Thanks guys.
TopBunk - Good stuff, found out all about Stansted's masterplans and also Heathrow's intended 3rd runway which I'll swot up on before I visit them.
Smelly, I had visited Stansted so that's why the question had come up I guess. My other question was why are computer systems good for ATC which brought up issues of re-training older controllers and not having bandwidth to take them off active duty for training at a busy airport.
120.4/MaCND thanks, a lot to go on and research further. Re missed approach at gatwick, is it important because an aeroplane can take off just before one lands so a missed approach would place the landing aeroplane right up his a*se?
plane/aircraft/aeroplane.... I guess Aircraft refers to everything including gliders, balloons, microlights and "planes" so correctly they should be refered to as aeroplanes.
GBZ, stop drifting my thread
Thanks all,
Darren.