Arrivals / Acceptance Rates during works
TWY "W" is now commissioned to Code E aircraft which very much improves the RWY 06 / 24 only situation, heavies still have to backtrack a short distance for departure off RWY 06 and the turn on to the threshold of 24 from W is quite a wide angle so aircraft are slower to commence the take off roll, never the less in this mode movement rates of 40 per hour have been achieved with the right traffic mix, this is about as good as you get from RWY 21.
During the works there are a significant amount of taxiway closures, we are virtually operating with half an airport, there are less options on taxi routes and the holding of aircraft waiting for bays, we have to carefully manage the situation to keep things moving and prevent log jams which could quickly escalate to the point that go rounds may happen or we need to call in the tugs to pull the fur ball apart. This is especially so during periods where we have a busy arrival and departure mix typical of most weekday afternoons. Overloading of the airport system is prevented by strategic adjustment of the arrival acceptance rates, these are reduced below the typical arrival rate to allow departures to get away ensure there are vacant bays and we keep it all moving. Another big factor we have to consider is the management of an immediate runway change ie swapping ends, with so many closures this would be very difficult to manage, another reason for the "tweaked" down rates.
This methodology was used with great success during the overlay last year. The restrictions for the grooving and other associated works are actually a bit worse in some respects to the overlay works, the strategy is working, its safe and the traffic is moving, if compliance regards to slots etc could be guaranteed it is likely that a positive adjustment to acceptance rates could be achieved.
The next stage of works involving the construction of the the TWY A extension through RWY 06/24 will also be challenging, there will be much runway crossing of the only usable runway (03/21) plus taxy routing via the Eastern TWY system.. we cant wait..........
to have it all finished!