Earliest Landing Slot at LHR

[strake]

Returning from Bangkok on BA a few months ago, Mrs Strake advised me that, according to our itinerary, our landing time would be 0530hrs.

"Hah rubbish!!" said I knowing such an early arrival was impossible for noise reasons. "We shall not arrive before 0602hrs" I declared with all the weary disdain of a seasoned traveller and pilot patronising a mere holiday-maker.

Imagine, then, my irritation as we touched down gently at 5:31am...

Yesterday, we returned from Miami with BA. Strong tailwinds, whilst causing havoc with the stability of my G&T, whisked us over the pond in seven and a half hours. Arrival time over London on the Map-thing showed 05:30.

"Well" said Mrs Strake "Another early landing". This time, I refused to comment as I detected a challenge in her voice.

However, just as we approached London, on comes Nigel to advise that we would be "Holding until just before 06:00 as we are not allowed to land at Heathrow before 06:02"

"SEE, SEE, I TOLD YOU!" I exclaimed in a manner rather unbecoming for a senior executive and forty-nine and threequarter year old.

So just what are the rules? Why are the good citizens of Hounslow allowed to be woken at 5:30 by Bangkok (and a few other Far East arrivals I think) flights but not early USA flights?

[NigelOnDraft]

There are a limited number of LHR "nightslots".

In short, if you are scheduled in prior to about 0615 (to allow for Taxi in) then your flight is probably planned for one of these nightslots. If you are not scheduled in prior to this, but the aircraft touches down prior to 0600, you "lose" a slot. Also some unscheduled late departures from LHR may use nightslots...

You can end up where the airline "runs out", and then flights scheduled in prior to 0600 don't have one, and have to wait...

HTH

[Human Factor]

There is a quota system at LHR which allows a certain number of flights to arrive before 0600L. That is the actual restriction. The 0602L restriction is a BA thing to make sure you don't land at 0559L by mistake. The quota allows for operators to have so many landings per season in the night period. Each type of aeroplane is given a noise rating (can't remember exactly but a 747 could have a rating of 2, say and a 777 a rating of 1). Each company is allowed a total of 300 points per month say. Every 777 approach in the night period costs 1 point, each 747 approach costs 2 points. When the monthly points are gone, they're gone. You're not allowed to exceed them which is why companies strictly enforce these movements as otherwise, if the points have been used up, a flight which is scheduled to arrive at night can't.

Perhaps someone from HAL can explain a bit more clearly.

Just beat me to it, NoD! :p

[Human Factor]

It's actually 0600L. In the summer it changes to 0500Z, remaining at 0600L.

[Approaching Minimums]

There are at least two scheduled BA flights which arrive to LHR before 0600 in the morning. Both flights are from HKG, BA026 STA 0450 and BA032 STA 0500.

A year ago I was actually on board of BA032 and we landed exactly 0500 in the morning. It was quite a hilarious experience as there was nobody to drive the airbridge or connect the external power after we parked to our stand. The APU seemed to be faulty and after the captain decided to turn off the engines we lost all the lights in the cabin except the emergency lights of course. After waiting of 10mins some sleepy gate agent arrived and attached the airbridge and we were able to disembark in almost total darkeness. Luckily the F/As helped us with flashlights... :D

Best Regards,
AM

[Jerricho]

Just as an aside as well, should EGLL be in LVPs (low visibility) the whole 0600 "curfew" goes out the window, and arrivals can land as they pitch up, rather than holding and waiting for the opening bell.

(As I had to convince a Japan Air one very foggy morning who was adament he couldn't land before 0600 :) )

[WHBM]

We also occasionally hear delayed arrivals going in at say 0030. These can't be planned and the airline in question may not have any night slots to switch around, so I wonder how these are accommodated by the rules.

[ALLDAYDELI]

Hence the reason for the early arrivals to be brought to stand by tugs arriving early. Many a time the B744s have to power down and be tugged into their respective stands.

What about the BAW from BOS, that is one of the earliest AM arrivals into EGLL is it not?

[PAXboy]

On a couple of days a week there is an ultra-early BA fron JNB, scheduled at 05:15 as I had to meet it the other week [yawn].

Also, I have known my VS from JNB get in before 06:00 as well. It is useful as you can clear through pretty quickly and if you are meeting, the roads are clear.

--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

[lhr_slots]

You are right about the night quota system - the DfT sets seasonal limits on movements and 'noise points' for LHR, LGW and STN between the hours 2330-0600 LT.

Noise - or QC - points are based on the a/c certification and are either 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16, althout 8s and 16s are banned. The QC doubles for each 3 dB extra noise. NB: the max is 16 - otherwise Concorde would have been about 4096 points per movement!!!

Each airline gets an allocation for planned night flights (typically long-haul arrivals at LHR) and must manage within their allocation. There's a small pool for unplanned late-runners by airlines without a quota allocation, but its strictly limited and can run out so you may see the odd divert to LTN or somewhere.

The earliest scheduled flight at LHR is the BA016 SYD/SIN at 0445.

[WHBM]

Interesting information lhr_slots

Is there any allowance to handle gross disorganisation ? On August 3 last when it all went pear shaped due to thunderstorms I returned from BHD in a stream well after midnight and outbounds were still heading off after 0100. Maybe they declared LVPs !

[lhr_slots]

There is scope for movements to be dispensed from the limits where delays are likely to lead to serious hardship or suffering for passengers or animals or in the event of widespread and prolonged disruption to air traffic.

Generally, the DfT are tough on the interpretation of this and the disruption has to be pretty severe.

[Flightman]

Will also be granted for an aircaft in technical difficulties, as well as one who declares a sick pax.

Although getting DfT to accept what is a aircaft in trouble isn't always easy! :*

[TopBunk]

From the BAA website, just to give a flavour of the number of flights scheduled in before 0600 today.

04.45 BA016 SYDNEY VIA SINGAPORE LANDED 0439 4
04.50 BA026 HONG KONG LANDED 0433 1
04.50 VS201 SYDNEY VIA HONG KONG LANDED 0436 3
05.00 BA032 HONG KONG LANDED 0454 1
05.05 BA064 NAIROBI LANDED 0519 4
05.05 BA074 LAGOS LANDED 0624 4
05.05 CX251 HONG KONG LANDED 0457 3
05.15 BA056 JOHANNESBURG LANDED 0505 1
05.25 QF009 MELBOURNE VIA SINGAPORE LANDED 0534 4
05.30 MH002 KUALA LUMPUR LANDED 0549 3
05.30 SQ322 SINGAPORE LANDED 0514 3
05.30 BA010 SYDNEY VIA BANGKOK LANDED 0516 4
05.30 BA212 BOSTON LANDED 0444 4
05.45 KQ102 NAIROBI LANDED 0613 4
05.50 BA058 CAPE TOWN LANDED 0618 4
05.55 UA958 DENVER VIA CHICAGO LANDED 0543 3
05.55 BA018 MELBOURNE VIA SINGAPORE LANDED 0540 4

PS I have removed the code sharing flights and just left the operating airlines flights.