Vacate Taxiway Alpha!

[OLNEY2d]

I was PAX recently on an A319 inbound to T1 at EGLL arriving on 27L - nothing too striking about that...

However I was slightly taken aback after we made what can only be described as a Very Short Field arrival and vacated onto Taxiway Alpha (formerly r/w 23).

It wasn't a particulalrly uncomfortable experience, bags of reverse, but certainly no face-dislodging braking. On consulting an A319 driver on another thread, he or she reckoned it was probably the result of a 'stonking headwind' or 'ducking the glide'

Was just wondering if anyone out there who works EGLL could comment - how frequent vacating onto Alpha is? and what a/c types can pull it off? and any other observations?...

[Gonzo]

With a strong headwind most short haul a/c can make it. I've seen it done many times.

I even saw a 747-400 do it once, being ferried over from EGFF.

[747-436]

In late 2002 I was on a BA 757 inbound to Terminal 4 landing on 27L, we came off the runway on the old RW23 at what is now S4 I believe.

It was a bit of a struggle to stay in the seat with the force of braking that was used!!! Lap belts aren't the best for that!

Sitting by the window on the left hand side of the aircraft I saw the reason why we came off so quickly, a 747-400 was just about to touch down after we had vacated.

Would be impressive seeing a 747-400 do that!

[Gonzo]

I've seen another 744, also from Cardiff, vacate 27R at what is now A6. Maybe it was the same handling pilot!