late to the party question on flight patterns

How long ago was it that McCarran changed departures from a westerly direction to northerly?

 

They have been repairing 25R which was the main departure runway.

 

I fly in and out of Las Vegas fairly frequently and although I'm not an aviation expert I've picked up on the patterns they use.

About 80-90% of the time most of the flights take off and land almost due west. Some of them always seem to take off and land either north or south in addition to the west. I've gotten so I can tell from where Lake Mead is out the window if they will land to the west or to the south.

Rarely they will take off and land to the east. It doesn't happen much but I've been on flights that took off to the east a few times.

 

I think it started in November, again because of runway repairs.

 

Wind direction.

Where possible, they take off into the wind, same for landing.

 

I've always loved the south approach, giving the view of the Strip that it does. Haven't landed that way in a few years though, luck of the draw I guess.

I don't think I've ever taken off to the north. That would seem strange.