VIEW FROM THE SKIES

GRANADA
[37º10’41’’N 3º36’3’’W]
Captain: Farrell McGee, Belfast
“I have always thought Granada – in the Andalucia region of Spain – is such a beautiful place, and also a very interesting spot where you can go skiing in the morning and be relaxing on the beach in the afternoon. Flying in, it’s a fabulous approach, because the place is nestled right in a valley. It also has the stunning Sierra Nevada mountain range overlooking it, and just beyond are the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. I think I was based at London Stansted when I fi rst saw Granada from the skies back in 2002. I used to fl y to the south of Spain quite a lot, and this was always my favourite view. Orange groves, sun-baked hills, and when you land the place is full of great, friendly people.

“No day is the same being a pilot – even if you’re doing the same routes every day. There are always new challenges, and it’s always different, which is what keeps it interesting. I’d most like to fl y to Africa, because there’s a bit of everything there – greenery, deserts, mountains, hot parts, cold parts. I know we have started to tap into Africa, and I’d love to really get into the heart of the place.”

THE ITALIAN ALPS
[45º51’0’’N 7º38’0’’E]
Captain: Billy McCarthy, Milan Bergamo
“No matter how many times I fl y over the Italian Alps, on a clear day, they’re absolutely breathtaking. Most fl ights into Milan from northern Europe and the UK will give you a great view on the descent, and most of the northern Italian destinations provide similarly beautiful scenery. Usually, we give passengers an update after receiving the latest destination weather report over the radio – so when you hear this, your pilot is just about ready to start descending, and it’s time to start looking out for the valleys below. really get into the heart of the place.”

“Wintertime is the most spectacular. There are snow-covered trees, and frozen lakes and reservoirs. It can be diffi cult to tell which mountains are which, but as we descend you can see the relative heights of the mountains and passes. The most fun is trying to identify the main valleys and ski-resorts. Some, like the Aosta Valley, are easy – as is the resort of Cervinia, which is distinctive because it’s dominated by the Matterhorn.

“I fi rst fl ew into Bergamo about 12 years ago on a summer charter fl ight, long before Ryanair started scheduled services there, and long, long before a Ryanair base was being considered anywhere on the European mainland. It was a crystal clear day and I still remember the silence on the fl ight deck as we descended over the valleys and mountains for our approach. I’ve never got tired of looking at the scene ever since.

“One of the best things about being a pilot is that you can’t take work home with you. There aren’t many well-paid jobs where, at the end of the day, there’s nothing more you can do – and that’s very healthy.”

CORK
[51°53’49’’N 8°28’40’’W]
Captain: Brian Coomey, Cork
“One of the shortest routes on the Ryanair network is the fl ight from Dublin to Cork, but it’s defi nitely one of the most scenic. Passengers from Dublin, Liverpool, East Midlands and Glasgow Prestwick can enjoy the views of the lovely Irish countryside, typically about 20 minutes into their fl ight. After Dublin we set course south-west towards Kildare. Soon the fl at plains of the Curragh come into sight on the right of the aircraft. It’s an area of about 5,000 acres of sandy soil, perfect for racehorse training, and it’s little wonder that the Curragh Racecourse – which you can usually see quite clearly – is the home of Irish fl at racing.

“In no time, we’re descending towards Cork airport. We’re tracking along the Galtee Mountains, with the fertile fi elds of the Golden Vale beneath us, and as we position for our fi nal approach we cross Cork Harbour at approximately 5,000ft, giving a lovely view of the harbour and the estuary of the River Lee as it meanders through Cork and enters the Atlantic.

“We can see Cobh and Spike Island on our right, as well as Haulboline, which is the home of the Irish Navy. Tracking towards Kinsale, the rugged coastline is on our right, and as we turn onto our fi nal approach passengers on the left can see the beautiful west Cork coastline stretching into the distance, with The Old Head of Kinsale and Galley Head the nearest big peninsulas in view.”

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