Cpos From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 31 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2474 times:
Just landed at Laguardia this morning on DL1907 from BOS. I've done this trip about 50 times in the last 15 months and always had the same question when landing on rwy 31. Never got a chance to ask the flight crew.
Is 31 visual only or is it ILS? It seems like the gear go down around 1800ft but then there is a sweeping left turn at about 1000 or so. If it is an ILS approach, when do you actually hit the localizer? Prior to, during, or after the turn?
Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4656 posts, RR: 45 Reply 1, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2443 times:
i think you're talking about the expressway visual.
when they're using the localizer, you usually fly right over LGA and make a series of right turns over the sound and line-up for a straight-in 31 approach.
FlyHoss From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 598 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2439 times:
The approach you're describing sounds like the "Expressway Visual" to runway 31. Runway 31 also has an instrument approach; it's a localizer approach (an ILS without the glideslope component).
When flying the Expressway Visual to 31, I always to tune in the localizer to 31 as a back-up reference to the final portion of the approach, but rarely notice it, as the approach often demands nearly full visual attention outside (to line up with the runway centerline and to (visually) acquire the VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator lights)).
Jumbojet From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1159 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2369 times:
Quoting Alitalia744 (Reply 1): i think you're talking about the expressway visual.
when they're using the localizer, you usually fly right over LGA and make a series of right turns over the sound and line-up for a straight-in 31 approach.
i could be wrong tho
thats exactly right. it seems the localizer is used when the winds are above a certain speed
JFKLGANYC From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2644 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2288 times:
Yeh, localizer is used for wind only.
They hate , repeat, absolutely hate using it.
As for delays, the minute the switch to the Rwy 31 LOC, you are looking at an EDCT (Expect Dep Clearance Time) wherever ur coming from.
If the winds are strong enough and they switch to LOC 31 and departures of 31 as well, you are looking at 2-4 hr delays!! Minimum!
Now if they are using Exp Visual 31, and the visibility drops, they will switch to the ILS 4 circle to land 31.
Basically the same thing. When u hit the tanks u hang a right until Flushing Meadows . . . the a diving left.
N864DA From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 259 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2262 times:
As mentioned, there are two approaches to 31. The first is the the Expressway visual, which is used when the winds are not that strong (or else the approach is too dangerous). It follows the LGA VOR at R-225 degrees until the DIALS intersection then turns in the direction of the Long Island Expressway (hence the name) at about 85 degrees, then over the little inlet starts turning left to line up with the runway. By the time the runway heading is reached, the plane is almost at the touchdown point. It is a strictly visual approach.
The second approach is used when the crosswinds are too strong for the first approach to be safe, but runway 31 is the only option to land. It follows the sound, then makes a series of right turns, the last one a very steep 180-degree turn to line up with the runway, about 11nm away. I experienced that approach this month and I can see why pilots hate using it. The winds combined with the steep turns make it unpleasant to anyone on board.
Jumbojet From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1159 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2193 times:
Quoting JFKLGANYC (Reply 6): Yeh, localizer is used for wind only.
They hate , repeat, absolutely hate using it.
if your lucky enough to be on the left side of the plane and have a window seat you get great overviews of JFK airport on the localizer apprch.
Firstclasser From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 116 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2141 times:
I noticed an approach over the Cross-Island Expressway, in which the aircraft went north (just to the East of JFK), and then turned left to land on 31 left. Is this a derivative of the Expwy Visual?
SoBe From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 256 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2141 times:
Beertrucker From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 398 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2116 times:
here u go i will see if i can find a better one while i post this one.
Spikebe90 From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 29 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2082 times:
Dallas74 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2003 times:
Quoting SoBe (Reply 10): Sorry for plugging my own photo.
Dallas74 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1998 times:
Quoting Beertrucker (Reply 11): here is a wild one of a 737. they had to make a s- turn to avoid departing traffic.
Thank you for sharing those videos. They are great. I was on a flight that did one of those S-turns. It is quite a ride! The pilots who go in and out of LGA really do earn their pay.
JFKLGANYC From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2644 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1972 times:
"The pilots who go in and out of LGA really do earn their pay."
Do we? Thank you sir!
Now being LGA based, can you please tell management that?!?!?!?
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 31 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
