Congested Airports

[Don Coyote]

The weather has been glorius for the last few days with CAVOK over most of the UK. Despite this there has still been upto 15-20 minutes holding into Heathrow.

Is Heathrow the most congested airport in world, particularly if it can't cope cope with the traffic in near perfect conditions

[Aluminium Importer]

Don,

Heathrow is not the most congested airport in the world. The London TMA and surrounding area however is the most congested airspace in the world (according to figures published earlier this year).

See the thread in this section entitled:

Pilot/ATC Courses at LATCC (TC)

Arrange to come along on one and begin to understand how the whole ATC system in the SE of England works. Feedback from previous courses is excellent. Hope to see you there!

You will then hopefully understand that in an IFR environment, the same amount of traffic is moved per hour whatever the weather (unless we are in low vis procedures).

The main factor affecting the landing rate is the wind speed and direction along the final approach track and down to the ground. Over the past few days (despite the CAVOK and sun), the wind conditions have been average, and therefore so has the landing rate.

Cheers,

AI



[This message has been edited by Aluminium Importer (edited 25 May 2001).]

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

If you paid really close attention, Don, you'd have noted that the holding takes place mainly in the morning and evening. For goodly periods around midday to mid-afternoon there ain't much going on. It's largely due, apparently, to passengers wanting to travel at those times..

Last Saturday it was mega-quiet..

[12 Scoops]

http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gifNo - Tibbenham in Norfolk is the most congested airlield at the moment, they're holding a gliding competition at the moment, have you ever seen 60 gliders all wanting to get airborne at the same time? http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif

[Norfolk and airspeed]

It must be interesting when those gliders all want to land. What do you do - put them in the hold for 45 minutes http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif ?

[This message has been edited by Norfolk and airspeed (edited 28 May 2001).]