Originally Posted by oceancrosser
Getting landing clearances below 500 (or even below 200) is just ridiculous and adds to workload for the flight crew and increased stress level, totally unjustified, especially when you have a dedicated landing runway (LHR normally)
I sure don't speak for London, but in general ATC terms. Would you rather have an extra 30 min in a holding pattern, or on the ground at departure aerodrome, in order that you could be guaranteed a landing clearance at, say, 1000' or above?
Because, simply, that's the choice at a busy place.
A/c lands. Next one is 3 or 4 miles behind. A/c #1 vacates. Next a/c cleared to land, at ~1 nm final. (300').
Of course, if the airlines demand it, or the regulator requires it, we can space them out ~6nm apart on final, to ensure you get your landing clearance at a
reasonable height.
Which will mean fewer aeroplanes per hour, thus extra holding. Maybe a lot of extra holding.
You choose.