Parallel Runway Seperation. How close?

[Milt]

Parallel Runways.

Is anyone aware of any regulations which specify the minimum lateral separation of parallel runways and then any separations imposed on aircraft doing parallel approaches.

Where are the runways having closest lateral separation?

Do any parallel approaches cause you heavy pilots any aggro?

[Evil J]

Yes there are regs in the UK at least, cant rememebr off the top of me head but 750m and 1500m ring a bell.

A lot depends on what conditions parralel approaches are gonna be made in-LHR for example, parralel approaches have to be done in decent wx so that viz separation can be used-pressumeably if one is gonna use paralel appraoches in IMC they will have to be further apart (redhill has parralel runways quite close together but they are visual runways only)-possibly even min radar separation distance apart (3 nm)-but since that isnt really a starter in the UK I don't suppose anything is laid down.

[CAP670]

The FAA's "Precision Runway Monitor" (PRM) radar system permits independant parallel IFR approaches to runways spaced less than 4300 feet apart. There is currently, no such operation in the UK (the only locations where it would useful are Heathrow and Manchester but there are planning & environmental constraints precluding this at the latter, anyway).

At Heathrow, whilst parallel landings are undertaken on easterlies and 'Tactically Enhanced Arrival Mode' for 27L/27R, the spacings in IMC are staggered to provide the requisite radar separation i.e. the approaches are not "independant".

Don't know about custom-and-practice in mainland Europe.

PRM is also used at Sydney.

Vortex wake separation becomes an issue if the runways are spaced less than 760 metres apart.

Checkout:

www.faa.gov/AVR/AFS/PRMtraining/index.cfm, www.tc.faa.gov/acb300/techreports/CT-TN-99-24_MPAP_sum.pdf and www.airservices.gov.au/pilotcentre/projects/prm.

:8

[Willard W. Willard]

Here at Munich the runways are 2300m apart.
Both runways may be used independently as long as one ILS and one LLZ are working and both acft are established on their respective app.

WWW

[Jordan D]

Sorry to ask what is no doubt a stupid question, but for my benefit what does ''Tactically Enhanced Arrival Mode' actually mean?

Jordan

[Sir George Cayley]

Simultaneous Operation of Independant parallel Runways is the answer. It's an ICAO publication.

In the UK CAP168 doesnt seem to refer to it.

Manchester's 2 runways are about 390m apart but staggered by over 1500m

Hope this helps answer the question


Sir George Cayley

[johnwalton]

Quote from DfT London Airports Night Restrictions consultation (http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_aviation/documents/pdf/dft_aviation_pdf_503455.pdf)

When severe inbound congestion occurs, or is expected to occur, involving airborne holding delays of 30 minutes or more, with at least 20 minutes delay in the inner stacks, it is NATS' practice to land additional aircraft on the assigned departure runway if it considers the landing rate can be increased (e.g. local weather conditions permitting). The procedure is known as Tactically Enhanced Arrival Measures (TEAM). It involves operating parallel final approach streams, but with the aircraft in a staggered formation (i.e. not directly side by side) giving pilots line of sight with the nearest landing aircraft in the parallel landing stream.

[cossack]

YYZ's 06L/24R and 06R/24L are 1000 feet apart centreline to centreline but are not used for simultaneous arrivals, but a land one, depart the other. Unlike Manchester there is no stagger and we always land on the outer and depart the inner. In VFR weather (3 miles or more/ceiling 1000 feet or more) we can land and depart simultaneously. In poor weather the arrival must be on the ground or outside 2 miles from touchdown as the departure commences take off roll. This is done without a PRM but there is a "monitor" controller.

Runway 05/23 is used at the same time (tripling) in mixed mode. The arrival runways are 2 miles apart and simultaneous arrivals and departures are in progress. We need an ILS and a LOC to be able to do this in IFR weather. Departures must diverge by 10 degress which is a Transport Canada waiver from the 15 degree norm.

When using 33L and 33R simultaneous arrivals are permitted but there must be a stagger distance of 1.5 miles between the aircraft on different approaches. These runways are about 3500 feet apart.

SFO's runways are 750 feet apart centreline to centreline and are used for simultaneous arrivals usinga combination of an offset LOC, PRM and visual separation.

[Jordan D]

johnwalton - thanks for the info ... appreciated.

cossack - the 06/24 R/L you mention rings a bell .. I remember being in a BA 777 returning to LHR and wondering why we were turning onto the runway for take off when there was distinctly another aircraft on finals ... last thing I saw before take off was us passing it, as it slowed down.

Jordan

[niknak]

760m is the UK minima, which I guess is around 1000ft...

[Engineer]

Did I miss something or is there still approx 3.3ft to the metre. Hence 760m is approx 2500ft Hope my maths is right :ok:

[Narada]

If memory serves right

Runwys with 4300 feet+ runway separation are considered as independent runways (no limitations on parallel landings).

Separation between 3400 feet to 4300 feet would require aids like PRM (already mentioned in this thread) for "independent" operations (IMC). [PRM has it's own procedures and 2 additional controllers monitoring a PRM approach with special ground automation support (e.g., MSP)].

Less than 3400 feet separation would require some kind of "dependent" approach in IMC conditions. For example, SFO, with its 750 feet separation is using SIOA/PRM (simultaneous offset instrument approach). Under VMC with visual clearance, you can perform non-SIOA operations, but speeds should be adjusted to not pass the aircraft on approach to the other runway.

Wake vortex considerations are significant below separation of 2500 feet.