Kriskross
Agreed, but the wonders of how EGGP decide the operational runway has always eluded me. For sure, Manchester's runway in use is not a consideration, and there are specific procedures for those nightmare days when one is on easterlies and the other on westerlies.
However, and this is no dig at EGGP ATCOs, it does often appear that the runway is switched specifically to suit the direction from which landing IFR traffic is coming from, or which direction departing traffic is heading off on (and it's a bloody nuisance if we're busy on the sectors !!)
And you're quite right, unless it's 0300 hrs, you're never going to get a straight-in on 27 (although it used to be great for T.N.T at night who often got to route TNT-MCT-ILS27).
You mention going downwind for 09. Have any crews got a view on the new procedures which have been put to the airlines ?
All traffic, irrespective of direction, to do a right hand circuit when on 27, plus no more LPL as the clearance limit, replaced with Eaton on A25 and Banks, 6 nm west of WAL (Yes, even for traffic from the east).
Interesting times ahead...and this is what they call progress !!
