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  #1  
Old 18th April 2024, 10:16 AM
Robbie J Robbie J is offline
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Default Bay or City departures? Knowing which way they will fly?

Aircraft departures change throughout the day - 16L/34R or 16R/34L.

Before I get to the airport, how do I find out which way the aircraft will fly out - over Botany Bay or towards the city?

Is a 'scanner' required?

Thanks in advance.
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  #2  
Old 18th April 2024, 01:34 PM
Radi K Radi K is offline
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I could explain ways to check the Automatic Terminal Information Service which notes which runways are active but the easier way is to just check a free app flight FlightRadar24 (http://www.flightradar24.com/) or other flight tracking tools like https://globe.adsbexchange.com/

If you focus in on Sydney you will see right away which way aircraft are operating. North, South or even East/West sometimes.
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  #3  
Old 18th April 2024, 03:48 PM
MarkR MarkR is offline
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The weather forecast will be the major factor deciding the runways to be used. A “TTF METAR” is the best and most accurate guide and is normally accurate for three hours. So how do you work this out, simple google Metar yssy eg

https://en.allmetsat.com/metar-taf/a....php?icao=YSSY

METAR: YSSY 180500Z 15009KT 9999 VCSH FEW012 SCT020 BKN070 20/16 Q1014

That indicates a southerly so it’s likely 16 will be in use. There is also a TAF which has a longer outlook, a TAF is a Terminal Area Forecast and currently that indicates the wind will swing to a west to nor westerly at around 10pm tonight which would see 34 in use.

http://www.bom.gov.au/aviation/data/education/ttf.pdf Has moreinfo
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  #4  
Old 19th April 2024, 10:54 AM
Robbie J Robbie J is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Radi K View Post
I could explain ways to check the Automatic Terminal Information Service which notes which runways are active but the easier way is to just check a free app flight FlightRadar24 (http://www.flightradar24.com/) or other flight tracking tools like https://globe.adsbexchange.com/

If you focus in on Sydney you will see right away which way aircraft are operating. North, South or even East/West sometimes.
Thanks. I have looked at it, but Flight Radar 24 is not a free App, making it hard to justify the cost for an 'occasional' spotter such as myself. Apart from that, it would have been a good service.

Globe.adsb looks okay and gives info in real-time.

Thanks again.

Last edited by Robbie J; 19th April 2024 at 11:00 AM.
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  #5  
Old 19th April 2024, 11:03 AM
Kent Broadhead Kent Broadhead is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbie J View Post
Thanks. I have looked at it, but Flight Radar 24 is not a free App, making it hard to justify the cost for an 'occasional' spotter such as myself. Apart from that, it would have been a good service.

Globe.adsb looks okay and gives info in real-time.

Thanks again.
But you can see the type of information you're after without logging in to the website. And for a spotter, the $10 or $12 a year for a silver account is money well spent
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  #6  
Old 19th April 2024, 11:32 AM
Robbie J Robbie J is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kent Broadhead View Post
But you can see the type of information you're after without logging in to the website. And for a spotter, the $10 or $12 a year for a silver account is money well spent
I got quoted $50, so I will double-check on prices. Thanks.
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  #7  
Old 19th April 2024, 07:06 PM
Radi K Radi K is offline
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The basic flightradar24 app should be free, with ads. Where are you seeing you have to pay for it?

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flight...er/id382233851
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  #8  
Old 20th April 2024, 10:46 AM
Kent Broadhead Kent Broadhead is offline
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Silver is USD$14.99 a year. Was $9.99 when I first signed up, but I don't begrudge it given how much I've used it here and overseas. https://www.flightradar24.com/premium
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  #9  
Old 20th April 2024, 10:33 PM
James Smith James Smith is offline
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Robbie, the easiest and cheapest way is to get the SYD ATIS by ringing (02) 9556 6566 and listen to the runways in use, wind and other information provided by the automated service.
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  #10  
Old 21st April 2024, 05:25 AM
MarkR MarkR is offline
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It’s also online https://atis.apmarkham.com/
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