Bologna, Italy (PG City)

The Flight Experience

Bologna offers a flying experience of stark geographical contrast and remarkable architectural color. The city sits on the cusp of two distinct terrains: the vast, flat Po Valley stretching to the north and the first dramatic foothills of the Apennine Mountains immediately to the south. From the air, the city is a striking blanket of reddish-orange, a result of its historic use of terracotta for its famous rooftops and buildings. The dense urban sprawl, characterized by the world's longest system of historic porticoes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), was significantly enhanced in World Update IX (Italy and Malta), making the core city photogrammetry highly detailed and atmospheric.

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (LIPE)

LIPE is a major international gateway and a critical hub for Central-Northern Italy. It handles heavy mainline traffic from carriers like Lufthansa, Ryanair, and easyJet.

• The Strip: The single main runway (12/30) is approximately 2,800 meters long, suitable for all commercial jets.

• The Challenge: While the flatness of the Po Valley makes for generally straightforward instrument approaches, the visual approach to Runway 30 requires pilots to fly over the dense, low-rise suburbs. For a scenic and skill-testing flight, the visual approach to Runway 12 offers a thrilling descent over the green Apennine foothills, demanding careful energy management before leveling out over the flat plains just before the threshold.

Visual Highlights

• Le due Torri (The Two Towers): The city’s iconic landmark. Look for the massive, leaning medieval towers, Asinelli (the taller) and Garisenda (the shorter). They are highly prominent and serve as the definitive VFR reference point for the city center.

• Piazza Maggiore: The massive central plaza, easily identifiable by the massive, unfinished facade of the Basilica di San Petronio. The nearby Fountain of Neptune is often a distinct POI in the simulator's photogrammetry data.

• The Terracotta Sprawl: When flying high, the dominant visual feature is the expansive, uniform sea of reddish-orange roofs. This distinct color palette is unique to Bologna and makes it easily recognizable among other PG cities.

• San Luca Sanctuary: Located high on a hill southwest of the city, this sanctuary is accessible via a massive, centuries-old portico walkway. Its elevated position and distinct architecture make it a key landmark on the southern horizon.

Pilot’s Note: The "Apennine Gateway"

For a flight that utilizes the city's geography, try a short-hop VFR flight from a smaller airport south of the city (e.g., in Tuscany). Fly north toward the city, navigating the rolling terrain of the Apennine foothills. Once you hit the flat plains, call for the Runway 12 Visual Approach at LIPE. This transition requires you to manage a high descent rate over the hills, then quickly transition to a shallow final approach over the flat valley floor, all while visually tracking the runway threshold nestled in the urban sprawl. It is a fantastic exercise in visual and energy control.