LHR Night Curfew
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Joburg
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LHR Night Curfew
According to FR24 this morning, there was very little inbound hold between 5am and 6am Uk local time. Was the curfew suspended due to French ATC issue? Or just coincidental?
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sarf England
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The curfew is occasionally relaxed in the event of bad weather, basically so that LHR isn't starting the game at 0600L with a holding delay of 20 mins+ which will only deteriorate.
The more usual reason for a relaxation is fog, however on this occasion the powers-that-be may have decided that the risk of thunderstorm activity was reason enough for traffic to be allowed to land early.
LTP
The more usual reason for a relaxation is fog, however on this occasion the powers-that-be may have decided that the risk of thunderstorm activity was reason enough for traffic to be allowed to land early.
LTP
What curfew ?
Heathrow doesn't have a "curfew", so the question of it being "suspended" doesn't arise.
I suspect what the OP is referring to is the Night Quota, which limits the number of movements between 23:30 and 06:00. For example, during the Summer season (April to October) a maximum total of 3,250 movements is allowed during the Night Quota period.
There is no per-day limit on night flights provided the season limit isn't exceeded (which it never is in summer) and so the fact that there were 9 more flights than normal landing before 06:00 yesterday morning didn't necessitate any relaxation of the restrictions.
Having said that, during periods of severe disruption (including weather-related), Heathrow is allowed to grant dispensations from the night restrictions for small numbers of flights so that they aren't counted against the season's quota.
I suspect what the OP is referring to is the Night Quota, which limits the number of movements between 23:30 and 06:00. For example, during the Summer season (April to October) a maximum total of 3,250 movements is allowed during the Night Quota period.
There is no per-day limit on night flights provided the season limit isn't exceeded (which it never is in summer) and so the fact that there were 9 more flights than normal landing before 06:00 yesterday morning didn't necessitate any relaxation of the restrictions.
Having said that, during periods of severe disruption (including weather-related), Heathrow is allowed to grant dispensations from the night restrictions for small numbers of flights so that they aren't counted against the season's quota.
