakota]

I have just tracked a Monarch A321, Flightnr ZB568 from Manchester heading to Tenerife and was surprised to see it head west over the Irish Sea to Ireland before turning south.

Why would it take such a big diversion and not head south to tenerife straight away ?

[viscount]

I don't know a definitive answer. Two main contenders to consider:

* The airway which runs south from Wrexham, over Jersey and down the west coast of France is a busy one, particularly at the crossing point (not far from Jersey) with the east-west airway taking Continental European flights to Caribbean and South America. Could be the crew filed to avoid this busy airway, despite a more direct routing.

* There was strike trouble in France yesterday, it could well be that there is further disruption by civil servants in France today. By routing over Dublin - Cork and a more oceanic route south, the mainland French airspace would be avoided by being well out into the Atlantic. At times of French airspace strike closure, I've known Tenerife flights route via German, Italian and Tunisian airspace!

The reason that flights from Liverpool and Manchester to Ireland on weekdays go directly west to the Irish Coast before turning south is that much of the Cardigan Bay section of the Irish Sea are military flying 'Danger Zones' D201/202, historically used for air-to-air and ground-to-air missile firing and now designated for UAV testing in addition to air-to-air training. Watch the route taken by airliners from MAN and LPL to Waterford or Cork and a certain degree Shannon on days when the danger areas are 'hot'.

Others may have a more specific answer than my speculation.

[maverick]

Basically to avoid French airspace. French ATC striking at present (just for a change)

The route from the NW is normally Cardiff/Berry Head/Brest/Santiago deC and then the Canaries -

Once over Ireland you can draw a straight line directly over water to the Canaries.

[dakota]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Very informative, really appreciate it.

[uranox]

Working on nights in kirkby i've often tracked Tenerife flights into Manchester,they tend to come up the welsh coast over Anglesey to wallasey then over kirkby @ about 6000ft to the mirsi beacon,then on to Manchester for 05L,they might take a slightly different route if using 05R.