11: On Approach
Inside the high-stakes world of air traffic control, where an invisible network of waypoints guides millions of passengers safely home every day.
160000Z SEP 24
Good morning,
Welcome to another issue of Flightlines— our 11th issue, returning after a break last week.
A near miss in Nashville (BNA) and a taxiway collision in Atlanta (ATL) remind us of a critical truth in aviation: even as technology advances, the margin for error in airport operations remains paper thin.
A regional airport like Raleigh-Durham Int’l (RDU) can see more than 80 aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) at peak times.
A busier airport like Atlanta might see over 250 operations in an hour. This traffic must be managed with strict navigation and communication during arrival and departure to avoid incident.
This week we take a look airport approach procedures. We'll explore the navigation systems that guide aircraft safely from cruising altitude to touchdown.
These procedures keep millions of passengers safe every day, and understanding them will highlight the challenges faced by pilots and air traffic controllers in maintaining safety in the skies.
In this issue of Flightlines:
✈️ Feature: On Approach
📍Routes of note
Iberia is launching A321XLR service from Madrid to London and Paris in late October 2024.
Turkish Airlines is launching a new route from Istanbul to Sydney in December 2024.
Qatar Airways is expanding its service to Saudi Arabia in NW24.
Vietnam Airlines is launching a new route from Vietnam to Milan in July 2025.
🗞️ In the news
Boeing factory workers go on strike, halting production of key aircraft models.
United Airlines to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi across entire fleet.
Air Canada and its pilots avert a strike with a last-minute deal.
US approves $7.2 billion sale of F-35 aircraft to Romania.
A Delta A350 collides with a regional jet on the taxiway in Atlanta.
Feature
On Approach
Have you ever noticed, perhaps during your morning commute, the same aircraft passing overhead at the same time each day? Or maybe you’ve seen a stream of aircraft, all in a formed line, heading towards the airport during an evening walk.
These aren't coincidences or chance alignments. What you're seeing is organized traffic— aircraft guided by what are essentially invisible highways in the sky.
For residents of downtown Raleigh, this might mean spotting the nightly approach of flight MRA700— a Martinaire Cessna 208 Super Cargomaster that makes a distinct turboprop buzz as it passes overhead at 3,000 ft aloft:
These predictable patterns are the visible results of an intricate system of waypoints, routes, and approach procedures that govern the skies in and around controlled airspace. It's a system that allows Raleigh-Durham to handle the 80 takeoffs and landings they see at peak hours of the day, and is the same system that allows Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Int’l Airport to manage 250 operations per hour— more than four aircraft movements every minute!
But what guides aircraft on these predictable paths? How do pilots navigate these routes as they near their destination? To understand this, we need to look closer at one of the most critical and complex phases of flight – the approach.
Few moments in the course of a flight are as crucial as the approach phase. It's a period of transition, where aircraft descend from the relative simplicity of cruising altitude into the busyness of an airport.
As an aircraft transitions from cruise to landing, it must navigate a precise path through increasingly congested airspace, all while decreasing altitude and speed. This is accomplished by navigating a system of waypoints and altitude constraints that help guide the craft to touchdown.
Waypoints
Waypoints are predetermined locations that serve as reference points for navigation in the air. Think of them as invisible signposts in the sky. The can be based on:
Ground-based navigational aids (like VOR or NDB stations)
Geographical features
Simple points in space using latitude and longitude coordinates
As MRA700 approaches RDU, it might pass through waypoints with names like TILTZ, BRADE, and WENDI:
Waypoints are connected to form specific routes. For arriving aircraft, these often take the form of Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs). A STAR is a predetermined path that connects the en-route phase of flight with the approach phase, guiding aircraft from cruising altitude down to the initial approach.
STARs and Approaches
STARs are a critical component of modern approach procedures, especially in busy airspace. They provide a structured way for aircraft to transition from the high-altitude cruising phase to the lower altitudes used for approach and landing.
Each STAR is documented on a plate, published and regularly updated by the FAA. As an example, here is the BRADE6 arrival into Raleigh-Durham. Flying in from New Bern, and over Kinston, MRA700 might fly a BRADE6 arrival.
Gone are the days when pilots relied solely on ground-based radio beacons and visual landmarks. Today's aircraft are equipped with navigation systems that rely on GPS and inertial sensors to calculate position and manage flight paths. These systems allow for incredible precision. An aircraft can hit a waypoint at a specific altitude and speed, at a predetermined time, with accuracy measured in seconds and feet.
As MRA700 makes its nightly approach to RDU, all these elements come into play. The pilots follow their assigned STAR, guided by waypoints displayed on their navigation screens. They adjust speed and altitude according to the procedure, all while communicating with ATC and monitoring the aircraft.
On the ground, air traffic controllers direct the movements of several aircraft simultaneously. They're using radar-based computer systems to ensure each plane maintains safe separation, follows its assigned route, and arrives at the runway threshold at just the right moment.
The recent incidents at Nashville and Atlanta serve as reminders of the challenges that persist even in our technologically advanced era.
Yet, it's crucial to remember that these incidents are notable precisely because they are rare. Every day, thousands of flights navigate the complex approach phase without incident, testament to the robustness of our aviation systems and the professionalism of pilots and air traffic controllers.
As air traffic continues to grow and airports like Raleigh-Durham and Atlanta handle ever-increasing numbers of flights, the importance of these precise approach procedures will only increase.
The next time you see that familiar plane passing overhead or watch aircraft lining up on final approach, take a moment to appreciate the infrastructure and professionals guiding them home. It's a remarkable system that continues to evolve, always with one primary goal: ensuring that every flight ends with a safe landing. ✈
Let's explore this week's noteworthy events that are shaping the future of air travel.
Routes of note
The most significant new routes and service changes this week, offering insight into strategic expansions and market shifts.
🇪🇸 Madrid (MAD) – 🇬🇧 London Heathrow (LHR) & 🇫🇷 Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) via Iberia, October 2024
Iberia’s A321XLR service launch between Madrid and key European hubs in London and Paris demonstrates the airline's commitment to next-gen narrow-body aircraft to enhance capacity on premium short-haul routes.
🇹🇷 Istanbul (IST) – 🇦🇺 Sydney (SYD) via Turkish Airlines, December 2024
Turkish Airlines' new direct route to Sydney marks a major milestone, opening up a long-awaited connection between Turkey and Australia. This expansion taps into significant business, leisure, and diaspora markets, strengthening Turkish Airlines' global reach.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia via Qatar Airways, NW24
Qatar Airways’ increased services to Saudi Arabia come as travel demand between the Gulf neighbors continues to rise. The strategic move further cements Qatar Airways’ position in the region, capitalizing on business and pilgrimage traffic.
🇻🇳 Hanoi (HAN) – 🇮🇹 Milan (MXP) via Vietnam Airlines, July 2025
Vietnam Airlines’ planned service from Hanoi to Milan highlights its ambitions to expand in the European market, linking Southeast Asia with one of Italy’s major financial and cultural hubs.
In the news
The latest and most impactful stories shaping the world of commercial aviation this week.
SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2024
Emirates set to withdraw from Singapore-Melbourne - Point Hacks
SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2024
Boeing's New 797 Will Be Built In Washington - Simple Flying
Allegiant Takes Delivery of First Boeing 737 MAX - AirlineGeeks
SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024
Wizz Air Reveals The 1st Low-Cost Airbus A321XLR Route - Simple Flying
Dutch government scales back previous plans to reduce flights at Schiphol Airport - Air Freight News
Southwest makes major board changes, Gary Kelly to retire - World Airline News
Nice Airport Sees 44% US Traffic Growth As American Airlines Adds Philadelphia Flight - Simple Flying
SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2024
Delta aircraft, regional jet involved in taxiway incident in Atlanta - Delta Airlines Inc. News
Iran Air Faces New Europe Flight Ban - One Mile at a Time
Congress Critical Of FAA's Restrictive Commercial Launch Licensing Regulations - Simple Flying
SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024
SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2024
Alaska Airlines 737 MAX Aborts Takeoff And Blows Tires To Dodge Southwest Jet - Simple Flying
Boeing Workers Reject Deal And 96% Vote For Midnight Strike - Simple Flying
United Airlines will add free Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet - The Points Guy
American Airlines flight attendants ratify new agreement - World Airline News
SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2024
SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2024
✈
Thank you for reading.
Flightlines will be back next week with more insights and updates from the world of commercial aviation.
Until then, safe travels and happy flying!
I enjoyed your information about approaches. My time in the Marine Corps included a tour with the 1st Marine Air Wing in Japan in combat intelligence. Both the Navy and the Marine Corps has officers trained as air traffic controllers. We are talking about ground based units and various fixed wing and helicopter vessels.
I wonder how they do their jobs? The 2nd Marine Air Wing is in Cherry Point NC?
You got your Martinaire shout-out in! And added a fancy PDF insert 😮(I may want to copy that with art project instructions..). And managed to make a clever play on words- “following their STAR”. A good one indeed!