Originally Posted by
asdf1234
I honestly don't know which aircraft type (319 or 320) was potentially subject to the restriction, other than it was EZY and not FR.
I too would like to see how the 738s perform, especially given they seem to have the SFP mod. Their larger payload would suggest a greater propensity to restrictions on 23 on a hot and humid day but maybe the SFP brings improvements over the 319/320. Only time and experience will tell.
Of course, a 05 departure should avoid any restrictions but again, only time will tell. Let's see what happens next week.
In retrospect was it wise for Stobart to restrict the declared distances on the runway? And could they now increase those declared distances to allow unrestricted ops on hot and humid days? As far as I could tell, limiting the declared distances was a cost saving measure centred on RFFS resources.
It was hardly Stobart's choice to restrict the runway declared distances. The reason was regulatory, ICAO policy as implemented by UK CAA. Because of the narrow runway the airport was designated as Code 3C status a requirement of which was that the maximum declarable TODA was 1799m. That compares with the total length of paved runway available which is more like 1990m including stopways and clearways. However even if the regulatory constraint could be alleviated any performance advantage would seem to be apply only to RW05. The issue with RW23 is the rising ground to the south west of the airport which affects the Second Segment Climb segment and the One Engine Inoperative obstacle clearance climb gradient This appears to be the controlling issue in the RTOW calculation in the heavier weight take offs from RW23. In this case there would be no benefit from increasing the declared distances as the obstacle clearance limitation would remain.
The determining factor of RFFS category is not in any way connected with runway length (as far as I am aware). but is a function of the length of the fuselage of aircraft using an airport regularly. . So for A320 operations (fuselage length 37.75m) RFF6 was adequate but for the B738 (39.47m) was required, 39m being the changeover point. So SEN has equipped and operated to RFF7 since the start of Ryanair ops.