Stephan Heinsius - Airplane Traces

On April 2001 flight routes for take off and approach to Frankfurt/Main International Airport had been changed. At northern or eastern winds the viewing site in the North of Dreieich-Dreieichenhain is being overflown. Using nightly long time exposures, the differences can be visualized, that could hardly be recognized when observing directly. The lights of the airplanes leave a characteristic trace. After some minutes of exposure the "air streets" emerge.

The following pictures were taken in the North of Dreieich-Dreieichenhain, the right column exactly one year after the three left one, using a Canon EOS500N camera with a wide angle zoom lens 24-85mm at 24mm. The right column shows the situation on February 14, 2001 and the left one the same view exactly one year later, on February 14, 2002.
 
Airplane Traces February 14, 2001
2001, February 14, 20:10-20:26 CET, f8 on Fuji 400 negative film
Airplane Traces February 14, 2002
2002, February 14, 20:10-20:20 CET,  f11 on Fuji 800 negative film
Airplane Traces February 14, 2001
2001, February 14, 20:26-20:41 CET, f8 on Fuji 400 negative film
Airplane Traces February 14, 2002
2002, February 14, 20:27-20:43 CET, f11 on Fuji 800 negative film
Airplane Traces February 14, 2001
2001, February 14, 20:43-20:53 CET, f8 on Fuji 400 negative film
Airplane Traces February 14, 2002
2002, February 14, 20:46-21:00 CET, f11 on Fuji 800 negative film

Clearly can be seen, that in 2001 the route of approaching airplanes, which came from behind through the middle of the picture has disappeared in 2002. The planes coming from the right and flying the left turn in the middle usually fly a little higher in 2002 than they have in 2001. The left curve marks the begin of the southern "downwind" "Solta Vadim". 2002 some departures under the curve "Solta" took place climbing at different altitudes (departure route "07 south long"). That route is mostly flown at northern winds. The point "Solta" lies over the western parts of Dietzenbach.

Some approaching planes have switches on their lights during or after flying through the picture's viewing angle. They can be seen less clearly. The small tracks from down left to the upper right are stars in the area of the constellation of Leo.


Design and contents:
Stephan Heinsius,
D-63303 Dreieich
©SH 2002 - all rights reserved

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