Dan. I was a Tower controller at Heathrow for 23 years and have never seen any controller reduce VORTEX separation, even when pilots said "We're happy to go now" 20 seconds after a heavy departure - which I've heard many, many times... and they were the guys prepared to take the risks, NOT ATC.
There is a 2 minute departure (NOT VORTEX) separation between a/c on certain routes which can be reduced if we can maintain them in sight until the tracks diverge, or we can say "With the XXX traffic which is turning left/right in sight, cleared for take-off". This is what you might be thinking about.
I simply do not believe that anyone would break the VORTEX rules and I think you owe us all an explanation as to who you are. You're obviously not an ATCO and most definitely not a pilot with any reliable experience of Heathrow.
As for why Stansted take longer to clear a./ for take-off there could be several reasons. Some of their departures have to be cleared with "departure radar" before they can go whereas the majority of Heathrow deps are free-flow.
Last edited by HEATHROW DIRECTOR; 14th May 2002 at 21:02.