Originally Posted by
22/04
Buster - thanks- thought correct squawk was the issue. Agree about datalink but will this be used for approach sequencing? Would be great to have RNAV stars, with time at final approach fix and minimal controller intervention.
Enabler will be the colossal airspace change required to deliver flights to the third Heathrow/second Gatwick/second Stansted runway over the next 50 years. All that you have stated is coming, but the changes required to airspace and routes could well take forever through the mire of consultation. Technology is not the issue to introduction. Most airspace, routes and procedures around London have been tagged on over the years around maintaining delivery of traffic to/from Heathrow, thus the nightmare that Essex Radar faces and most LTMA sectors. I am not too sure what is out in the public domain, but Google LAMP, London Airspace Master Plan, a NATS long-term project to deliver exactly what you state. I was recently a passenger on an inbound flight into Heathrow and wondered why we appeared to have slowed down in the cruise, an hour before our predicted ETA. We were passed a time to arrive over BIG to minimise holding. Proof that technology and interactions with our neighbouring ATC providers in Europe is already helping to reduce holding thus fuel burn.