View Full Version : Landing direction at Heathrow
At the moment, Heathrow is on easterlies with the wind in METAR described as "Wind 4 kt from the South/Southwest, varying between South/Southeast and West/Southwest."
I thought Heathrow chose westerlies if the wind was less than 5 kts from the east. Is that no longer the case?
dixi188
12th Mar 2016, 18:00
It's been a few years now, but I thought it was Easterlies with up to 5kts wind from the west.
I think to balance noise nuisance.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR
12th Mar 2016, 18:28
Preferential is westerlies is the norm. ATC often discuss the wind with forecasters and it is quite difficult to be absolutely accurate with the very slack gradient at the moment. It's now 19.25z and they are currently on westerlies with a wind of 3401/01.
The other point is that it takes a long time to switch runways and with the delays following fog it might have been considered prudent to stay on easterlies despite the wind.