3D Radar Tracking - United 863 & 839

[Grahame Hutchison]

This morning I tracked the two United flights approaching Sydney, UA863 and UA839, both following the typical pattern for early morning arrivals from the USA.


First pickup of UA863 operated by N181UA at just over 202nm (374km), heading 220 at FL380 and 428kts (eight transmissions received)



UA863 from behind and looking in towards Sydney



ATC gives UA863 a slight turn to the left to pickup the waypoints east of Sydney



UA839 operated by N119UA joins UA863 and tracks the preceeding aircraft in almost exactly



Close up of UA863 and UA839 with the track of UA863 going right through the nose of UA839. You can see the slight tracking changes.



Both aircraft tracking down the coast towards their final turn to the west for a Runway 34L arrival.



The numbers show UA893 at FL296 with 58nm to run, and UA863 at FL126 with
29.9nm to run. UA839 is starting its final descent with UA863 already well into the
descent.



The green aircraft on the left is descending into the pattern between the two United B747s.



The nose on view as UA863 descends through 9100ft. You can see a flight from New Zealand joining the pattern.



JQ140 from Christchurch has slipped in between the two United aircraft at 14,950ft.



JQ140 is now identified on the approach line.



Love this snapshot, with UA863 now tracking north towards Manly, with JQ140 and UA893 still descending towards the coast.



Here you can see almost the full track into Sydney for UA863 which is now on downwind for Runway 34L. JQ140 is just east of the
city, and UA893 about to turn right and track to the north. You can also see the red track of a Jetstar aircraft climbing out to the
north after takeoff.



Turning on the red track of the climbing Jetstar aircraft shows how the aircraft approaching from the east, fly under the aircraft
departing to the north.


This final shot has UA893 turning left to come around onto downwind for Runway 34L. The blue silhouette is Rex 161 operated by
VH-ZLW, and the green silhouette is Virgin DJ811 operated by VH-VOQ.