Take-offs from both runways at Heathrow?

[cormacshaw]

Hello,. .. .I was browsing <a href="http://www.multimap.com" target="_blank">www.multimap.com</a> 's excellent aerial photography coverage of England and Wales when I noticed that the coverage of Heathrow shows numerous aircraft queued for takeoff at both 27R and 09R. Is this a common occurence?. .. .It did occur to me that the coverage may be a collage of photos taken at differnet times but I don't think this is the case. It may also be that the presence of a picture-taking aircraft at 5000ft directly over the airport meant landings were suspended for a time and ATC was using both runways for TO as a result but then why is there an aircraft taxi-ing off midway 09L?. .. .Just curious.

[Oliver James]

Without doubt, traffic will not be using 27R and 09R for departure at the same time. The most likely explanation is a runway change from Easterlies to Westerlies. You are probably seeing the last few departures waiting to go off 09R and the first few off 27R arriving at the holding point before the change takes effect. The traffic you see coming off 09L is one of the last Easterly landings before they too change around.. .. .Runway changes are worked to a specific time. The departures controller is then given just enough traffic to work up to that time. Traffic which cannot be airborne by that time is taxied to the other end and waits. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 14 March 2002, 08:26: Message edited by: 120.4 ]</small>

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Armchair. Photography aircraft are little short of a pigging nuisance to us all but we don't stop commercial traffic for them. If one is lurking around at 5000 ft departures will be stopped at 4000 ft and landing a/c will be ducked underneath. It's very rare for a photographic a/c to have any sort of priority so if it's busy they have to try again another day..

[Lunar Landing]

When you guys/gals decide to use runway 23 for landing, what is the process you use to change from 27x? Is it where you make the decision, then let the ATIS creators know so they can put it out on the next ATIS...or tell the people who control the planes into the holds? Be interesting to know not just for myself... .. .Smooth skies,. .. .Dan <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[Oliver James]

In theory, we only get onto 23 when the mean crosswind on the 27s exceeds 25 kts and so whenever there is likely to be any strong southerly wind the Tower supervisor and the traffic manager in Terminal Control will be assessing how likely it is that we will get to those limits. Reason being that just off the end of 23 are the 'Whiskey' stands, usually occupied by BA longhaul stuff. It takes 3 hours notice to clear these and so we have to look ahead. . .. .Once the stands are clear and 23 declared available then we wait for the wind to arrive. As we approach the limits, 23 is promulgated as available on the ATIS and when we get to them we choose a suitable aircraft to make the first 23 lander, inform everybody of the choice and then begin vectoring into the new pattern. . .. .Unless the wind is VERY strong, some traffic (usually the big Heavies) will still prefer 27L and so we have to interweave the two streams. The full Northolt approach is not available at the same time traffic is approaching 23, so they get paired with the 27L landers when there will be a gap on the 23 approach.. .. .Hope this helps.. .. .Point 4

[Warped Factor]

Good photo.. .. .I suspect it is made up of a number of images taken at different times though.. .. .The sun seems to be shining from the SW when you look at the ones down at the 09R hold and from the ESE on the ones at the 27R hold and in the maintenance area.. .. .Also, if the ones at the 27R hold are waiting for the last 09L lander then one of them is being a bit naughty as it appears to be holding well over the stopbar from 23 onto 27R.. .. .WF.

[Budgie69]

For most of us that is an unusual view of LHR. What was the purpose of the wide piece of concrete that looks like the threshold of runway 15C?

[brockenspectre]

How do I find this pic of LHR? It is not listed as one of the Places of Interest and I don't know LHR's post code!!. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />

[PaperTiger]

Select Windsor Castle. Zoom out until you see the Staines reservoirs (ENE) and then zoom in on them. LHR is just to the E.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

15C?? Ahh you mean Waites Alley......

[Sniff]

How about <a href="http://www.multimap.com/bx793/gmp/507/176/X507000Y176000S25000W700H410.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>

[cormacshaw]

Thanks all for the replies.. .. .The multimap.com site is pretty cool. I wonder would it be a moderately useful resource for GA pilot's to check out an airfield and its environs before visiting for the first time? (Obviously in addition to, not instead of, proper charts and such!). .. .Also, regarding the reference to postcodes above, the multimap search facility can look up place names as well and is generally acurate.

[reverserunlocked]

To find a place you first select maps & directions, type in the location and zoom around until you get where you want. Then you hit 'aerial photo' and voila - your map is replaced with an aerial view of whatever you were looking at. You can even overlay the map on the photo. Clever stuff!