A plane leaving Miami FL traveling to Reno NV, would it be traveling north as it heads for landing?
It would be the logical choice. But actual flight plans tend to follow other logic, like not crashing into another plane.
I ask because I live near the Reno airport and can see planes once they get 50' up from my yard. I'm expecting a visitor flying in, and if they come in from the south, I'd like to tell them to request a window seat on left side.
Neil
Approach path depends on wind, not where the flight is coming from.
Rona Lachat
Pick a side. Tell your friend some large Landmarks to look for when getting near the Airport.
A Google map satellite Picture helps with this.
He will be on the wrong side or the right side. He might Land from the North or From the south.
Just point out some things he can look for in all directions. It is all new for them.
The Pilot will not even know which way he will land until he is near the Airport.and lands as directed by ATC . The wind at time of landing is one of many things in the decision.
Things on the ground and other Air traffic also trying to land or take off also plays a part in selection of direction.
Joseph
The landing and take off direction depends on the wind. If the wind is from the north, for example, the planes will land on and take off from runway 34L or 34R at Reno. However, even the plane's pilots won't know which way they will be landing until shortly before they start their final approach to the airport.
NWIP
It all depends on the winds and weather.
ANDRE L
Airliner routes also take into account not flying through the crowded airspace around major airports.
Also, the choice of runways has a lot to do with the time of day, and the local wind directions. So, there is no way to know ahead of time which runway your friend's plane will be assigned to land on.