Thanks, Wheely. From what you say it should it be possible then to reduce the vectoring when the stacks are not full? I think we all expect 'bad news' in the rush hours, but if we could plan on expecting a really economic profile outside these that would be great. I fully understand the requirements you are trying to satisfy, but do NOT know how much more difficult it would be to set up the necessary spacing this way. Being specific, how far can you plan ahead for take-off gaps with, say, 08 in use at LGW, to allow short patterns on the ILS and still get a/c airborne with little delay? I appreciate 26 is more of a problem.
Is the use of the BEXIL/LYDD/POMPEY hold for onward shuttle going to make life too difficult in the rush hour? To be kept at, say, 150 at BEXIL and sent on to TIMBA for a steady drop-down and short pattern would be economic. Can anyone remind me please of the upper level limits of these holds?
Few Cloudy
I remember that the '20mins' came from the fact that an ATC 'No delay' means less than 20 mins holding. Or did! We should, presumably, always plan for 20 mins inbound LON airports.
[This message has been edited by BOAC (edited 26 May 2001).]