Cockpit view into London City Airport

Beautiful afternoon flight from Belfast city to London City Airport in central London, United Kingdom. Dash 8 Q400 aircraft cockpit video, landing into runway 09, you can see all London sights at a very low level to avoid traffics into London Heathrow! Enjoy, it's not always that bright in London!

[@phillipecook3227]

The first time I flew into London City I thought I'd been given a tour of the central London landmarks. Wonderful.

[@vinnieldn]

It’s always a fantastic approach!

[@bigbadjohn10]

They normally come in from the east, so you get to see Southend instead of London!

[@ianmoseley9910]

Flying out on a clear day gets you a great view of Canary Wharf. Flights can seem a bit expensive compared to other airports but airport is more convenient for Central London.

[@davidm3maniac201]

@@ianmoseley9910 How much was it Ian. I live around the corner from this airport and i just get a buzz of seeing them take off. That runway looks to short but obviously its not

[@randomglyn]

@@ianmoseley9910 It basically is Central London isn't it!

[@theq-1]

£50 flight from switzerland gave a better tour than the rip off bus trip.

[@bricktop4000]

Just one of the best airports to fly into, the plane just hangs just before the shard and its steep glide slope is awesome as a passenger. Easy access to London, I lived in East London so it was so easy. Much better than the other city airports. If you get a chance take a flight into London City do it! Its a postage stamp runway surrounded by water!

[@YgorSad]

It's almost as if you could touch The Shard with your hands! Unbelievably beautiful!

[@paulmoor595]

I flew on this aircraft and route regularly...and loved it when I saw we were coming in from the West. I always knew it was a complex approach, but the video really shows the skill of pilots doing this run. Great video

[@amhr58]

I really liked the map at the beginning of the video and the explanations throughout. Thanks!

[@SalPilot]

Thanks for your comment, I am glad it helps! ☺️

[@todortodorov940]

@@SalPilot The map is super! You could even show it during the flight (as overlay or something), so we can see the progress and even point to some of the landmarks that you mention in the video.

[@ninadsheth8422]

One of the greatest aviation videos of all time superb landing in one of the greatest cities of the world wonderfully sketched out. Fly safe.

[@SalPilot]

Thanks for the comments 👍🏻

[@mickey1299]

I'm familiar with the area , but was amazed at how difficult it was to get eyes on the runway ! Didn't spot it , till about half way between Tower bridge , and the 02 Arena .

[@NickHarman]

It's always a great flight in as the Dash 8 is overhead wing, so as a passenger you get an unblocked view all the way down the river

[@PhilipVels]

I love how good the turning circle is

[@HS-PGX]

I fly on the ATR72 regularly and that one has a pretty tight turning circle as well... it’s european so i would expect it so like their cars!

[@raymondscott906]

for nearly 6 months I worked at 2 Canada square. the big one with the pointed roof. we were on the top floor, our lunch room was facing the incoming planes. amazing to watch. I now work directly behind the shard as a building caretaker . often have to go on the roof, watch the planes from there. I live near Stratford London and the planes go directly overhead. got a flight tracker app so I can see where they are going\have been.

[@jamiew1664]

i like that man!! good on ya

[@paulhough5941]

I used to do it in the DHC-7 when LCY opened, with a 7.5 degree approach and before the runway was extended. The first time I saw it was at night and it looked like landing on an aircraft carrier but soon got used to it as it was well within the Dash 7’s performance envelope and had the comfort and reassurance of 4 engines. Most enjoyable job I ever had, London City Airways!

[@alexdimartino4192]

can I ask you as you are a pilot, why the gear is lowered so much before the landing pls? thanks

[@gidbot8558]

@@alexdimartino4192 One reason to lower the gear early is to slow the plane down, it creates a lot of drag so helps to get down to landing speed. Secondly there is a stabilized approach criteria which has to be met, this includes things such as gear down and locked, correct speed, on glideslope, etc. If it is not met then the pilots will have to perform a go around. It is better to know that the gear is going to work when you have time to think and time to go around rather than when you are touching down in only a few seconds. Furthermore it reduces the workload of the pilot for the tricky steep approach into London City so he can concentrate on flying the plane first without worrying about whether or not his gear will deploy properly.

[@alexdimartino4192]

@@gidbot8558 many thanks!

[@gidbot8558]

@@alexdimartino4192 no problem! Luckily I don’t have to worry about the gear on my fixed gear Piper Tomahawk

[@paulhough5941]

@@alexdimartino4192 Primarily so it isn’t forgotten. As you get nearer the ground you become concerned more with the aircraft’s position in relation to the runway, whether you are high, low on the approach path and is the speed correct, so the chances of it being forgotten increase. Also speed stability is easier to maintain with it down. Many airlines will use a height of around 2000 feet as the gear down point.

[@tenerifereddog3943]

I worked in Tate and Lyle for 18 years right opposite City Airport and I was always amazed how the pilots landed here. Very skillful indeed. Only ever flew out of there once to Dublin. It gives you a totally different aspect of London.

[@larrikind]

always been fascinated by that factory too!

[@jamiew1664]

oh sugar!! i loved this video. Plus im a pastry chef and all our sugar is T&L at work. We never use silver spoon.

[@jonhart6688]

My wife worked for Air south West, so as a treat on my way to our honeymoon i got to sit in the jump seat up from Plymouth to London on a Dash 8 ...Loved it..Great video too....👍🏻

[@Penberth1]

Good ol' days when Plymouth had a functioning airport, used to use it loads, miss it! What a treat to sit up front too - would love that!

[@juliecasey5196]

Awesome view from the cockpit. Thank you for sharing

[@heatherhursell3721]

Great filming, left England in 1973,now I understand how an airport has been put so close to a city

[@Matthew-ut6ed]

I live under the flight path just north of Canary Wharf. City airport has a couple of quite brief "rush hours" morning and evening but even then the traffic isn't heavy, certainly compared to other airports. Even so, one of the rules is no traffic in or out on a Sunday until the afternoon. I always admire the skill of the pilots when you see them coming in on that steep approach!

[@Matthew-ut6ed]

@Teamgeist "So many"? Errrr..., no, they didn't. An opinion poll of local residents in 1982 showed a majority in favour of its construction. Actually, opposition to the airport has always been minimal. Local people know that it provides significant employment in an otherwise pretty desolate area of disused docks. And, as I said, there are restrictions on operations for early and late flights and at weekends. What limits the traffic is the short length of the runway (this limits the size of planes and therefore the destinations that can be offered) and the steep angle of approach (pilots require special training - BA has only a few dozen captains that can pilot the A318 into City, for example).

[@Matthew-ut6ed]

@Teamgeist Well, yes, the Green Party (one MP) would, wouldn't they? But in the fantasy world where they ever actually had the power to do so then you'd see real opposition because of the job losses. And even with all the recent environmental protests of one kind or another I still have to take issue with the phrase "so many". It ain't that many...

[@dovydas92]

I love how nice view of Airport you can get going with a DLR train and see landing or departing Planes..

[@markylon]

yes but get the beckton train and not the city airport train for the best views of the airport

[@Clutching.My.Pearls]

Landed at Heathrow several times but this was so cool getting to see what the pilots see!!! Thanks.

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

This isn’t Heathrow, it’s London City Airport

[@stevewebber5966]

This is the very best approach footage i have ever watched. Absolutely fascinating.

[@KumaBean]

It's very cool, this approach into Aspen is a steep one too, dusk and snowstorm through steep hills (mountains?) I like the way that the runway lights slowly appear in the distance, the cars driving below look pretty cool too 👌 Maybe I'm just a big fan of this one because I've wanted to visit Aspen since the first time I watched Dumb and Dumber, who knows, lol m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGTMkICnpr6GoMk Happy New Year! 🤝

[@Anak800]

Woow Dilondon Airport is so beautiful in the middle of an urban surrounded by water, my greetings from Indonesia

[@bertoverweel6588]

My grandson and me had the same appr. comming from Rotterdam with BA Embrear 190 for a weekend Londen . Was great .

[@ixlnxs]

Flew there from Antwerp as a kid. Used Eurostar on all other occasions as I like trains more than planes.

[@jonathanhindson4580]

Heretic! ;)

[@safiyahotelwala]

Our london is so much much beautiful I'm very lucky to here in UK citizens.

[@garethfox7702]

You are welcome here too Safiya.

[@deborahknights295]

Yes pefect

[@AirportPlaneSpotting]

Awesome landing wonderful views of the City Centre

[@ChangingAperture]

Outstanding landing!! Very well done! Thanks for sharing this awesome perspective!!

[@MrBear1967]

Brilliant recording, great to see how close the buildings really were

[@glenking877]

Thanks for the pleasant flight Captain.

[@andrewwebster6025]

Flew back from Glasgow a few years back to City airport on a cloudless sunny day came in from the east upto central London and then back the way this one came. Had great view of all the famous landmarks from my right side window seat

[@garethfox7702]

Have done this many times from Malaga - Never get tired of the views you get when approaching City Airport from the West. It is only a small airport so you can be off the plane, into the terminal, through immigration and out buy the taxi rank in 5-10 minutes. Central London is very close to this airport, with great transport links - Even if you are new to London and don't feel confident to navigate the public transport connections, or have too much luggage to carry, then a taxi will not break the bank and can have you in the West End within 15 minutes (depending on time of day, with traffic flow). London City Airport deals mainly with European flights, due partly to length of runway and the fact it is in a residential area - The aircraft are slightly smaller than the heavy jets landing at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead. But British Airways do operate a flight to New York JFK, aimed mainly at business travellers. The flight lands at Shannon Airport, Ireland for a refuel, while passengers disembark and deal with US Immigration, so on arrival at JFK they can bypass this and head straight for the exit, saving valuable time.

[@markylon]

Don't waste your money on a TAXI FFS the DLR Train is inside the airport and you can be in central london in 20 minutes for hardly any money. A taxi will cost a lot and take ages stuck in traffic. WHO in their right mind would take a taxi

[@cr10001]

That BA flight used an A318, the only Airbus A320 variant small enough to get into London City. Very sadly, in the wake of covid, BA seem to have stopped it.

[@malcolmwoodcock395]

Great video and brilliant captions for us "non-pilots". Thank you!

[@mandesa31]

Certainly one of the best city landings. And yes, landing at City airport is way more thrilling than landing at LHR, especially when you fly past Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome. You also get to see the Thames Barrier just before touchdown.

[@topfelya]

Beautiful cockpit footage ! Nice landing too 🙂

[@maxsmith5398]

I’ve flown into City once, and I slept the entire flight, woke up when the place hit the tarmac - gutted I missed these views!

[@nascimentol835]

tArMAc

[@Misteryowl]

You weren't the pilot, were you?

[@deadstick8624]

I think London City Airport is more interesting than Heathrow.

[@wurlitzer895]

Excellent video. As a failed private pilot, I have unbounded admiration for those who 'made the grade'.

[@garethsavin4464]

Amazing to watch. What a stunning video.

[@stephenlittle7534]

What an amazing fight into London City Airport. Well done.

[@katiekitchen895]

Awesome. Best bit seeing our daughter’s home just past the DLR station. And the turn round at the end. I hate doing 180 in a car, so to drive a plane’s length and wingspan and park on a tuppence, avoiding all other planes is magnificent spatial awareness. Must be easy flying in a 3D sky!!!!

[@spw102]

Loved the Austin 1100 windscreen wiper arm.

[@D_B_Cooper]

Brings back some happy memories

[@yvohei]

When I lived in London i just to do my jogging around this area. A few times I ended up at the road you can just see in front of you at 5:32 and didn't think anything of it as when you're there it doesn't look like a runway. One time I had my headphones on as I passed there and all of a sudden I heard these superloud noise and a plane was just a few meters above me. I didnt expect that at all and it nearly gave me a heart attack :D.

[@Raison_d-etre]

You lacked situational awareness.

[@tinaloye2014]

At least u survived

[@thecockerel86]

@@Raison_d-etre 😁

[@Hammertime054]

Ive done this a few times years ago when my ex wife worked there, great deals we got, those was the days when you go up front with the captain for landing and takeoff, Birdseye views.👍👍👍

[@andynixon2820]

You think that tower bridge is tall but it's absolutely dwarfed by the shard . The top of it seems half between the plane and the ground .

[@susangregory632]

Loved every minute, thank you for sharing 😊

[@pattiabb3259]

I've never been to London but it was fun to see the landmarks that I am familiar with thru pictures. Great cockpit view.

[@camwat5193]

If you ever get the chance, a little tip to get the best view of London free of charge - the white odd shaped building just across the river opposite The Shard at 2:36 is known as the Walkie-Talkie. The top floor is the ‘Roof Garden’, with amazing views N/S/E/W over London. You have to pre-book tickets but they are free of charge. The Shard has great views too, but if you go there, a clever trick is to take the entrance to the Shangri-la hotel and take the lift to their reception area. You get the same views, no crowds, and it’s free :-) Amazing. Hope you get to visit one day.

[@boarbot7829]

@@camwat5193 I’ve stayed in the Shangri-la at a corner room and the views were honestly stunning.

[@derekdeljohnson7922]

What a fantastic video, the noise makes it come to life

[@atomlanchenba2932]

Amazing ..so after flybe where are you employed now..

[@railfanpolska]

Beautiful video 👍

[@RobertDeLGF]

The approach from the East is worth a look too, coming in across Essex

[@johnantoine9067]

Lovely view I enjoyed that video thankyou.

[@jeffreyhughesmbe]

The very best approach I have seen. Well done!

[@jayjayjay4788]

Excellent video. Thanks. Salaam to you and to all.

[@NinaOPerez]

Thanks for posting this footage!!

[@markhughes7927]

I love this airport! An ‘apron’ airport in the middle of a city!

[@malcolmhector2641]

Would be a sight to see at night time with the cities lights on .

[@jontownsend8090]

I love the Embraer E190 take off from LCY. Not done a landing here yet.

[@davidsheriff8989]

Traffic is a plural does not need S - great video

[@SalPilot]

Uncountable noun, true. My mistake! That's why I chose to fly planes...

[@dlibby4979]

The entire time, I just wanted someone to clean the bird pooh off the windscreen!

[@carolfreitag6847]

I know me too! At first I thought it was on my phone screen!

[@StormMeister]

Absolutely brilliant, top marks, most enjoyable.

[@bassbytes]

Great view of Brockwell Park and Lido at the start, flies right over it and Brixton.

[@hughwilloughby8590]

And Herne Hill Olympic (1948) Velodrome!

[@owenloney3423]

Wonderful landing video clip

[@ivanlussich8146]

Let me point out that approaches into Heathrow also allow for an interesting view of Central London sometimes. Greetings from Uruguay

[@AI-censorship-in-progress]

Easy approach and landing , the city tour is the best !

[@patthewoodboy]

only "captains" can fly into City airport

[@Thursdaym2]

Love to fly into LC. In good weather must be the most attractive approach to any city airport.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

The correct IATA 3 letter code for London City Airport is LCY

[@172Break]

I used to fly into it every week for a few years - as a passenger, not a pilot! The fun starts in bad weather when you think the buildings are a bit too close! Also, if bad weather moves in and they stop flights leaving, the airport gets really busy really quick - there's not much space at City Airport. I've stood in a cramped holding room downstairs for an hour with other passengers then put onto a plane where we sat on the ground for 2 hours until the storm passed because they were running out of space in the main terminal building.

[@Thursdaym2]

@@BritishBeachcomber Was just using LC as abbreviation.

[@routhstars]

I worked in Canary Wharf in 2008. Never got a chance to go back. Great city.

[@saturnnights2271]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@Anjays]

What a nice tour of the city

[@loisknott3763]

Fantastic filming

[@katherinewilson7937]

Look how green, open and pleasant south of the river looks in comparison to the abandoned brownfield sites, built up council estates and tower blocks north of the river...

[@andrepduarte]

Rich vs poor

[@boarbot7829]

@@andrepduarte north London is literally richer but ok.

[@boarbot7829]

Ye but the majority of London is north of the river. And there’s a lot of green slightly further out.

[@ha2522]

Wonderful....Viewer from GLASGOW

[@StonyRC]

Superb video.

[@CanyonWanderer]

Great! I travelled there once as a passenger wit I think VLM? (must have been ~2000), nice to see the perspective from the cockpit!

[@daveconyard8946]

Thank you for this Brilliant Post Keep safe!

[@anthonysmith6085]

Flown from Belgium to London city and back a few times back in the day !!!

[@PianoKwanMan]

I've never seen the bridge open. That's pretty cool

[@kd84afc]

I have lol, Been stuck in the traffic waiting for it to reopen.

[@PianoKwanMan]

@@kd84afc As a boat? :P

[@davidm3maniac201]

I have never seen it open either.

[@pmacc3557]

Beautiful London - awesome city!

[@jakbowtell9367]

I initially thought that mark on the window was traffic lol

[@airbrushingbynick6071]

.Visual on Bluebottle 1500 feet. Got him, ta.

[@jimbarrofficial]

Great. So much more visually appealing than the approach into LHR. I wish all airports were central to cities like this.

[@casiodan]

even managed to catch the road bridge open to let the boat through just short of the rwy threshold

[@davidm3maniac201]

I cross that bridge everyday often when plane is coming in to land

[@jamilahmed4486]

Building on the left of the runway across the body of water is the University of East London. You get used to the planes landing/taking off after a few weeks

[@mazepilot]

Amazing airport location.

[@eattherich9215]

Always used either Gatwick or Heathrow, but London City is a great place to plane spot. I also liked watching the planes from the waterfront at Greenwich.

[@maggiesamuels2937]

Wow! I saw my house from up there and my local park brilliant. 👍

[@josephinebennington7247]

Coming back from Zurich, years ago, they kindly dropped me off over Gravesend. Straight into my back garden. Saved hours getting home.

[@ThatBeardedBrother]

Never seen the bridge open before at 5:26, thanks!

[@evelynroadmedia9415]

5:15 - The green space with one larger white building to the left of the green and smaller on to the right on the green is an area often used for TV/Film scenes. I believe that a few shots from one of the Fast and the Furious film was there, 28 weeks later was in the more general area around Canning Town, and numerous TV programmes.

[@Skiddins]

In the area of the ExCel arena (which didn't exist then) was where a lot of Full Metal Jacket was filmed. Think the sandy coloured building opposite the ExCel featured in it as well.

[@piphastings6734]

Thank you for sharing absolutely LOVE it. London City Airport is definitely on my bucket list for sure.

[@MrNeilRoberts]

Get MSFS 2020 and the London City Airport upgrade and you are nearly there ! ✈️

[@AntGeezer]

Excellent. Thank you 👍

[@jofox1186]

Awesome video - thanks!

[@pilotcutter4pilotcutter474]

I,m a 87 year old londonder, so I know city airport, nice little airport much better than Heathrow, and grubby Gatwick. I,ve Watched those planes coming and going, amazing,,they come floating in like flamingos, and take off almost on there tails. If any of you have the opportunity, go and have a visit. Good video! Thank you.😊😊

[@joebarrett4353]

Brilliant video. Thanks

[@patrickw2585]

The Connaught bridge is open to let a boat through - a rare occurrence. I wondered why there was traffic on the bridge.

[@davidm3maniac201]

First time i have ever seen it open. Well rare. Lol

[@t.p.mckenna]

Yup, I've never seen that bridge open before. Immediately below by just feet is the new Crossrail line.

[@outandabout100]

Beautiful views

[@masteronelew733]

That landing didn’t seem all that bad for the Q400. Such a shame that flybe has gone.

[@callumtitheridge1339]

They're coming bac though one of the shareholders have brought them they are coming back early next year

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

@@callumtitheridge1339 They're back now! I flew with them from Birmingham to Amsterdam and back a couple of months ago... Dash 8 too.

[@mervynsands3501]

Nicely done,

[@chriswalker4370]

Did DUB-LCY a few times pre-pandemic and sadly we always approached from the east, never did the westerly approach. Dublin hasn't started flying to LCY yet, and where I live now in Cork they tried LCY for a while but never got the passengers. So sadly I doubt I'll ever get to be a passenger on this approach.

[@SalPilot]

With the right aircraft it might be profitable 👍🏻

[@planesworldaviator]

Fantastic video!

[@airbrushingbynick6071]

Nice, liked that coz not too much flare. Great job.

[@josephschembri4811]

Two years ago doing the swim of the London Triathlon (in the Royal Victoria dock) I look up to sight the next buoy and see an Airbus A318 lumbering down the runway towards us. Just a bit unnerving.

[@uktravel8341]

Thanks for posting, good video.

[@Lensonthethames]

Thanks for sharing.