Why are airplanes flying so low in Toronto

[batman321123]

Over the past week or so I've noticed that airplanes have been flying much lower than usual in Toronto. They were never this low before. Has anyone else noticed this? The sound made by them has gone up a lot, obviously due to them flying lower.

[ElChico]

Were in toronto have you seen this? I noticed they where using the most northerly runway a lot on Thursday I think, a little unusual...

[batman321123]

I'm in the Keele and Lawrence west area.

[ElChico]

That would have to be a southern runway.

They have been juggling flight paths due to contruction.

http://www.gtaa.com/Index.aspx?Sid=Node12&tpl=6

If you want to make a complaint.

http://www.gtaa.com/Index.aspx?Sid=Node6/Node6.1&Tpl=1

[Ben31]

Seems alright to me....then again maybe I'm just used to it....since the company I work at is directly along the flight path and the runaway is across from us on Airport Rd.
If anybody wants to take same time to look at the planes as they land that would be the perfect spot....there is a Wendy's store and donut shop....so you can enjoy a meal as the plane flys right above you...really close... :lol: ...trust me its the perfect view.

[Kasakato]

There's been no change. The may just be flying closer to your house in order to approach a different runway as already stated. They have always flown super low when waiting for permission to land. Low and slow enough that they have to pull up to prevent a stall.

[dell]

Seems alright to me....then again maybe I'm just used to it....since the company I work at is directly along the flight path and the runaway is across from us on Airport Rd.
If anybody wants to take same time to look at the planes as they land that would be the perfect spot....there is a Wendy's store and donut shop....so you can enjoy a meal as the plane flys right above you...really close... :lol: ...trust me its the perfect view.


Man thats the best area for YYZ Spotting aka taking pictures of airliners landing at Pearson. BTW do you happen to know the flight patterns for that area? I mean sometimes when I go the planes land perfectly over that area and other times the planes land from the opposite side on off of Dixie road. On days where the planes don't land over Wendys I go to Carlingview and go Arizona Bar & Grill parking lot where planes go over that area as well.

[girlstar]

I'm in the Keele and Lawrence west area.

Those could be the ones I see around Yorkdale that land at Downsview. They fly so freaking low they look like they're going to crash. Are they relatively small commuter looking planes?

[batman321123]

Those could be the ones I see around Yorkdale that land at Downsview. They fly so freaking low they look like they're going to crash. Are they relatively small commuter looking planes?

No these look like commercial flights leaving YYZ. They were eastbound.

[MizTEcK]

where exactly is the wendies? i might wanna check it out one day

[Instagator]

Man thats the best area for YYZ Spotting aka taking pictures of airliners landing at Pearson. BTW do you happen to know the flight patterns for that area? I mean sometimes when I go the planes land perfectly over that area and other times the planes land from the opposite side on off of Dixie road. On days where the planes don't land over Wendys I go to Carlingview and go Arizona Bar & Grill parking lot where planes go over that area as well.

There's only this. Wind. And you can tell if they are landing at wendies by the landing lights.. (they'll be either on or off).

Usually if the wind is heading east, then they will land at the wendies strip. P.S. The wendies strip is probably the secondary runway, as there is a runway that longer just south of that one.
Hope that helps.

[nano]

yyz has prevaling winds from the west. in the afternoon and evenings you can see the planes lined up for landing

[Donkey_boy]

anyone know of a place were you can park and have a good close view of the planes taking off and landing???? years agao there used to be a parking lot right on airport road across from wendy's were you could park and watch.....not anymore though!

[RBK]

Interesting. This should be cool to do when bored... Anyone know the exact address/intersection of the wendys? I don't live near yyz so I wouldn't know the area that well.

[MadCow]

Interesting. This should be cool to do when bored... Anyone know the exact address/intersection of the wendys? I don't live near yyz so I wouldn't know the area that well.

It's on Airport Rd. just a little south of Derry Rd. On a sunny day, there's almost always a few people watching the planes landing.

[dell]

anyone know of a place were you can park and have a good close view of the planes taking off and landing???? years agao there used to be a parking lot right on airport road across from wendy's were you could park and watch.....not anymore though!

Well you can actualy park Wendys and I see people there all the time with lawn chairs and stuff. I like going a few hundred feet north of there where there are office buildings on Airpost Rd and the parking lots are open and empty on weekends. You'll see it right away because there are always families and photographers who park there. Like I mentioned in my last post, Arizona Bar and Grill on Carlingview Dr (south of Dixon) is another good place that nobody else really goes to. The parking lot is between Arizona and Mr Greek.

RBK, type in "Airport Rd & Orlando Dr, Malton, ON" on Google maps for the Wendys area. The other area I go to is "Carlingview Dr & Dixon Rd, Etobicoke, ON". Both locations are areas just off the runway.

[Donkey_boy]

thanks dell.......will have to check it out........across from wendy used to be great......it was right at the end of the runway at the fence......it is now closed off by the airport.

[pfdude]

upper level winds could be unstable?

[blackhawk]

There's been no change. The may just be flying closer to your house in order to approach a different runway as already stated. They have always flown super low when waiting for permission to land. Low and slow enough that they have to pull up to prevent a stall.

All traffic is strictly controlled by ATC in the toronto area and atc keeps aircraft fast and holds them well away from the city to speed up the arrivals, going low and slow is not an option and pulling up to prevent a stall would actually cause a stall as the aircraft would slow further with the nose pulled up.

The arrival corridors and slot times start hundreds of miles away from the airport and the corridors for each runway are rigid in their horizontal and vertical dimensions for each aircraft plus noise control and flow control is always in effect.

You could certainly call the airport tower or the airport authority and ask them if there's been any differences in approach paths etc in the last little while.

[x86asm]

I'm in the Keele and Lawrence west area.
You mean the area near the Walmart?

I didn't notice anything strange and I live closer to the airport. Except I did have one of those loud noises when a plane is nearby come. I haven't heard that loud noise since the mid 1990's.

[just_For_ipod]

Yeah same here. I was up last night and looked out from my balconey/window and noticed that a plane flew nearly directly over my apartment, pretty low. I've never notice it this low before. And I live near College And Dufferin.
Oh, and my apartment its only 3 stories high so don't factory in the height of the building.

[Atheral]

Sorry batman, i'll fly higher next time :(

[KrispyFive]

Over the past week or so I've noticed that airplanes have been flying much lower than usual in Toronto. They were never this low before. Has anyone else noticed this? The sound made by them has gone up a lot, obviously due to them flying lower.

I'm not too far from you, at Keele & Eglinton. Haven't been here for a couple of days, but I have noticed for the past week that the planes must be flying lower as they seem to be almost twice as loud as they were before.

[goldenegg]

I'm flying in and out of Toronto on a weekly basis. One thing I've noticed over the past few weeks is an increase in speed when landing at Pearson. I have no idea why this is and haven't bothered to ask. This might explain the extra noise being heard.

[stevethewheel]

With the really hot weather you will notice they stay lower longer on takeoffs. Will last as long as the hot weather does.

You can really notice it if you look at a plane from the side, angled up like normal but instead of following the nose up like they do in the winter, they kind of 'hang'.

Of course once they are a mile or so away from the airport you won't notice much difference but if you are right across from the runway I bet it's pretty dramatic.

[dell]

Another great spot that is right above the Wendys is the Petro Canada gas station. Pull into the gas station and go behind it where there is a big empty parking lot. You can clearly see the approach and the planes fly like less then 100 feet from your head. Amaziong spot to snap pics, got some beauties yesterday.

[Ice]

It's harder to take off in hot weather because the air is less dense. Otherwise, like somebody mentioned you can check the wind direction, or listen in to see which runways ATC clears for takeoff and landing...
http://audio.liveatc.net:8012/cyyz_twr_app.m3u

I'm not sure where this Wendy's is, buf if you're immediately under the aircraft as it lands you might want to bring earplugs... ;)

[Ben31]

I used google earth to be able to point out where the Wendy's is for those who don't know it....click on the following pic for a larger view....Airport Rd is in blue(or yellow lines as Google Earth has them highlighted) and the Wendys is circled in red.... you can see the runway left of Airport Rd....the planes obviously land further in...but its a great view to see them fly by.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/4159/location0po.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=location0po.jpg)