HEATHROW
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BA
Anyone know where BA are parking all their new A380's and 787's? They have even taken a few new A320's yet I haven't seen any retirements. Surely stand space at LHR, in particular T5, is maxed out even without these new arrivals?
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It's tight but not maxed out, many heavies are parked off stand at BA Engineering between flights. Remember around 5-6 ex BMI A319s were punted to Gatters at the start of the summer season.
Surely stand space at LHR, in particular T5, is maxed out even without these new arrivals?
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Anyone know where BA are parking all their new A380's and 787's? They have even taken a few new A320's yet I haven't seen any retirements. Surely stand space at LHR, in particular T5, is maxed out even without these new arrivals?
The new A320s have simply displaced Airbuses to LGW and/or coincided with heavy maintenance checks for others in the short haul fleet. 1 737 has already left LGW with another (G-DOCV) due to leave this week.
787s have been on crew training until recently so there were standby 767s (for once!). The long haul 767s are now covering some of the short haul 767 flying now that the 787s are on L/H duties; which has allowed G-BZHB to go for repaint. The long haul fleet will then begin shrinking when the winter schedule kicks in.
As for the 747s, the first will leave the fleet next month now that the LAX (and HKG tomorrow) services are in full swing.
Relatively speaking, there has only been an extra few aircraft when you take into account increased maintenance away from base (Cardiff and Glasgow). BA have plenty of parking around Engineering so no big deal.
Champ
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Thanks for the answers guys. Champ you insider knowledge is mighty impressive! I guess like you said it helps some of the fleet recover after the busy summer schedule. Plus they have some new slots to play with. Are all the ex BM slots being utilised now? How many stands does T5 have for the A380?
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Stands for various plane groupings included in the scheduling for Summer 2014 are in
http://www.acl-uk.org/UserFiles/File...mer%202014.pdf
It implies T5 should have 11 stands for A380 (out of 22 at LHR)
Winter schedule lists 10 out of 15
Summer 2013 seemed to declare 11 out of 16.
http://www.acl-uk.org/UserFiles/File...mer%202014.pdf
It implies T5 should have 11 stands for A380 (out of 22 at LHR)
Winter schedule lists 10 out of 15
Summer 2013 seemed to declare 11 out of 16.
HAL and CAA disagree over Heathrow Operational Freedoms Trial findings
Both organisations have published their final reports following the trials.
HAL:
"While reaching clear conclusions from the evidence produced is not easy, it is Heathrow's view that, on balance, Operational Freedoms, as trialled, delivered useful operational performance improvements in limited areas. While their use did not provide the wholesale significant benefits that could be required to facilitate recovery from the most severe episodes of disruption, Heathrow believes that operational freedoms do help to mitigate against, and recover more quickly from, those less serious disruptive events which still result in poor performance and passenger experience. It is recommended therefore, that the following operational freedoms should be integrated into standard procedures as soon as practically possible ..."
CAA:
"The hypothesis being tested by the trial, as proposed by the South-East Airports Taskforce, was that granting additional operational freedoms at Heathrow could potentially deliver:
significant benefits for passengers by improving the resilience and reliability of the airport, and
environmental benefits, with fewer unscheduled night flights, lower emissions and less stacking.
However, the data from the trial is inconclusive.
The CAA would agree with Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) that it is possible that the freedoms trialled did benefit airport operations. Intuitively, greater operational flexibility should help air traffic controllers to get the airport back on schedule. But the benefits claimed in the HAL report have not been statistically proven."
In the absence of any statisticians on the Airports Commission, one assumes it will be relying on the CAA to interpret the 150 pages of regression analysis that accompanies the HAL report on the trials.
HAL:
"While reaching clear conclusions from the evidence produced is not easy, it is Heathrow's view that, on balance, Operational Freedoms, as trialled, delivered useful operational performance improvements in limited areas. While their use did not provide the wholesale significant benefits that could be required to facilitate recovery from the most severe episodes of disruption, Heathrow believes that operational freedoms do help to mitigate against, and recover more quickly from, those less serious disruptive events which still result in poor performance and passenger experience. It is recommended therefore, that the following operational freedoms should be integrated into standard procedures as soon as practically possible ..."
CAA:
"The hypothesis being tested by the trial, as proposed by the South-East Airports Taskforce, was that granting additional operational freedoms at Heathrow could potentially deliver:
significant benefits for passengers by improving the resilience and reliability of the airport, and
environmental benefits, with fewer unscheduled night flights, lower emissions and less stacking.
However, the data from the trial is inconclusive.
The CAA would agree with Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) that it is possible that the freedoms trialled did benefit airport operations. Intuitively, greater operational flexibility should help air traffic controllers to get the airport back on schedule. But the benefits claimed in the HAL report have not been statistically proven."
In the absence of any statisticians on the Airports Commission, one assumes it will be relying on the CAA to interpret the 150 pages of regression analysis that accompanies the HAL report on the trials.
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I thought it odd that Heathrow didn't attempt an economic valuation of the benefits of the trials - or if they did, they didn't bother to report it.
Instead CAA were left to have a go at doing it using the methodology that Heathrow had used in earlier reports - and found little positive benefit with big uncertainty errors on either side.
It was also interesting to learn that part way through the winter trial, Heathrow changed the goalposts for the procedure for operating TEAM. Blindly using TEAM to increase landing rate and reduce stacking was screwing up departures.
Changing the rules to only increase landings when departures would not be affected resulted in fewer wrong-runway landings than the baseline periods !
The "Additional Report" from Heathrow making the plea to be allowed to continue with the freedoms in the absence of any evidence that it is sensible, also advocates a lot more fundamental measures to improve operations. A better review of scheduling and capacity, more incentives to operate to plan and stronger links to co-operate with members of the airport community all seem worth a bash.
Instead CAA were left to have a go at doing it using the methodology that Heathrow had used in earlier reports - and found little positive benefit with big uncertainty errors on either side.
It was also interesting to learn that part way through the winter trial, Heathrow changed the goalposts for the procedure for operating TEAM. Blindly using TEAM to increase landing rate and reduce stacking was screwing up departures.
Changing the rules to only increase landings when departures would not be affected resulted in fewer wrong-runway landings than the baseline periods !
The "Additional Report" from Heathrow making the plea to be allowed to continue with the freedoms in the absence of any evidence that it is sensible, also advocates a lot more fundamental measures to improve operations. A better review of scheduling and capacity, more incentives to operate to plan and stronger links to co-operate with members of the airport community all seem worth a bash.
Ferrovial to sell further stake in Heathrow
UK pension fund the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is to buy an 8.65% stake in Heathrow's holding company, Topco, from Ferrovial.
Ferrovial will, however, remain the largest single Heathrow shareholder with a 25% stake.
Ferrovial sells Heathrow stake to UK pension fund for £392m - Telegraph
Ferrovial will, however, remain the largest single Heathrow shareholder with a 25% stake.
Ferrovial sells Heathrow stake to UK pension fund for £392m - Telegraph
Walsh predicts no Heathrow R3 - ever
According to the FT, WW declared at this week's AOA Conference that his view on a 3rd runway at Heathrow had swung from his original "not in my lifetime" to "never".
In a Q&A session, he informed the conference that "There will never be a third runway at Heathrow. I don't see it ever happening. It's politics. It is how it is likely to impact on voters at the next election. I don't think they are capable of putting national interests above party interests."
He continued his swipe at politicians by castigating the DfT for what he described as an attempt by the Transport Secretary to "take credit" for the launch this week of BA's new LHR/HKG A380 service.
In a Q&A session, he informed the conference that "There will never be a third runway at Heathrow. I don't see it ever happening. It's politics. It is how it is likely to impact on voters at the next election. I don't think they are capable of putting national interests above party interests."
He continued his swipe at politicians by castigating the DfT for what he described as an attempt by the Transport Secretary to "take credit" for the launch this week of BA's new LHR/HKG A380 service.
Paxing All Over The World
I think WW is correct. It is often said that it is easier to get the go-ahead for a project that costs £1m than for one of £10,000 and you probably know the reasoning behind that (ask if you like).
HS2 and R3 fall into this category. Quite apart from the petty party politics and the 21st century modern lobby by individuals. If we had a robust electoral system and many people voted - these voters would not be so threatening. But so few have faith in the system, so few vote and they count for a lot. Thus the downward spiral continues.
I will take the risk of boring you with my oft repeated:
HS2 and R3 fall into this category. Quite apart from the petty party politics and the 21st century modern lobby by individuals. If we had a robust electoral system and many people voted - these voters would not be so threatening. But so few have faith in the system, so few vote and they count for a lot. Thus the downward spiral continues.
I will take the risk of boring you with my oft repeated:
- LHR will remain as it is.
- The battle for seats has already been lost - 20 years ago.
Paxing All Over The World
Nine members of staff at Heathrow Airport have been arrested on suspicion of theft of personal property.
The six men and three women, aged between 23 and 63, were arrested as part of a planned operation by the Metropolitan Police's aviation branch.
BBC News - Heathrow Airport workers arrested in theft probe
The six men and three women, aged between 23 and 63, were arrested as part of a planned operation by the Metropolitan Police's aviation branch.
BBC News - Heathrow Airport workers arrested in theft probe
HAL:
"Heathrow believes that operational freedoms do help to mitigate against, and recover more quickly from, those less serious disruptive events which still result in poor performance and passenger experience. It is recommended therefore, that the following operational freedoms should be integrated into standard procedures as soon as practically possible ..."
"Heathrow believes that operational freedoms do help to mitigate against, and recover more quickly from, those less serious disruptive events which still result in poor performance and passenger experience. It is recommended therefore, that the following operational freedoms should be integrated into standard procedures as soon as practically possible ..."
"Once the trial is complete, the evidence collected will provide the basis for a consultation with local communities. This will consider whether an operational freedoms regime of some form should be adopted on a more permanent basis at Heathrow and if so what safeguards should apply in relation to its use. This consultation will inform the subsequent decision by ministers."
https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...athrow-airport
Six months on from the end of the trial, the HAL Final Report makes no reference to any post-trial consultation. I'm guessing that the change of Minister and Transport Secretary in the meantime has allowed the above undertaking to be ditched in order to skip the inconvenience of a consultation stage in favour of going straight to the recommendations ...
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That isn't quite how I read it.
I think the Davies Commission interim report is the first hurdle that Heathrow have to jump over and their extensive "Additional Report" is a plea to Sir Howard to get a recommendation to pursue it (in the face of little conclusive evidence after the better part of three years of planning and trials).
If the Commission is persuaded - and the argument is supposed to go that Heathrow will be doing all kinds of innovative things that will make the situation better, so the Operational Freedoms won't be needed for long !! - then the Government will consider the proposal and, if minded to, will undergo the consultation process. That may be an uphill struggle given the local opposition, the weakness of the evidence, the rest of the long-term Davies proposals and the background of the approaching 2015 General Election.
I think the Davies Commission interim report is the first hurdle that Heathrow have to jump over and their extensive "Additional Report" is a plea to Sir Howard to get a recommendation to pursue it (in the face of little conclusive evidence after the better part of three years of planning and trials).
If the Commission is persuaded - and the argument is supposed to go that Heathrow will be doing all kinds of innovative things that will make the situation better, so the Operational Freedoms won't be needed for long !! - then the Government will consider the proposal and, if minded to, will undergo the consultation process. That may be an uphill struggle given the local opposition, the weakness of the evidence, the rest of the long-term Davies proposals and the background of the approaching 2015 General Election.
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Last ever DC9 series aircraft scheduled flight into Heathrow today by MD80 LN-RMM of SAS (so I am told).
Last edited by Buster the Bear; 25th Oct 2013 at 10:19.
LN-RMM is scheduled to fly SK1517 with arrival LHR 1655lt today
Sadly, according to the Heathrow press office, it's not deemed to be a significant enough event for the customary water-cannon send-off.
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Walsh predicts no Heathrow R3 - ever
According to the FT, WW declared at this week's AOA Conference that his view on a 3rd runway at Heathrow had swung from his original "not in my lifetime" to "never".
According to the FT, WW declared at this week's AOA Conference that his view on a 3rd runway at Heathrow had swung from his original "not in my lifetime" to "never".
Only one person knows the answer. Who is this? the Doctor of course! Only he has been far enough into the future to know the answer.