Luxor runway closed?

[Localiser Green]

I notice from the NOTAMs that Runway 02/20 @ HELX is closed right through to July and that the parallel taxiway (3,000m) is being used as a runway instead.

Do the likes of Air 2000 and Britannia 752s land on the taxiway then?

Seems a bit dodgy!

RWY 02/20 CLSD DUE TO WIP, TWY ( A ) USED AS MAIN RWY INSTEAD WITH THE FLW SPECIFICATIONS :

-RWY DESIGNATION : 02/20
-TRUE/MAG BRG : RWY 02 : 022.74/019.8 RWY 20 : 202.75/199.8
-DIMENSIONS : 3000X45M
-STRENGTH AND SFC : PCN 70/F/C/W/U ASPH
-THR COOR : RWY 02 : 253932.79N0324156.48E RWY 20 : 254102.68N0324238.08E
-THR ELEV : RWY 02 : 292FT MSL RWY 20 : 268FT MSL
-RWY SLOPE : 0.243 PERCENT
-RWY STRIP : 3120X150M -DECLARED DIST (M) : RWY TORA TODA ASDA LDA 02 3000 3000 3000 3000 20 3000 3000 3000 3000
-ONLY VOR/DME INSTR APCH PROCEDURES FOR RWY 02/20 (BOTH DIRECTIONS) MENTIONED IN AIP ARE APPLICABLE
-SALS AVBL ON BOTH DIRECTIONS
-RMK :1-BLAST PAD 60X60M AT BOTH ENDS OF RWY AND SHOULDERS 7.5M ON BOTH SIDES 2
-BACK TRACK MUST BE EXECUTED ONLY ON BOTH ENDS OF THE RWY. 09 APR 07:45 UNTIL 09 JUL 08:00 ESTIMATED

[Localiser Green]

None of you guys been down to HELX recently then?

[expedite_climb]

Nah - havent been in recently - the runway is closed.....

(Sorry - i couldn't resist !)

Seriously though - as I read it a 60m wide * 3000m taxiway is bigger than many a runway 757/767 land on.

[mutt]

Localiser Green

This sort of thing happens all the time, why are you surprised?

That taxiway sounds a lot more appealing than some of our present runways.......


Mutt.

[Localiser Green]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I realise the dimensions of the said taxiway are massive in comparison to some 757 destinations (have been to both Samos and Mykonos on a 752!) but I genuinely have never heard of an entire runway being closed (presumably for resurfacing) and the taxiway being used as an alternative.

Just wondered if there were any special procedures. I presume that NOTAM makes the taxiway a licensed landing strip, otherwise there would be insurance / legal implications for landing on it if something went wrong, no?

Also what on earth do you say to the passengers before landing or take-off? There are likely to be plenty of knowledgable folk on board (out of 235 PAX) who are going to get very edgy if they realise you are attempting to land on / take-off from the taxiway!!

Thanks again for the replies so far.

[expedite_climb]

There are many places where taxiways are actually painted as runways, (KLX), and others where the standard parrallel taxiway is actually published as a runway (PMI 24C).

Never been to Luxor but the taxiway may have runway markings permanently anyway.

[Globaliser]

Or closer to home, LGW?