Why do arriving aircraft not follow the path of the River Itchen?
Arriving aircraft are required to align with the runway’s centre line over the less-densely populated Southampton Water area. At this point the aligned aircraft will be just a few minutes flying time from the airport and so will follow a direct course to the runway. Aircraft cannot follow the curves of the river. Departing aircraft are required to bear right, onto the noise preferred route and this takes the aircraft on a route which is approximately aligned over the River Itchen.
