Emirates flight path for DXB to SFO
Mar 17, 2016, 4:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 210
Emirates flight path for DXB to SFO
Looking at flightaware map,
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...425Z/OMDB/KSFO
For DXB to SFO, most days they are flying west. But some days (Mar 12, Mar 17) they flew east even though proposed flight path (dotted line) shows west.
Anyone know why? Just curious.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...425Z/OMDB/KSFO
For DXB to SFO, most days they are flying west. But some days (Mar 12, Mar 17) they flew east even though proposed flight path (dotted line) shows west.
Anyone know why? Just curious.
Mar 17, 2016, 4:59 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
Almost certainly high-altitude winds on the day. A 100-mph jet stream working for or against you can make way more difference than a few great circle miles.
Mar 18, 2016, 4:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 135
San Francisco and Dubai are almost exactly on the opposite side of the world. They are 177 degrees apart. The shortest route is almost straight over the north pole. My daughter snapped a selfie on the flight with the inflight map showing Santa's address.
Mar 18, 2016, 5:31 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,008
Teh "east" and "west variations here are minor, exacerbated by trying to disply and the type of map projection flightaware uses. If you look at the actual paths on a globe, with something like the Great Circle Mapper page uses, I suspect you'd see they're pretty close to each other.
Keep in mind that at the top of this type of map, "half way across the world", half the width of the map, can be a few miles, or even a few feet, apart as you approach the poles.
Looking at the data, "west" is typically 173-175 degrees and "east" is 184-186.
Keep in mind that at the top of this type of map, "half way across the world", half the width of the map, can be a few miles, or even a few feet, apart as you approach the poles.
Looking at the data, "west" is typically 173-175 degrees and "east" is 184-186.