London City: the 5.5° dive past Canary Wharf
A glide path almost twice as steep as normal, between skyscrapers and the Thames — only specially approved aircraft may fly it.
London City: the 5.5° dive past Canary Wharf
London City Airport · RWY 09
Why it is famous
London City Airport sits in the old Royal Docks, a few miles from the financial district. To keep aircraft high over the city and clear of the towers of Canary Wharf, its approaches use a 5.5-degree glide path — close to double the usual three degrees.
Who can land here
Every aircraft type must be specifically approved for steep approaches, and the runway is under 5,000 feet long. Business jets such as the Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X, the Embraer Phenoms and several Citations are approved; many large-cabin jets are not.
What to watch
- How steeply the aircraft descends compared with a normal approach
- Canary Wharf passing off the nose
- The water of the Royal Docks on either side of the runway
More legendary approaches
St Barts: the drop over the hill
Clear a ridge with a roundabout on top, dive for a runway barely 2,100 feet long and stop before the beach — one of the most famous landings in the world.
St Maarten: low over Maho Beach
The approach that made plane-spotting famous: a three-degree final that crosses Maho Beach moments before touchdown.
Aspen: down the valley into the mountains
An airport at 7,820 feet in a narrow valley, with a wingspan limit that keeps some of the biggest private jets away.