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Old 28th May 2005, 07:25
  #52 (permalink)  
HOODED
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: 6 miles 14
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Sky9, LBA is 7380ft/2250m. It also has a soft flat grass overrun of around 500ft at the end of 32/start of 14. It has a displaced threshold at both ends with 32 being a little over 1000ft displaced and 14 being around 1500ft displaced due to the high ground on approach requiring a 3.5 degree glideslope.(Dont have the exact figures to hand) The 32 threshold was displaced to give an undershoot area when the runway was extended in the 1980s. Prior to that the threshold was almost at the end of the runway. There are no obsticles on the 32 approach/14 climb out but the ground falls away sharply as the L1011 found out as very nearly did this A320 and there is no overrun other than the downward slope into the approach lights. Beyond this is a housing estate. The runway is concrete and undulates as it is built on solid rock and falls away slightly after the 32 touch down point.
So whats the answer to the problem of unfamiliar crews occasionally frightening themselves on 14 landings?

Firstly reduce the 3.5 glideslope and move the thresold back, possible with modern precision aproach aids/GPWS.
Secondly build up a flat soft overrun at the end of 14 just as the one on 32s end. This would end up almost in someones back garden and the threshold on 32 could then be moved back as an added bonus giving 2000m + LDA on 32 with this RESA in place.

Both options are expensive and require ILS/lights to be taken out of service for a while.

Sadly I can't see either happening anytime soon as the rapid growth of movements/pax means prioritys are eleswhere at the moment (like providing more apron space).

Hope this helps.
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