Not wishing to dampen everyone's enusiasism for the brilliance of Heathrow controllers, a 3rd runway will present a few problems for an already congested TMA.
How do Heathrow envisage using the runways, there is talk of mixed mode, or will it be compass departures of the north and south with landings in the middle?
Discussions to take place at a later date.
Staffing, we don't have enough at the moment. Another GMP position, another air controller, is the tower big enough? TMA? South West deps and willo are struggling now, more sectors required, a different TMA layout maybe, a change to SIDS and STARS? more TMA staff needed.
AC, same as above I am sure.
New routes means consultation to ensure the people whose houses are effected will have chance to complain and protest, and on we go. Public consultation could take years.
Finally, all the above is solved and we have a 3rd runway at Heathrow which will be at 98% capacity almost immediately. Gatwick will still be running its only runway at 98% as will Stansted and Luton, we lose a runway at Heathrow, where do the planes divert to? Thus will Gatwick get a 2nd runway also, thus creating an even busier and more complex TMA???
Interesting times for ATC over the next few years, however which Governement will have the backbone to build extra runways. Everybody wants to fly, but nobody wants planes over there town,city, farm, school etc etc. More aircraft noise is a vote loser, and political suicide!!!!