Does anyone know why planes from Oz to China seem to get to the China coastline as a priority, then hug the coastline to get to their final destination? E.g to Shanghai, they hit the coast around Guangzhou, why not higher up the coast since that would be a more direct route?
Two reasons, I think. One is that the North-East Asia air routes out of Australia either go over the Philippines or much further east to go towards Japan. There's no routes near the Great Circle path from SYD to PVG or PEK, which would take you over West Papua and well east of the Philippines.
Second, a direct path from the Philippines to PVG or PEK would take you over Taiwan, regarded as a renegade province of China. I'm pretty sure that foreign aircraft can't fly directly over Taiwan and into Chinese airports.
TheRealBabushka mentioned military airspace. I don't think that is the reason in this case, but flights passing to the north of Taiwan and off the Chinese coast (which would include those on a GC route from eastern Australia) do have a set of restrictions in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. I guess you're aware of the controversy this has caused since late 2013.
lind26
lind26
Member since 24 Apr 2014
Total posts 231
Does anyone know why planes from Oz to China seem to get to the China coastline as a priority, then hug the coastline to get to their final destination? E.g to Shanghai, they hit the coast around Guangzhou, why not higher up the coast since that would be a more direct route?
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
Chinese airspace is used by the military i believe. It's restricted, except specific corridors I think.
CBR boy
CBR boy
Member since 12 Feb 2015
Total posts 61
Two reasons, I think. One is that the North-East Asia air routes out of Australia either go over the Philippines or much further east to go towards Japan. There's no routes near the Great Circle path from SYD to PVG or PEK, which would take you over West Papua and well east of the Philippines.
Second, a direct path from the Philippines to PVG or PEK would take you over Taiwan, regarded as a renegade province of China. I'm pretty sure that foreign aircraft can't fly directly over Taiwan and into Chinese airports.
TheRealBabushka mentioned military airspace. I don't think that is the reason in this case, but flights passing to the north of Taiwan and off the Chinese coast (which would include those on a GC route from eastern Australia) do have a set of restrictions in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. I guess you're aware of the controversy this has caused since late 2013.
Have a look at this Sky Vector chart based on PVG, and zoom out to see the air routes and restricted airspace. https://skyvector.com/?ll=31.145,121.793333333&chart=302&zoom=3
lind26
lind26
Member since 24 Apr 2014
Total posts 231
Thanks, interesting!
bubblecapfish
bubblecapfish
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
Member since 01 Sep 2016
Total posts 13
No, the planes have to avoid Taiwan due to political reasons.
lind26
lind26
Member since 24 Apr 2014
Total posts 231
I wondered if it was something political, they waste a lot of fuel.