Need advice on ATC thingy

[frb98mf]

Hi all

I just found this wonderful site full of informed people, and I'm hoping some of you can help. I've just started to do some freelance consulting, I specialise in creative stuff - PR, media relations etc - but someone approached me with an aviation-related idea, and I haven't a clue about the technical side of it.

The idea is to propose the construction of a 6th London airport, only it differs from the old ideas of a floating island in the Thames and other such science fiction, and avoids the expensive and unpopular idea of a new LHR runway. Is it possible from an air traffic control perspective to put a new runway somewhere between LHR and LGW? You could treat it as an extra runway for one of the two in terms of air traffic. I assume there is no problem (especially once Swanwick is working properly) with having an extra 100 flights a day in the area, as one of the govt.'s bright ideas was to use Northolt as a feeder airport, and it's about 2 miles up the road from LHR.

Also, these guys have found a site which allows (and they quote) 5 miles either end of the runway with no big conurbations. Is this substantially better in terms of noise problems than other airports in the south-east? The runway would be up to 2500 metres long. I looked at Boeing's site but I don't really understand the technology. I gather this is big enough to land a 737 or smaller airbus.

Can anyone tell me if this idea is unworkable, or if I should be helping these guys? Normally this wouldn't be my field, but the subject of new runways and terminals in the south east keeps cropping up in the news.

Thanks

Michael

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

It's unworkable!

[egffztzx]

The idea of another London airport in the Thames Estuary has been around for a good few years - I seemed to remeber it being talked about when I worked for local government in London back in the early 90's.

I'd suggest you try the Dept. of Transport (or whatever it now called)

[Warped Factor]

frb,

Another runway somewhere between Heathrow and Gatwick wouldn't work without a major redesign of the current airspace and routes flown within the TMA.

And when I say major redesign, I mean sit down and start from scratch with a blank sheet of paper.

Hey, maybe that's not such a bad idea after all ;)

WF.

[Numpo-Nigit]

An interesting concept which I would believe is a total non-starter for political and planning reasons. I wonder if your customers are looking at the old Wisley airfield - it certainly fits the description, but I very much doubt that the local residents would appreciate the return of jets taking off and landing!!!

From an ATC point-of-view, any airfield in that sort of area would require a major re-organisation of airspace and routes, with all the attendant difficulties. However, if you can persuade the political powers-that-be, AND subdue the angry NIMBYs, I guess we could manage things above!!! After all, I can recall some people saying that London City traffic would be impossible to assimilate, but we now do so routinely.

[cwatters]

Can someone tell me if Gatwick and Stanstead are operating at capacity or when they are projected to be at capacity?

[hooplaa]

WHY?:confused: