Approach to Stansted. Is this really how they do it.....

[Mr.Kite]

I know how much PPruners appreciate good quality journalism so I thought you might appreciate this, seemingly serious, report from our local paper....

Wednesday June 15 2011
WALDEN LOCAL
Pilots use church spire to
line up airport approach

AVISIT TO THAXTED will be the highlight of the
annual Runway Ramble being held by Stop Stansted
Expansion on Saturday June 25 between 10.30am
and 2.30pm.
The five mile circular walk, organised for the campaign
group by footpaths expert Stuart Walker, will

start from the centre of Duton Hill and continue along

part of the Harcamlow Way to the Thaxted Windmill
and Church before returning past the Guildhall and
along a different country path back to the starting point.
There is no charge to take part in the walk, the purpose
of which is to remind people of the need for long
term security against the expansion threat. Thaxted is
already very badly overflown by aircraft heading for
Stansted, with many pilots coming from the north
east lining up their
approach to the runway
six miles further on using the church spire.




Hopefully it is a bit more technical than that!:)

[pabely]

If there are that many visual approaches and not ILS then they have no worries, traffic levels have dropped significantly :uhoh:

[First.officer]

...it is slightly more technical.....as well as turning right at the church spire, you also have to keep yourself to the left of Mr Brown's house and the pie shop over the road......and then you can start to descend when you fly over the green field with the tree in the middle......if you reach the the village of London then you've gone too far, in which case a missed approach must be carried out -which is a very awkward one involving turning right at the Shell garage and going back to the church spire.

Don't you just love journalism sometimes.......?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I've always wondered how pilots find their way around... now I know!

[jackieofalltrades]

More importantly, is that pie shop any good?!

[Wycombe]

I've always wondered how pilots find their way around... now I know!

LOL - everyone who flies also knows that IFR stands for "I Follow Roads"

Joking aside, what a piece of rubbish journalism - what's even more worrying is that people who know no better will read it and believe it.

[Nicholas49]

First.Officer - thanks for that. Made me laugh.

[Opsbeatch]

Small amount of truth in this...when lined up on that specific runway it's always a good visual point to confirm you are where you think you are. Sometimes the old ways are there to back up the new ways...

...now, about this pie shop...

OB

[chevvron]

Yes visual refernces are essential. I was on my way back from Gib, where I'd made friends with a young lady whilst on holiday. I had scrounged a flight deck visit, and I asked if she could go forward too. As we stood looking out the front, the Channel Islands came into view, and the two flight crew were debating which one was which. Eventually they called the stewardess forward and asked her if she knew what Jersey looked like. When she confirmed the island in question was Jersey, the captain said 'ah we are on course then'.
As we returned to our seats, my new girlfriend said 'they were joking just then weren't they?'

[DX Wombat]

everyone who flies also knows that IFR stands for "I Follow Roads"
It also stands for "I follow rivers" and "I follow railways". :ok:

[Guest 112233]

I swear blind that a local pub is the reference point for finals on 05 for VFR approaches - Now about that pie shop

CAT III

[EEngr]

everyone who flies also knows that IFR stands for "I Follow Roads"

It also stands for "I follow rivers" and "I follow railways".
OK, now I'm completely lost. Which is it?