HEATHROW
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: southampton
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes.
NATS are already considering how to man the night shifts for when it gets started. ie as a day shift, and how that will impact the normal day ops aswell as the staff that don't do nights work days normally.
NATS are already considering how to man the night shifts for when it gets started. ie as a day shift, and how that will impact the normal day ops aswell as the staff that don't do nights work days normally.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: UK
Age: 51
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are quite strict rules on who/what can operate during the night. However repatriation flights should be allowed.
Interesting times.
Interesting times.
Last edited by Flightman; 19th Apr 2010 at 11:14.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is no curfew at LHR. There are limits on movements and noise quota at night, but these are applied by season (winter or summer*). So the lack of any night flights during the period of closure will effectively build up 'credits' in numbers of movements and noise quota, which can be used when flights are resumed.
As far as I can see, no special permission is needed to allow an increased number of night flights by permitted aircraft, though obviously there would need to be availability of ATC, ground handling and other resources. Surface transport would be a problem if a large number of flights arrived between 01:00 and 05:00.
* summer season is defined as the period during which British Summer Time operates, i.e. last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October.
As far as I can see, no special permission is needed to allow an increased number of night flights by permitted aircraft, though obviously there would need to be availability of ATC, ground handling and other resources. Surface transport would be a problem if a large number of flights arrived between 01:00 and 05:00.
* summer season is defined as the period during which British Summer Time operates, i.e. last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 43
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow Yesterdat
Took a wander out with the camera yesterday from Myrtle Avenue to T5 via Hatton Cross. Nothing to disturb the horses at the 27L approach lights except the suddenly noticeable sound of birdsong. There was some great excitement when a couple of BA A320s needed towing but that was pretty much it until the BA test flight called for start. The northern runway was checked by a large crowd of people in yellow jackets, I assume as it had been closed for so long?
BAW9156 then spent ages waiting for CAA permission before departing from 27R for Cadiff just before 6pm.
Oddly enough it was watched from T5 departures by a large crowd of BA staff, no wonder ! Out on a Compton 3F up to FL100 then planned to take it up to FL350 in 5000 ft increments.
Never seen the place like that, it was really surreal. It seems we never stopped being an island nation!
BAW9156 then spent ages waiting for CAA permission before departing from 27R for Cadiff just before 6pm.
Oddly enough it was watched from T5 departures by a large crowd of BA staff, no wonder ! Out on a Compton 3F up to FL100 then planned to take it up to FL350 in 5000 ft increments.
Never seen the place like that, it was really surreal. It seems we never stopped being an island nation!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: LHR line
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was at work airside at Heathrow on saturday and sunday and it was, quite simply weird! Got so bored at one point that a few of us went to the control tower for a visit, loads of others had the same idea as when we got there, there was about 20 other visitors there! Had a good chat but we had to leave just before the BA flight went up.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Age: 42
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
EGLL 3rd Runway Proposal
What is the general opinion of the proposed/rumoured 3rd runway expansion at Heathrow. How will it impact the industry in terms of UK pilot job opportunities / recruitment in the future??
I note 2 out of the 3 main political parties oppose expansion plans, therefore, I wonder whether this will be a significant factor come the General Election for people invovled in this industry....
Interested to hear your thoughts and apologies if it has been discussed before.
GP
I note 2 out of the 3 main political parties oppose expansion plans, therefore, I wonder whether this will be a significant factor come the General Election for people invovled in this industry....
Interested to hear your thoughts and apologies if it has been discussed before.
GP
Surely runway capacity isn't the most significant issue regarding London Airport's congestion?
Every time I've been into the place (as a passenger), I vow never to use it again. Arrival often includes several minutes observing the Essx countryside whilst stacked in the hold. Then a lengthy taxy; even if the processing time through customs and immigration is swift (unlikely), there's often a loooong wait for luggage and then 20 minutes of traffic jams in the Long Term car park bus before I can finally escape.
So any additional runway capacity is only going to make things worse.
Better use of regional airports should be considered first.
LHR usage is 'red car theory'. "Why do we make red cars?" "Because people buy them!" "Why do people buy them?" "Because we make them!" - which translates into "Why do people use LHR?" "Because that's where the airlines fly from!" "Why do airlines fly from LHR?" "Because that's where passngers fly from!"......
Every time I've been into the place (as a passenger), I vow never to use it again. Arrival often includes several minutes observing the Essx countryside whilst stacked in the hold. Then a lengthy taxy; even if the processing time through customs and immigration is swift (unlikely), there's often a loooong wait for luggage and then 20 minutes of traffic jams in the Long Term car park bus before I can finally escape.
So any additional runway capacity is only going to make things worse.
Better use of regional airports should be considered first.
LHR usage is 'red car theory'. "Why do we make red cars?" "Because people buy them!" "Why do people buy them?" "Because we make them!" - which translates into "Why do people use LHR?" "Because that's where the airlines fly from!" "Why do airlines fly from LHR?" "Because that's where passngers fly from!"......
Either a third runway or a new airport in the estuary - which would not suit me at all. No worries there, though. I'll be long gone before one is built.
My last couple of times through LHR, both T3 and T5 went very well.
Fast and efficient; couldn't find anything to complain about - buggah!
My last couple of times through LHR, both T3 and T5 went very well.
Fast and efficient; couldn't find anything to complain about - buggah!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, UK
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Arrival often includes several minutes observing the Essx countryside whilst stacked in the hold.
The key issue would be to restrict maximum slot usage to between 75-80% for example of the theoretical maximum so that the current saturation problem is avoided in future.
Sadly there would be no reduction of holding times from the creation of a 3rd runway. Any freed capacity would be very quickly filled. Holding is a necessay evil to make most use of the runways. No holding - no maximum throughput. The only way to reduce holding is to mandate that airports can only operate at a a proportion of their theoretical maximum movement rate (I recon about 90% should do it). No airport will willingly do this as they want more flights and more passengers in order to pay for their heavily leaveraged businesses. Heavy-handed regulation is really the only way to achieve this despite £BNs being spent to reinvent the wheel to get better throughput.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From 24th June Royal Brunei will fly Brunei-DXB-LHR with B772ER instead of B763ER.
PIA has increased flights to Karachi from 3 weekly to 4 weekly with B772ER.
Tunis Air will increase service to Tunis from 4 wekly to 6 weekly next winter.
just to remember:
Royal Jordanian: from 3 weekly A310 + 4 weekly A321 to 6 weekly A332 + 1 weekly A321 to Amman from 1st June
PIA has increased flights to Karachi from 3 weekly to 4 weekly with B772ER.
Tunis Air will increase service to Tunis from 4 wekly to 6 weekly next winter.
just to remember:
Royal Jordanian: from 3 weekly A310 + 4 weekly A321 to 6 weekly A332 + 1 weekly A321 to Amman from 1st June
Last edited by Seljuk22; 4th May 2010 at 18:00.
If the third runway is built, it will be in the commercial interest of the current mainstream operators (especially BA, but also BMI, Virgin, etc) to fill it up as rapidly as possible. Smaller aircraft and more frequencies on established routes is the best way to do this. This is the principal way to prevent competition from coming in to your existing territory and getting a proportion of your market.
Likewise if you are a operator who does not serve Heathrow yet (for example the few remaining mainstream carriers who work through Gatwick) then be in there from day one of the new runway. Leave it a moment longer and you will find all the slots have gone again.
This only works at a few places; you could not for example do it at Teesside, you would never get the revenue to cover the costs. But it is the only way to work at Heathrow.
Not really practical because the airport is up to its maximum runway capacity for both arrivals and departures hour after hour all through the day, and has been for years. It is not a "peak and trough" situation which can be rebalanced by smoothing things out, or like a US hub operation where they all come in together, then depart together.
Likewise if you are a operator who does not serve Heathrow yet (for example the few remaining mainstream carriers who work through Gatwick) then be in there from day one of the new runway. Leave it a moment longer and you will find all the slots have gone again.
This only works at a few places; you could not for example do it at Teesside, you would never get the revenue to cover the costs. But it is the only way to work at Heathrow.
The only way holding will ever be reduced is if the airlines don't all arrive at once.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
from 12th June 3 weekly / 4 weekly in July/August but I don't now the dates:
AF 1980 CDG-LHR 10:05 - 10:25 A380
AF 1981 LHR-CDG 12:50 - 15:25 A380
No first class sold on these flights.
AF 1980 CDG-LHR 10:05 - 10:25 A380
AF 1981 LHR-CDG 12:50 - 15:25 A380
No first class sold on these flights.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Sherfield-on-Loddon, UK
Age: 57
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LHR third runway "cancelled"
BBC News channel reporting that plans for third runway at Heathrow have been cancelled. 
edit: buried on this page: At-a-glance: Cameron coalition's policy plans
edit: buried on this page: At-a-glance: Cameron coalition's policy plans
Last edited by PAX richi; 12th May 2010 at 14:35. Reason: add link