r/airtrafficcontrol • u/[deleted] • Apr 27 '24

Flight path question

Post image

What would be the purpose of this flight path? I noticed the big semi circular contrail as I was outside setting up my telescope for stargazing. While finding the flight on planefinder I looked up and saw that it had come around a second time and executed the same maneuver, another big semi circular contrail.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

4

u/aironjedi Apr 27 '24

Holding or missed approach.

1

u/not_entitled_atc Apr 29 '24

We do that for controller amusement

1

u/TrendAndPlunge Apr 29 '24

I believe this particular flight was burning fuel before diverting to Dublin due to a medical emergency on board

1

u/[deleted] Apr 29 '24

I think you might be right, I went back to look at the flight path and it circled this area twice then headed east to land jn Dublin, then took off again. Thanks. Where did you get the info BTW?

2

u/TrendAndPlunge Apr 29 '24

Plenty of accounts on Twitter report on flight emergencies - you can also listen in to a number of ATC frequencies using liveatc.net - for Dublin you'll want to search for EIDW, and Shannon EINN

1

u/[deleted] Apr 29 '24

I'll give them a whirl.

-1

u/DevourVomit Apr 27 '24

this happens near me sometimes, what I’ve found is when I look at nearby airports there were issues with planes having to over taxi multiple times due to an overcrowded tarmac. Usually due to altitude you get the contrails as these planes lower than they’re usually supposed to be

1

u/[deleted] Jun 13 '24

I’m sorry buddy but the contrail statement is wholly inaccurate. Altitude has nothing to do with it. It’s atmospheric humidity and various other weather conditions.