RECENT NEW ACTIVITY @ LHR

[BRISTOLRE]

Thought it might be useful to summarise the new/different/interesting non home based airline activity at LHR which has/is going on at present since the Covid crisis got going here.
Some of these are one offs and others seem to be more regular.

DHL - A330F regular increased capacity in addition to usual A306F
CHINA SOUTHERN - A380 weekly (Weds?) was in last night
TAM - today A350 PR-XTM is in on what appears a special charter or cargo flight from GRU, surely a first time for LHR LATAM A350? Not sure what time departs
LOGANAIR - ATR/SF340 IOM route moved over from LCY presumed to be temporary
ISRAIR - A319/A320 is this covering for the Elal schedule evening TLV-LHR-TLV?
UNITED 787-10, seems to be in daily on EWR-LHR-EWR is this permanent schedule or consolidation of the former B763/B772 flights?
CATHAY A350-1000 now seems more regular on a daily HKG-LHR-HKG

Anyone noted any others?

[highwideandugly]

Cyprus Airways A320

[SpringHeeledJack]

BA IOM-LHR mini prop job

[DaveReidUK]

BA IOM-LHR mini prop job

That's the above-mentioned Loganair ATR, I believe it's on lease to CityFlyer Express to operate the BA3255-3258 LHR/IOM.

[trident3A]

There was an Alitalia A330 in a few days ago plus Airbridge cargo 744

[SpringHeeledJack]

There was an Alitalia A330 in a few days ago

About a week ago there were 2 A330's of Alitalia within an hour of each other doing the FCO-LHR route. There was one each day before that, or so it seemed. Perhaps mopping up lost souls of the UK sort to bring them home ?

[Speedbird1T]

RJ A310, Iberia A350 and Amerijet B767 today

[trident3A]

Cargo RJ A310's
Saw one of those, always nice to see an A300/310 - getting rare these days

[highwideandugly]

Air Cairo A320 now..

[Speedbird1T]

quality over quantity now....

[SpringHeeledJack]

Saw one of those, always nice to see an A300/310 - getting rare these days

RJ had a freighter A310 in earlier this week. At the moment there are so many A300's of DHL, it's almost like the 80's again :-)

[trident3A]

Air Cairo A320 now..
Just departed 09R back home

[Airbubba]

Saw one of those, always nice to see an A300/310 - getting rare these days

No shortage of A306 freighters in the U.S. at 0235Z this morning.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1540x849/a306_2_5dc7cfae813e7283be025cdf90314f8d87feac27.jpg

[mmeteesside]

DHL I believe have added 3 weekly LHR-CVG flights on long haul network temporarily (as well as extra EMA-CVG) - usually operated by A330 but Amerijet 767 covered it yesterday.

[DaveReidUK]

A quick-and-dirty analysis of what's been into LHR during the past week, where the airline in question didn't use that type to LHR in the first week of March (or didn't operate to LHR at all) brings up the following:

ABW B744
AFL B77W
AJT B763
AWC A318
AZA A332
BCS A332
CCA A332
CES B77W
CFE AT45
CPA A35K
CSN A388
CSN B77W
CYP A319
ETD B77L
ETH B788
ETH B789
HFM A319
ICE B738
IRA A332
ISR A320
JAL B789
KZR A21N
MEA A332
MGX E195
MSC A320
MSR B789
PVG B763
QTR B77L
RJA A310
SAA A346
SIA A359
SVA B789
SWR A20N
TAP E195
UAE B77W
UAL B78X

A few of the above may be due simply to the Summer schedule change, but most are a result of ad-hoc, repatriation and other non-standard flights.

[turbidus]

Seems like the A380-F would be better than scrapping them....the volume alone seems to be worth it...yes, you max out weight before volume, but there are many, many light weight/high volume loads out there...

[BRISTOLRE]

There was an Alitalia A330 in a few days ago plus Airbridge cargo 744

Yes I forgot the AZ A330, that's been daily doing FCO-LHR-FCO for a while now.
Seems TAM A350 is leaving LHR 1700hrs tomorrow to position over to CDG then operate the usual CDG-GRU flight Friday evening

[BRISTOLRE]

Amerijet doing a LHR-CVG now, amazingly rare. I notice CARGOJET are doing regular flights to EMA and BRU/FRA with a B763F as well. This seems to be daily occurrence also

[mmeteesside]

Amerijet doing a LHR-CVG now, amazingly rare. I notice CARGOJET are doing regular flights to EMA and BRU/FRA with a B763F as well. This seems to be daily occurrence also
EMA have had all sorts on DHL's CVG route in the last few weeks, hired in temporarily for this Covid19 period... Kalitta, Polar, Cargojet, Amerijet 767's and seem to have picked up a regular Kalitta 744F on a Sunday morning that drops in also. Believe there is two flights a day both ways. LHR added to the CVG network temporarily too, Amerijet covered it yesterday but it's generally been an A330.

[Jetstroker]

Evelop A330

[trident3A]

RwandAir A330 Heathrow-Kigali today - new one on me

[BRISTOLRE]

RwandAir A330 Heathrow-Kigali today - new one on me
this is normally a LGW operation via BRU but hasn't LGW virtually shut down? A lot of ops are converging on LHR for the cargo connections also.

today, a Spanish A330 pax flying LAX-LHR arriving this morning EC-MII - must be a repatriation flight also was a Miami Air B737-8 that flex MIA-YQX-EMA yesterday evening- very interesting could be a pax or mx flight to EMA? Very interesting as this one was new to Varig originally.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I was on another flight at the next gate to the Rwandair A330 a couple of months back, got all excited until it was pointed out that it was an LGW regular. As mentioned, due to LGW on very reduced ops, LHR is the choice.

[Fly.Buy]

It will be interesting if Loganair use the SF340 into LHR, must be the smallest type in operation into this airport for quite a while. Will be good to see props mixed up with the big jets.

[Sunshade]

Noticed over the last few days BA 777's operating under BA911* flight numbers, seems mostly to India and Pakistan. Not showing up on Heathrow website departures/arrivals, any ideas ?

[treadigraph]

Perhaps "rescue" flights to bring back stranded UK citizens?

[SpringHeeledJack]

Talking of flight numbers, whilst looking at various flights at various times these last weeks, I've noticed that there seems to be a reasonable proportion of them flying between point 'A' and 'B', but the flight tracker lists them as from/to other airports completely different to the route shown. These aren't 4-digit special flights btw.

Is it that flight numbers have been re-allocated and the system still has them in the previous iteration ?

[trident3A]

Back on 09L departures today, it does seem a little busier too

[DaveReidUK]

Talking of flight numbers, whilst looking at various flights at various times these last weeks, I've noticed that there seems to be a reasonable proportion of them flying between point 'A' and 'B', but the flight tracker lists them as from/to other airports completely different to the route shown. These aren't 4-digit special flights btw.

Is it that flight numbers have been re-allocated and the system still has them in the previous iteration ?

Yes.

The flight trackers always struggle in April and November of every year, when the airlines switch between Summer and Winter schedules.

The reason is that, while the trackers pick up the ATC callsign for a flight, the route is derived by converting the callsign into the IATA flight number. That works fine for airlines that use wholly numeric callsigns (for example US carriers), but most major European carriers use alphanumeric callsigns which typically change every season for a given flight number. To make matters worse, the new alphanumeric callsign for a particular flight number may have been used in the past for a completely different flight, so the conversion that the flight trackers are using may be out-of-date.

For example, Lufthansa has used DLH1LA in the past for LH3383 (Heathrow-Dusseldorf) and then subsequently for LH2477 (Heathrow-Munich).

[SpringHeeledJack]

Thanks for the very detailed explanation Dave. I've also noted this with cargo flights as well, but thought that that might be down to the last minute changes required presently with cargo flights.

[DaveReidUK]

Back on 09L departures today, it does seem a little busier too

Yesterday was Heathrow's busiest day (using the term loosely) for the last couple of weeks, with 188 movements, albeit still only about 15% of the number on a "normal" Sunday.

[trident3A]

Another Alitalia A330 doing FCO->LHR today!

[SpringHeeledJack]

I have noticed over the last weeks that the DHL aircraft seem to be at 3 times the altitude of similar departing passenger flights at the same relatively close to LHR point. Is this because they are much lighter, as in 'inbound full, outbound empty' ?

[Teaboy24]

Ethiopian B.737-800 due next hour. ET-AQO just passing Paris.

[SpringHeeledJack]

That's an interesting flight. Perhaps it's empty (cargo only) to be able to make the flight without a fuel stop in-between ?

[treadigraph]

See there was a China Southern A380 B-6319 at Heathrow tonight - didn't realise they had them, was this a first visit?

[DaveReidUK]

See there was a China Southern A380 B-6319 at Heathrow tonight - didn't realise they had them, was this a first visit?

There was a (different) CSN A388 on Wednesday of last week too, departed Thursday evening. I don't know whether it's an ad-hoc substitution for the B789 or a regular weekly thing.

[Big Eric]

Last week's flight arrived with only a handful of passengers and huge amounts of PPE which was not only in the hold, but on the seats and overhead bins. The boxes on the seats are held down with netting to stop it moving in case of turbulence. Some other flights are also doing this including a BA 777 from Singapore on Wednesday of this week.

[treadigraph]

Good stuff, thank chaps!

[trident3A]

Finnair A319 just departed 09L and flew over London on the runway heading. I've seen a few of these departures recently - I wondered in what circumstances do they ignore the SIDs?

[DaveReidUK]

Finnair A319 just departed 09L and flew over London on the runway heading. I've seen a few of these departures recently - I wondered in what circumstances do they ignore the SIDs?

Good question. According to Heathrow's WebTrak, AY1332 was nominally on a BPK5K, which would involve a left turn onto 050 when more-or-less over the upwind end of 09L. Instead, it maintained the runway heading until roughly overhead Kew before turning northeast.

I'm not aware of any dispensations being granted, so technically it would be classed as off-track. That said, before it turned it was already at 6,000' so it must have been pretty light.

[kcockayne]

What is the point of sticking to SIDS - structured to apply appropriate separation on departure - when there is little traffic (in comparison to normal) to separate from ? In these circumstances, I would have abandoned SIDS in periods of continuing low levels of traffic. But, I didn’t work at EGLL !

[DaveReidUK]

What is the point of sticking to SIDS - structured to apply appropriate separation on departure - when there is little traffic (in comparison to normal) to separate from ?

The first part of the SID is also designated by the Government as the centreline of the Noise Preferential Route (NPR), which airlines are obliged to follow, designed to avoid overflight of built-up areas where possible.

That Finnair was indeed recognised as being "off-track", as can be seen from the highlight on the WebTrak plot:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/368x473/ay1332_20200424_e1142939171f8cae797661807505d8d2d9bb7ab9.jpg

I don't see what lack of traffic has got to do with not following the NPR.

[trident3A]

A Dublin flight did the same thing shortly afterwards. I just wondered how it works, do they acknowledge a BPK clearance for instance but just amend it before take off on the basis that there’s no other traffic and they can comply with noise restrictions.

[trident3A]

Maybe it’s to route them clear of other priority traffic

[kcockayne]

The first part of the SID is also designated by the Government as the centreline of the Noise Preferential Route (NPR), which airlines are obliged to follow, designed to avoid overflight of built-up areas where possible.

That Finnair was indeed recognised as being "off-track", as can be seen from the highlight on the WebTrak plot:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/368x473/ay1332_20200424_e1142939171f8cae797661807505d8d2d9bb7ab9.jpg

I don't see what lack of traffic has got to do with not following the NPR.
Well, that’s why I made the point that I didn’t work at EGLL - so I did not have a full appreciation of the NPR requirements there. The SIDS where I did work, EGJJ, were not , as far as I can remember, mandatory as a required route if there was no traffic to separate from. As I remember it, we were at liberty not to use the SIDS should we require it (although, it was probably less hassle to stick with the SIDS - even if they were not strictly necessary). Anyway, thanks for setting me straight. I guess that once the a/c concerned in these instances had gained sufficient altitude so as not to exceed noise requirements, they were able to take a more expeditious route.

[DaveReidUK]

Well, that’s why I made the point that I didn’t work at EGLL - so I did not have a full appreciation of the NPR requirements there. The SIDS where I did work, EGJJ, were not , as far as I can remember, mandatory as a required route if there was no traffic to separate from. As I remember it, we were at liberty not to use the SIDS should we require it (although, it was probably less hassle to stick with the SIDS - even if they were not strictly necessary). Anyway, thanks for setting me straight. I guess that once the a/c concerned in these instances had gained sufficient altitude so as not to exceed noise requirements, they were able to take a more expeditious route.

Yes, NPRs only apply at the three London Government-designated airports: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. In addition, they only apply to aircraft below 4000' AAL, after which ATC are free to vector them where desired. The Finnair was at about 2200' when it left the NPR, so maybe just a misjudgement by ATC ?

[treadigraph]

Cargologicair 747 G-CLAA just departed Heathrow - another unusual visitor?

[DaveReidUK]

Cargologicair 747 G-CLAA just departed Heathrow - another unusual visitor?

They had a couple of weekly schedules to LHR throughout most of 2017, but have been much rarer since then.

UK clears CargoLogicAir to resume freight flights (https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/uk-clears-cargologicair-to-resume-freight-flights/138020.article)

[SpringHeeledJack]

Was there a smallish prop-job in Heathrow yesterday ? Friend said they saw a 'greyish' overwing 2 propeller aircraft sometime in the morning.

[DaveReidUK]

Was there a smallish prop-job in Heathrow yesterday ? Friend said they saw a 'greyish' overwing 2 propeller aircraft sometime in the morning.

I'd say that was a pretty reasonable description:


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x408/plf_c295_018_b88645023c091f22dc6e634bc77ad5b922d6539c.jpg

Polish Air Force CASA C-295M military transport.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/739309/018-polish-air-force-casa-c-295m

[Musket90]

Regarding NPRs, maybe an exemption has been given for certain 09L departures as when on single runway and on westerly ops for the whole week the runway alternation does not apply...

[DaveReidUK]

Regarding NPRs, maybe an exemption has been given for certain 09L departures as when on single runway and on westerly ops for the whole week the runway alternation does not apply...

Yes, the only runway alternation that applies at the present time is the weekly swap between the northern and southern runway. The 3pm swap of arrival/departure runways clearly has no relevance currently.

I haven't seen any announcement of an exemption from the requirement to follow the NPRs. On the contrary, Heathrow's coronavirus website, in introducing single-runway operations, gave the following undertaking:

"Q: Will there be new flight paths as a result of this change? A: Our flight paths will be unaffected by this change to our runway operation." (https://www.heathrow.com/company/local-community/noise/operations/runway-alternation)

That said, more than a third of departures yesterday were "off-track" (i.e. radar tracking revealed that they were not following the NPRs).

[treadigraph]

I presume the Polish C-295 has forsaken Biggin Hill for its regular visits at the moment?

[SpringHeeledJack]

What's the story ? Wouldn't it go into Northolt being that it's military ?

[Musket90]

SpringHeeled - Just checked Notams for Northolt and this may explain it.AD OPERATING HOURS 0830-1930 FOR UK MILITARY AND CIVILIAN MEDICAL
FLIGHTS ONLY.

[Musket90]

That said, more than a third of departures yesterday were "off-track" (i.e. radar tracking revealed that they were not following the NPRs).[/QUOTE]

Thanks Dave. It's interesting that some northbound 09L departures are off the NPR track. ATC are permitted to deviate from the NPR above 4000ft but webtrack indicates they are below this altitude when continuing beyond the point where they should have made a left turn. .

[treadigraph]

Polish AF C-295s have been regulars several times a week at Biggin for several years. I assumed it was the Embassy run but I have been led to believe they are often returning Polish ne'er-do-wells and fugitives... allegedly!

[DaveReidUK]

Thanks Dave. It's interesting that some northbound 09L departures are off the NPR track. ATC are permitted to deviate from the NPR above 4000ft but webtrack indicates they are below this altitude when continuing beyond the point where they should have made a left turn. .

It's not just the northbound (BPK/ULTIB) departures that are going off-track, some southbound (GASGU) and eastbound (DET) departures are also failing to keep to the NPR as well, and of course track-keeping on the easterly Compton SIDs is always poor.

All of the NPRs only apply below 4000'.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Polish AF C-295s have been regulars several times a week at Biggin for several years. I assumed it was the Embassy run but I have been led to believe they are often returning Polish ne'er-do-wells and fugitives... allegedly!

Wow! That's interesting. It surprises me that a very regular foreign govt aircraft would be using a private London airfield for this purpose and not the military airfield for London. I'm also surprised that there are so many naughty Poles here, as in my experience they are the nicest group of recent immigrants to the UK, generally hard working and pleasant people who seem to want to assimilate for a better quality of life (Not wanting to turn this into a political theme).

[treadigraph]

I think they are fugitives from Polish justice and are being repatriated under the European Arrest Warrant scheme. Most of the Poles I've come across are indeed great people including my neighbour!

Biggin was also used by the Trumpton Air Force last year as Northolt was closed for resurfacing for some months. It's actually owned by Bromley Council - perhaps the cons are held nearby pending repatriation.

[treadigraph]

Heathrow seems quite busy today - just my imagination or is there a bit more activity?

[DaveReidUK]

Heathrow seems quite busy today - just my imagination or is there a bit more activity?

It's neither of those.

Many people will be seeing more (or fewer) aircraft today, not because there has been any change in the number of movements but because, after 10 days of operation on easterlies (using 09L or 09R), the wind changed direction this morning and brought 27s into use (currently 27R, from tomorrow 27L).

So how many aircraft you're seeing is largely a function of where you live.

[treadigraph]

It was more my occasional looks at Flight Tracker, just seemed to be more arrivals/departures. I am getting stuff over the top though which I haven't for a while, had been just a glimpse of 09 outbounds heading for Dover!

[DaveReidUK]

It was more my occasional looks at Flight Tracker, just seemed to be more arrivals/departures. I am getting stuff over the top though which I haven't for a while, had been just a glimpse of 09 outbounds heading for Dover!

It looks like today's arrivals may after all end up nudging 100, so around 10-12 more than recent days. We'll see when the stats come in tomorrow.

[DaveReidUK]

It looks like today's arrivals may after all end up nudging 100, so around 10-12 more than recent days. We'll see when the stats come in tomorrow.

Yesterday's total was indeed exactly 100 landings, so about one extra per hour compared to the previous few days.

[trident3A]

Yesterday's total was indeed exactly 100 landings, so about one extra per hour compared to the previous few days.

Out of interest where do you get the stats from?

[DaveReidUK]

Out of interest where do you get the stats from?

From Heathrow's WebTrak system: https://webtrak.emsbk.com/lhr

[SpringHeeledJack]

In the last hour, by chance I looked up and saw a Nordwind Airlines 777 (Aeroflot sub ??) and a Korean Airlines 777F floating by into LHR

[Gulf4uk]

The nordwind VP-BJP B777 On N4\NWS9410 UUEE-EGLL

[SpringHeeledJack]

I've also noticed that since the start of the restrictions a month ago, there have been daily FA8X flights in and out of LHR. What's that all about ?

[treadigraph]

What time have the Falcons been in/out?

[Musket90]

One departed this evening callsign SHE49D (Shell) reg VQ-BXH looks to be bound for Rotterdam which is Shell aircraft's base. Shell used to operate into Heathrow many years ago when slots were available. Now slots have become available again so maybe it's their preferred choice.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Aaah! Shell....normally based at LCY which is closed to them, so LHR it is! They (2) seemed to leave/arrive both in the morning and evening. The one I saw earlier came from Kuwait, so that would tie in with the oil/gas industry.

[DaveReidUK]

I've also noticed that since the start of the restrictions a month ago, there have been daily FA8X flights in and out of LHR. What's that all about ?

Yesterday's was a FA7X, for a change.

[Musket90]

FR24 this evening showing a couple of Jota RJs arrived from Casablanca then position to their Southend base an hour or so afterwards.

[treadigraph]

Yes, G-JOTR zapped over here a short while ago.

There was a 737-300, 9H-ZAK, popped in to Heathrow last night, saw it about 20.30.

[BRISTOLRE]

Anyone notice yesterday the UZBEK 763 in mid afternoon (usually mid week late evening?) plus the Saudia 787-10 (is this a first for LHR? from this carrier this type?)
Interesting types still continue to flood in.
Seems as a lot of the oddities are becoming regular now like the JAL 789.

Up at Birmingham the MNG A306F seems to be almost a daily flight now. Passed just north of the London area around 2.30pm yesterday afternoon

[SpringHeeledJack]

Nordwind 777 just heading out of LHR

[Gulf4uk]

Showing as VP-BJH B777 NWS This is X Singapore 9V-SVO C\N28533

[Gulf4uk]

Another of the Nordwind 777 this morning to EGLL

5 May2020 VQ-BJA (Nordwind Airlines B777-212ER) EX 9V-SVK On NWS9430 UUEE-EGLL

[BRISTOLRE]

A NORDWIND 773 also into BHX this morning along with a positioning POWD Titan 763 from STN
G-VROS just positioned from LHR-MAN (another VS B744 positioned LGW-MAN last weekend)

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw a strange looking A320 this morning coming out of LHR, and it was a Joon example flying an AF flight from/to CDG. As a subsidiary it must be easy for them to substitute it as and when. Also just seen an Argentinian A330 going in, rather nifty paint job.

[G-ARZG]

Joon was AF's short-lived foray into the LCC arena, only lasted from 2017 to (unhappy coincidence) June 2019. The fleet reverted to AF, but perhaps restoring the AF livery is a low priority

[KelvinD]

I think the Argentinian A330 may have been Spanish. Evelop A330 flew quite close to my house this morning on her way into LHR. Reg was EC-MTY.

[treadigraph]

Aerolineas A330 LV-GHQ landed around 1540.

[KelvinD]

Aerolineas A330 LV-GHQ landed around 1540.
Indeed! And this is no doubt the flight referred to by springheeledjack.
By coincidence, the Argentinian flight just passed overhead my place on it's way back home.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I also noted a Canadian 767 freighter coming in around 5pm, perhaps subbing for DHL, who strangely have been a bit invisible (to me) for the last few days in comparison to the last many weeks when they seemed to be very very regular.

[DaveReidUK]

I also noted a Canadian 767 freighter coming in around 5pm, perhaps subbing for DHL, who strangely have been a bit invisible (to me) for the last few days in comparison to the last many weeks when they seemed to be very very regular.

The Cargojet B763 seems to have taken over from the Amerijet one on the daily CVG/LHR rotation.

[pax britanica]

Sort of LHR and General area comment

Looking at Fr 24 yesterday it showed an RAF C17 LHR to Brize which i thought must have excited some people lucky enough to see it. On closer inspection it was actuall y Northolt to Brize which i believe is not that uncommon. Just shows that FR 24 has its oddities in many aspects of its service. presumably Northolt is so close to LHR and uses LHR Approach was the reason. Didnt seem to get above 2500 ft which must have been entertaining for those below it .

I am getting a bit bored with the empty skies above me in Camberley- a few LHR inbounds a fee Mil Helis (including the inevitable Chinooks up and down the M3 making everything vibrate for miles around) seem to still be movements in and out of FNB no doubt reinforcing the fact that there really is one law for the rich etc. I had a moments hope today around 10390 ish when i was sure I heard a merlin spit or hurricane transiting to from a VE day flypast but sadly couldnt see it.



PB

[Gulf4uk]

Spitfiire was G-ILDA Departed Goodwood and flew around .over london ,

[SpringHeeledJack]

Canadian 767 freighter and Vamos A330 just gone in one after the other.

[Gulf4uk]

just notuced the wamos air On the log

EC-LNH PLM344 LGAV - EGLL

C-GVIJ (Boeing 767 - MSN 27212) KSVG-EGLL CargoJet Not one ive heard of before

[DaveReidUK]

C-GVIJ (Boeing 767 - MSN 27212) KCVG-EGLL CargoJet Not one ive heard of before

See post #88.

[Gulf4uk]

The Nordwind NWS B777 this morning VP-BJG NWS9443 UUEE-EGLL.

[KelvinD]

I was surprised top see a pair of BA flights inbound from JFK following each other. BA114 (G-YMML) passed near my house at 08:07, followed by BA172 (G-YMMI) 7 or 8 ,minutes later. During this period, it has become quite common to see early morning trans Atlantic traffic arriving on what seems to be the reciprocal of the usual outbound route, via Basingstoke and Southampton. Oh, and G-VLUX was not too far behind these, also from JFK.

[KelvinD]

They come in pairs!
A couple of minutes ago, 2 BA 777s flew overhear JFK-LHR, just 2 minutes behind each other. Ahead of them was a United flight arriving from ORD and behind the BA flights was another United flight ex ORD.
I have to admit, it is nice to hear these flights approaching. It looks as if there will be an American from MIA soon and then... quiet skies for probably the rest of the day!

[wiggy]

Don't know about the two BA777`s, but the VS was a cargo flight (as most VS6xx flight nrs seem to be these days). Info courtesy 'thevssource.com'

Almost all (if not) the BA flights now are "Freighters", even from JFK.

[treadigraph]

Bamboo Airways 787 VN-A818 just left Heathrow for Ho Chi Minh City - never heard of them before...

[DaveReidUK]

Bamboo Airways 787 VN-A818 just left Heathrow for Ho Chi Minh City - never heard of them before...

I must admit I was bamboozled too.

[treadigraph]

They may panda to a new class of customer...

[BRISTOLRE]

I must admit I was bamboozled too.
that was an interesting one, are they any relation to Vietnam Airlines? Will we see this one in LHR again I wonder?
VN just started brining their A350 on resumed flights but I see a 789 was back in the other day The numbering sequence of the Bamboo Dreamliner isn't far off the VN airlines 789s.

[BRISTOLRE]

Seems to be an increase in joined up services which might make sense.
I see last night PT-MUF of LATAM operated a flight FRA-LHR-GRU wonder if it operated in bound like this also?
The Koreans seem to be doing a LHR-CDG-SEL as well I suppose with low volumes these "stoppers" might become more regular.
LATAM A350 the other week did 2x LHR-CDG-GRU

[DaveReidUK]

that was an interesting one, are they any relation to Vietnam Airlines? Will we see this one in LHR again I wonder?
VN just started brining their A350 on resumed flights but I see a 789 was back in the other day The numbering sequence of the Bamboo Dreamliner isn't far off the VN airlines 789s.

I think the registration is simply in a sequence that Vietnam uses for all civil airliners. It's used by all the airlines: Air Vietnam, Bamboo (no connection with VN, they are a subsidiary of a construction company), VietJetAir, JetStar Pacific, etc.

[Fly747]

319 leaving LHR now for CHR. Going to pick up a 380 or another one for the park? Strange times.

[trident3A]

Pretty busy this morning!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x1136/73add045_260e_46d5_95d3_e03c0229869a_40c6ac32ca1c956a9446ef7 cf89321a95a59d7a8.png

[Gulf4uk]

14/05/2020

VQ-BXD shell FA8X In this morning

[treadigraph]

Vitenam Airlines A350 VN-A899 in today and just climbed out past me, is that a first visit? I've only noticed the 787s on the trackers before.

[SpringHeeledJack]

It was the 1st visit of this particular airframe apparently.

The Chateauroux A319 is just skimming past Surrey on it's way back into LHR.

[DaveReidUK]

It was the 1st visit of this particular airframe apparently.

While I have no personal interest in what registration marks are worn by a particular aircraft, those that do care are enjoying the fact that, despite the greatly reduced number of movements, Heathrow is currently getting a higher-than-usual average of 2-3 aircraft per day that have never visited before.

[SpringHeeledJack]

A thought came to me yesterday evening and it was this...If 90% of the long-haul (perhaps SH also) flights are cargo flights and the cabin is full of cargo, how are they unloaded at LHR. I'm assuming that they park at the gates at the various terminals, so underbelly containers would come out as normal, but how about the large cabin loads ? Airbridge seems too complicated, perhaps a catering truck with telescopic capabilities ? Whichever, it must be very labour-intensive.

Also, I caught the Air China 747 coming into LHR yesterday afternoon. I haven't seen one of those in a good while, or at least it seems that way.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

My guess is that they would park on remote stands and the cargo off loaded from there.
I noticed that Delta are going to reintroduce some pax flights because of the need to carry cargo.

[BRISTOLRE]

Anyone clock N700KW today at LHR (G-BNWP as was) ex BA B767-336ER going Houston - LHR then what appears quick turnaround then towards Lagos/Nigeria direction.
Last time any of these fine machines were over here was the Thomas cook repriations to/from LGW and GLA. Great to be back on its home patch albeit a brief stop.

Cargojet B763F was in again today.
Massive amount of China Airlines, Capital Airlines and Hainan A330s in on recent days.
Cargologic appears to have resumed flights again to/from LHR, yesterday B744F G-CLAA was in.
Vietnam A359 seems almost daily now often in addition to the B789.
Alitalia B772 was in last night in addition to the A330 from FCO

A (G-TUIx) TUI Dreamliner was in late last week doing a repatriation flight from Ecuador (GYE) clearly a one off.

SAS NEO SE-ROY making appearances at LHR, very smart new livery.

[treadigraph]

SkyUp 737 UR-SQP just thundered over me, outbound Heathrow... Another carrier I'd never heard of.

[champair79]

A thought came to me yesterday evening and it was this...If 90% of the long-haul (perhaps SH also) flights are cargo flights and the cabin is full of cargo, how are they unloaded at LHR. I'm assuming that they park at the gates at the various terminals, so underbelly containers would come out as normal, but how about the large cabin loads ? Airbridge seems too complicated, perhaps a catering truck with telescopic capabilities ? Whichever, it must be very labour-intensive.

They’re using DHL/Do&Co trucks to help out. Yes it is very labour intensive. This is balanced out by not having many flights to cater and plenty of spare rampies.

Tomorrow, the CHR A319 will do LHR-CHR, drop off the A380 engineers, then go to TLS to drop off 2 A350 pilots, then go back to CHR to pick up the engineers and ferry them back to LHR. A brand new A350 (G-XWBF) will follow to LHR from TLS on a delivery flight.

champ

[DaveReidUK]

Tomorrow, the CHR A319 will do LHR-CHR, drop off the A380 engineers, then go to TLS to drop off 2 A350 pilots, then go back to CHR to pick up the engineers and ferry them back to LHR. A brand new A350 (G-XWBF) will follow to LHR from TLS on a delivery flight.

Interesting - the day trips to Déols for the past couple of weeks have been on Thursdays. Presumably this week's has been brought forward a day to facilitate the A350 delivery.

[SpringHeeledJack]

They’re using DHL/Do&Co trucks to help out. Yes it is very labour intensive. This is balanced out by not having many flights to cater and plenty of spare rampies.

Thanks champair79 for that information. Do you know if they use trolleys in the cabin to move the cargo ? Those seats, especially in Business and First are very expensive and there has to be incidental damage to them by the nature of loading/unloading, or are the rampies schooled in the art of gentle movement ? ;-)

[treadigraph]

Interesting - the day trips to Déols for the past couple of weeks have been on Thursdays. Presumably this week's has been brought forward a day to facilitate the A350 delivery.

See the new A350 is enroute and just abeam St Malo as I type. G-XWBB and XWBE are both currently stored according to Planespotter.

Their first 787-10 G-ZBLA has also been flown, wonder when that will be delivered.

The latest Wonderbus just flew past...

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x320/p5200135_2__bbd9892e3f7e54c40032c15bdbec4284649bcd39.jpg

[DaveReidUK]

Their first 787-10 G-ZBLA has also been flown, wonder when that will be delivered.

I believe it's due tomorrow morning.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Another A380 of China Southern came in after a few other 'new normal' arrivals late afternoon. I don't suppose that we'll see too many more of this type at LHR in the next few years as things are going.

It must be quite galling for the furloughed crew/employees of BA to see brand new aircraft being delivered to the fleet (even if ordered some time ago).

[BRISTOLRE]

I believe it's due tomorrow morning.
word on the street on ZBLA is either 8z or 8am local arriving LHR SUNDAY MORNING ferrying CHS-LHR

[treadigraph]

Titan's ex BA A319 G-EUNB is in this morning.

Edit: in fact it's just taken off...

[trident3A]

Azur air B767-300 today - not seen them before. Saw the Alitalia B777 yesterday too - lots of interesting movements of late

[G-ARZG]

Titan's ex BA A319 G-EUNB is in this morning.

Edit: in fact it's just taken off...

To Lagos.... lucky them!
​​​

[treadigraph]

And of course G-EUNB is an A318 - I stretched things a bit there! Or rather errant fingers did...

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw a 757 this morning, (That wasn't a DHL!) and on looking it up it was a SCAT airlines (No Sh1t!) and had come from Almaty. Never heard of them before I must say, and certainly not that they were Kazakstani.

[treadigraph]

Citation X D-BEAR just left Heathrow over the top here - "my, Grandma, what big engines you have!"

[DaveReidUK]

Citation X D-BEAR just left Heathrow over the top here - "my, Grandma, what big engines you have!"

Sadly, the German aircraft register rules won't permit a D-WOLF :O

[deltahotel]

Our German sister airline has D-ALEK. Which they probably don’t understand.

[treadigraph]

I was going to translate the Dalek's rather limited vocabulary, then realised it would be a bit inappropriate... :(

[SpringHeeledJack]

A Privilege Style 767 went by earlier today into LHR, perhaps another repatriation charter from the USA or South America ?

[DaveReidUK]

A Privilege Style 767 went by earlier today into LHR, perhaps another repatriation charter from the USA or South America ?

Arrived from SYCJ (Georgetown, Guyana).

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw a BA 747 going by yesterday into LHR from Capetown. A veritable rarity these days.

[Gulf4uk]

Sitting in garden most of day its Surpising what goes by high Level . very few Heathrow departures though . Farnborough busy this tuesday morning With netjets and An A319CJ D-APGS Arrival

[treadigraph]

Not a rarity but a nice low fly past by a Virgin A350 this morning, about 4000' - usually more like 6000' over mine except for go arounds.

[Gulf4uk]

Not a rarity but a nice low fly past by a Virgin A350 this morning, about 4000' - usually more like 6000' over mine except for go arounds.

The way things are going we are going to see plenty of empty skies come June PAX 2 week curfew on arrival

[SpringHeeledJack]

AZUR Air anyone ? Can't say I've seen them before, certainly not at London Heathrow. A 767-400 of their's went by earlier today.

The way things are going we are going to see plenty of empty skies come June PAX 2 week curfew on arrival

I suppose all the cargo only flights will continue as before, so at least the sky won't be so empty as you might think :-)

[DaveReidUK]

Sunday saw just over 250 movements - exactly 8 weeks since the last time that number was exceeded.

[DaveReidUK]

AZUR Air anyone ? Can't say I've seen them before, certainly not at London Heathrow. A 767-400 of their's went by earlier today.

It was a former LATAM Chile/Air Canada/Aeromexico 767-300ER. I'm pretty sure only United and Delta fly the B764.

[treadigraph]

Definitely quiet at the minute - looks like a Swiss A330 due within the hour, have those been in before during the pandemic? I've noticed the more usual Swiss traffic.

[treadigraph]

I'm pretty sure only United and Delta fly the B764.

And the Bahrain Royal Flight apparently!

[G-ARZG]

And the Bahrain Royal Flight apparently!

The Bahraini 764 is an odd bird, built as prototype for the Northrop Grumman E-10A project, in the hope of replacing RC-135, E-4 and E-8 platforms.
​​
'Every day is a school day!'

[treadigraph]

Certainly is!

[SpringHeeledJack]

Yes, my mistake, it was a -300, I flew on a -400 of Delta recently (nice experience). I think the wingtips made me think it was the latter. The Swiss A330 just went by, I personally haven't seen one of these in the last months coming in to LHR, just the A319 and the A220 (or whatever it's called). I thought Swiss had sent all their large-gauge stuff to Jordan ?

[Hartington]

Seems silly to start a new thread even if this isn't about Heathrow.

According to FR24 9H-NHS A340-600 just went past me near Yeovil at about 10,000 ft. It's in a NHS livery and seems to have been shuttling between Cardiff and Bournemouth for a couple of days (maybe longer?). Anyone know why? Today was the first time I managed to eyeball it!

[treadigraph]

I've seen it climbing out of Bournemouth heading towards Clacton a couple of times in the last fortnight - assume it was heading to the Far East to collect PPE or whatever but can't imagine it's then distributing the kit over to Wales. Crew training perhaps?

[treadigraph]

Second A340 in NHS scheme 9H-EAL just returning to Bournemouth from Tianjin - just sailed over me at 12000....

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw that as well, thought I was seeing things! Where have all the other ex-VS A346's gone ? Scrap ? Storage ?

There can't be much space left at BOH for any large aircraft to manoeuvre with all the BA aircraft stored there on taxiways etc ??

[SpringHeeledJack]

A Swiss A340-300 went past out of LHR after 7pm. Rather large gauge for the route, but perhaps it's more for the cargo than the passengers.

[Hartington]

Back when Swiss were Swissair the first flight in from Zurich was a DC-10. Swiss switched to an A330. It was always full coming into London (lots of "bankers"). Going back it rarely filled so you could get on easily with a standby/staff ticket.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw a strange looking small aircraft on the way in to LHR earlier, turns out it was a PC-24 Bizjet.

[treadigraph]

They are observing social distancing on the approach this morning, Alitalia A330 has done a nice big run down from Biggin towards Epsom, then back round Bromley to position about 8 miles behind the preceding BA 787!

DaveReidUK, do you know how many daily movements there are now?

[SpringHeeledJack]

Perhaps the BA 787 has put on weight in the lockdown and now has some serious wake issues ?

[Gulf4uk]

I saw a strange looking small aircraft on the way in to LHR earlier, turns out it was a PC-24 Bizjet.


SP-AGA Pilatus PC-24 Has departed again

[DaveReidUK]

They are observing social distancing on the approach this morning, Alitalia A330 has done a nice big run down from Biggin towards Epsom, then back round Bromley to position about 8 miles behind the preceding BA 787!

DaveReidUK, do you know how many daily movements there are now?

233 yesterday.

[treadigraph]

Aeroflot A350 in today? News to me that they have them!

[SpringHeeledJack]

News to me as well. Strange that they'd use it to LHR and not on the USA or Asia routes.

[Gulf4uk]

information and picture here https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/02/aeroflot-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a350900.html

[champair79]

News to me as well. Strange that they'd use it to LHR and not on the USA or Asia routes.

Could be for repatriations (they need the pax capacity) or more than likely its for cargo reasons. BA operates a twice weekly 787 freighter service to DME for that very reason (and yes, I know it used to fly to DME anyway pre-COVID but that was more for the product offering).

champ

[SpringHeeledJack]

An RAF A400 droned over London earlier this morning, climbing out of Gatwick heading towards Humberside International Airport of all places!

[trident3A]

An RAF A400 droned over London earlier this morning, climbing out of Gatwick heading towards Humberside International Airport of all places!
Heard one the other day, can't mistake the sound!

[treadigraph]

I was walking up the hill and heard it passing over Biggin Hill...

[SpringHeeledJack]

KLM had a B777 in this morning to LHR, I haven't seen one of those before on the KL1007 flight.

[SpringHeeledJack]

An 'Air Tanker Ltd' A330 heading out of LHR. I wonder if it's got a cabin or just a freight hold ?

[DaveReidUK]

An 'Air Tanker Ltd' A330 heading out of LHR. I wonder if it's got a cabin or just a freight hold ?

Off to Dammam in Saudi. These days it's operated by/for Titan when it's not busy Voyaging.

[trident3A]

An Alitalia A321 just departed 09R and flew straight out over London

[DaveReidUK]

An Alitalia A321 just departed 09R and flew straight out over London

Some very odd departure flight tracks today. BA117F to JFK off 09R climbed straight ahead as far as Putney before starting its RH turn towards Compton.

The usual reasons for flights being so markedly off-track are either weather (e.g. storms) or conflicting traffic (for example police helicopter operations). It will be interesting to see the reason for today's infringements.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I noticed this too, very unusual. In fact I've never seen this before! Perhaps there was a fire at one of the industrial units just east of Heathrow, somewhere in Feltham ?

[trident3A]

Seen a few of these straight out departures while things have been quiet, but yeah most unusual

[SpringHeeledJack]

The usual reasons for flights being so markedly off-track are either weather (e.g. storms) or conflicting traffic (for example police helicopter operations). It will be interesting to see the reason for today's infringements.

Any updates ? My curiosity is, well........curious! :-)

Just saw a Vistajet Bizjet go by into LHR. Are these all LCY refugees, or simply customers to whom the landing/handling fees are immaterial ?

[TheFrenchConnection]

Seen a few of these straight out departures while things have been quiet, but yeah most unusual

There have been some strange survey aircraft types , around , very close to LHR this week , different types , different days , bothered to take a screen shot Tuesday ? Yesterday survey was close to East LHR.
Maybe this TFC
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1680x915/bioflight_87510489177bc56cee974c57c6d896f89d957631.jpg
This happening last 2 , 3 days during the day - have not checked today ..

[trident3A]

Yes these survey flights have been going on for weeks, makes a nice change to be honest. The Islander out of Northolt has been droning about over London too in this good weather.

[DaveReidUK]

There have been some strange survey aircraft types , around , very close to LHR this week , different types , different days , bothered to take a screen shot Tuesday ? Yesterday survey was close to East LHR.
Maybe this TFC
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1680x915/bioflight_87510489177bc56cee974c57c6d896f89d957631.jpg


Being picky, FR24 have the type wrong. The aircraft pictured is a P68C, but not an Observer (which has a transparent nose for, well, observing through :O).

Spot the difference:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/300x210/oy_sps_obs_2_741c27fe998b0882a33d98e826492e80c4db123f.jpg

https://www.airteamimages.com/vulcanair-p68_OY-SPS_-private_343162.html

[trident3A]

BA's new 787-10 G-ZBLA is currently on its way in to Heathrow

[SpringHeeledJack]

There was an A343 into LHR today, from a Spanish Operator 'Plus Ultra'. They're getting pretty rare these days. Also an A380 from China Southern, another 'rare' bird since 4 months.

[Trinity 09L]

Quote from HAL below.Whilst we expect the number of flight movements to increase, they will still be relatively low, and so we will continue to consolidate our operations by operating on one runway until flight movements reach around 45% of our normal operations. At this point, we’ll return to operating on two runways

[DaveReidUK]

Quote from HAL below.Whilst we expect the number of flight movements to increase, they will still be relatively low, and so we will continue to consolidate our operations by operating on one runway until flight movements reach around 45% of our normal operations. At this point, we’ll return to operating on two runways

Currently running at about 24% of normal - the last two days have seen the first time that there have been 300+ daily movements since the start of the lockdown.

So still some way to go.

[trident3A]

There was an A343 into LHR today, from a Spanish Operator 'Plus Ultra'. They're getting pretty rare these days. Also an A380 from China Southern, another 'rare' bird since 4 months.

4-holers have practically vanished from the skies these last 3 months part from the odd exotic cargo 747

[treadigraph]

Think Singapore have a daily freighter 747 late afternoon - or they did, I haven't noticed it for a while. Usual arrival via Lydd (?) and Biggin...

That said, looking at replays yesterday about 5.30, Cathay had one inbound Heathrow, no sign of the Singapore.

[DaveReidUK]

Think Singapore have a daily freighter 747 late afternoon - or they did, I haven't noticed it for a while. Usual arrival via Lydd (?) and Biggin...

That said, looking at replays yesterday about 5.30, Cathay had one inbound Heathrow, no sign of the Singapore.

SQ 747Fs are 2 pw at the moment - Thursdays and Saturdays. There should be one landing in the next hour.

CX are 1/2 pw - Sundays and every other Friday (as you say, there was one yesterday).

[treadigraph]

Yep, 9V-SFO - I've seen it while out walking so often recently I thought it must be daily! :p

[BRISTOLRE]

Anyone know the story why VS A330 VLNM ferried DSA-LHR today? I take it this is for continued use to infill or some MX? Most of the other VS 330s including the RR powered ones have recently gone south to CIDUAD REAL presumably for further storage.
This must be cheaper storage than MAN/GLA/DSA? unless their fate is going to be otherwise part out/scrap
I see 2x VS A350 are nearing completion and handover including G-VDOT an ex Airbus Industrie demo and G-VRNB.

[BRISTOLRE]

There are NOTAMS out saying RWY 27L/09R is closed due to WIP from 12 JUL to 01OCT.
Repair works
Long term closure and remain 27R/09R only

[BRISTOLRE]

CSN A380 was coming in weekly scheduled service every WEDS (and then seems to dropped to every other Wednesday)
Been charter ops last couple of Monday afternoons arrival around 1445local but i think those have ceased now were one offs.
One caught me out over north London the other day and i thought i was seeing things initially then realised it was this

EK is due to resume A380 ops daily DXB-LHR very soon apparently

[treadigraph]

Wamos 747 on approach into Heathrow, actually did a couple of turns around the Epsom stack, I imagine for noise considerations - it's just 6am - rather than spacing! Strangely I didn't hear it or the BA777 immediately after, whereas the AA 787 following was quite audible despite following a track on the other side of my house, albeit a bit closer! Windows on this side are open too...

[DaveReidUK]

Wamos 747 on approach into Heathrow, actually did a couple of turns around the Epsom stack, I imagine for noise considerations - it's just 6am

Have we been transported back to 1971 ? :O

[treadigraph]

I was in Kenya then... I kept thinking Wisley... Ockham! Had to look at a chart.

[treadigraph]

TUI 767 PH-OYI made a brief stop at Heathrow this morning arriving from somewhere across the pond, now on its way to Amsterdam...

[DaveReidUK]

TUI 767 PH-OYI made a brief stop at Heathrow this morning arriving from somewhere across the pond, now on its way to Amsterdam...

It stopped briefly last Sunday, too, en route from AMS to the Bahamas, then went island-hopping to Sint Maarten and Guadeloupe.

[10 DME ARC]

TUI 767 PH-OYI sat on SXM for a few days with a good bit of BN2 shuttle to/from Anguilla so guess supplies for British dependancy.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I think I read somewhere that a few Nigerian repatriation flights are to be attempted this week into LHR using those 777's that were over (without pre-arrangement) a few weeks back.

[trident3A]

British Airways A380 G-XLEI just arrived from Chateauroux - haven't seen one for ages.

[SpringHeeledJack]

It makes you wonder what the BA 380 might be used for ?

[treadigraph]

Emirates A380 just passed over me outbound Heathrow. Is that the first EK example for a while or have any others sneaked in while my back was turned?

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Think Singapore have a daily freighter 747 late afternoon - or they did, I haven't noticed it for a while. Usual arrival via Lydd (?) and Biggin...

That said, looking at replays yesterday about 5.30, Cathay had one inbound Heathrow, no sign of the Singapore.
Long standing twice weekly B744F Thu/Sat pm.

[trident3A]

It makes you wonder what the BA 380 might be used for ?
Someone on another thread suggested its going to Manila for maintenance

[SpringHeeledJack]

Thankyou, yes apparently to LHR for light and then Manila for heavy Mx. That must be a sign that they'll be back in service sometime in the not too distant future, unlike the beautiful, but high-houred 747's.

[SpringHeeledJack]

One went by about an hour ago from Chateauroux into LHR. The outline all too distinctive these days!

[DaveReidUK]

Thankyou, yes apparently to LHR for light and then Manila for heavy Mx.

The latter with Lufthansa Technik Philippines (https://www.lufthansa-technik.com/lufthansa-technik-philippines).

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw an Emirates A380 roll on by this morning into LHR from DXB. That's the first one that I've noticed since the lockdown in March. I wonder if that's a sign of more traffic, or just a consolidation of two flights ?

In general there does seem to be more flights at the moment into LHR than for some time.

[DaveReidUK]

In general there does seem to be more flights at the moment into LHR than for some time.

Since last Friday the daily movement count has been consistently over 400, yesterday nearly 500.

[helipixman]

Not sure if I am posting to correct forum ! Planning a trip down to LHR for some photography. Anyone know of any problems currently ? Propose to use Myrtle Avenue location, just wonder if anyone has encountered any problems with Police etc.

Look forward to any advice given

Helipixman

[DaveReidUK]

Not sure if I am posting to correct forum ! Planning a trip down to LHR for some photography. Anyone know of any problems currently ? Propose to use Myrtle Avenue location, just wonder if anyone has encountered any problems with Police etc.

Can't help with the situation on the ground, but bear in mind that currently Myrtle Avenue is no good for photography during the weeks when only the northern runway is in use.

Runway alternation (https://www.heathrow.com/company/local-community/noise/operations/runway-alternation)

[helipixman]

Can't help with the situation on the ground, but bear in mind that currently Myrtle Avenue is no good for photography during the weeks when only the northern runway is in use.

Runway alternation (https://www.heathrow.com/company/local-community/noise/operations/runway-alternation)
Was planning later in the year September or October, think both runways will be open then !

[DaveReidUK]

Was planning later in the year September or October, think both runways will be open then !

Fair enough, I had misinterpreted your timescale.

Anyone know of any problems currently ?

[SpringHeeledJack]

Another 'rare' A380 of Emirates this morning. Are they doing it daily now again ?

[DaveReidUK]

Another 'rare' A380 of Emirates this morning. Are they doing it daily now again ?

Yes, EK001/002 reverted to an A380 a week ago, for the first time since the lockdown.

[trident3A]

Titan airways B752 G-ZAPX - always nice to see a 757, getting rare these days!

[esscee]

Do Icelandair still fly B757 into LHR?

[DaveReidUK]

Do Icelandair still fly B757 into LHR?

Yes, twice a week at the moment, in fact one departed about 15 minutes ago.

For 757 fans, there is also a weekly DHL on Sunday evenings.

[trident3A]

BA A350-1000 G-XWBB just broke off its approach to 27R over Barnes and came overhead Ealing northbound at 3,000ft - quite a sight!

[trident3A]

Airbridge cargo VP-BIM in today - got quite excited to see a 747

[DaveReidUK]

Heathrow announced yesterday that as from 2nd August, it will return to dual-runway operations between 7 am and 8 pm on weekdays and all day at weekends. The usual alternation programme will apply when on westerlies.

https://www.heathrow.com/company/local-community/noise/latest-local-community-and-noise-news/southern-runway-repairs

[SpringHeeledJack]

An RAFA400 went over London south of the LHR glide-path at 7,000 ft early evening making a good din which livened up the neighbourhood somewhat. It seemed to be bumbling around several airports in the Uk during it's training sortie this afternoon.

[Gulf4uk]

9H-VTD Bombardier Global 6000-BD-700-1A10 Flew all the Way to Heathrow from Farnborough lunch time Departing FAB As VJT993 At 1250local

[trident3A]

Both runways in use this morning, great to see daily movements continue to rise

[DaveReidUK]

Both runways in use this morning, great to see daily movements continue to rise

Yes, tomorrow's scheduled switch to dual segregated runway operations appears to have been brought forward by a day, as noted on Heathrow Noise's Twitter feed (but with no explanation of the timing change).

The reason is probably that yesterday, for the first time since the lockdown began, the daily movement count exceeded 500.

[Paul Lupp]

^
I wonder if the airport will start to open more of the car parks now that there are more flights, and maybe start to reduce some of the short-term parking charges ???

[Musket90]

I believe the timing was always to start dual ops this morning,not sure why the feed didn't capture it. Presumably it's so the works team have sufficient rest time before re-starting the night work from tomorrow night Mon to Fri nights 8pm to 7am.

[KelvinD]

How about the other side of the "recent activity" coin? "Recent lack of activity". While at Heathrow yesterday, I found myself wondering if China had closed. Nothing arrived from China at all. Today seems to be the same, no Chinese flights scheduled. I can see Chinese aircraft flying all over the rest of the world but nothing in the UK. Has somebody said the wrong thing?

[trident3A]

Swiss A340 in from Zurich this evening

[KelvinD]

If only there could have been a touch more sun when the Swiss flight arrived!
The Great Chinese Aeroplane Drought appears to be ending with one arriving yesterday afternoon and three or four today.

[treadigraph]

RCAF CC-177 on approach into Heathrow 09R...

[SpringHeeledJack]

Apparently another one due in today around 5pm local time.

[trident3A]

A virgin 747 just arrived form Manchester, anyone know the story with this?

[The Flying Stool]

It's having an engine change before being sent for storage in Spain.

[DaveReidUK]

The first of the nine BA 747s that remain at LHR departed this morning for the Spanish scrappie, has just landed at Castellon.

[SpringHeeledJack]

What a shame that someone somewhere wouldn't want to convert them to cargo usage. Just aluminium, but it's sad.

[DaveReidUK]

Another departure today - BA's penultimate non-ER 777. I suspect it's going to the breakers at St Athan.

[SpringHeeledJack]

There seems to have been a few A343's into LHR this week doing charters for others. Funny how these are now rare and interesting and before they were underpowered sausages of little interest :-)

[SpringHeeledJack]

Swissair used 777's on two flights today from Zurich, one morning, one evening. Haven't seen them used before into LHR, although the A330 and A340's have been used all through the last 5 months.

[treadigraph]

Saw a Polar 747 going out earlier on today, not sure whether they've been mentioned before or are regular visitors.

[DaveReidUK]

Saw a Polar 747 going out earlier on today, not sure whether they've been mentioned before or are regular visitors.

Operating a cargo flight for El Al.

[Sultan Ismail]

Swissair used 777's .......
Swissair ceased operations on 31st March 2002.

The present day operator SWISS International Airlines was born out of Swiss regional airline Crossair and inherited their flight prefix LX.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Old habits die hard, but thank you for the correction. I used to love flying Crossair back in the day, a great little airline with the Jumbolinos and Saab steeds, very reliable.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Saw a Polar 747 going out earlier on today, not sure whether they've been mentioned before or are regular visitors.
Atlas Air I think?

[Hartington]

Back when Swissair was Swissair the first flight from Zurich was a DC-10-30. As I understood it they made enough money from filling Zurich/London with "bankers" that when it came to the London/Zurich it was a case of selling what they could to make some cash flow.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

How about the other side of the "recent activity" coin? "Recent lack of activity". While at Heathrow yesterday, I found myself wondering if China had closed. Nothing arrived from China at all. Today seems to be the same, no Chinese flights scheduled. I can see Chinese aircraft flying all over the rest of the world but nothing in the UK. Has somebody said the wrong thing?
There's still 2x Air China flights from PEK but
1) They're cargo only
2) They vanish off fr24 once landed
CA937/938 and CA855/856 as per pax flt no. There are also misc other cargo flights.

The only passenger service is the Thu A380 from CAN and China Eastern from PVG. Some days this is cargo only, the clue is the passenger one is on pier at T2 and cargo one at Pier 6 on closed T3.

[trident3A]

Back when Swissair was Swissair the first flight from Zurich was a DC-10-30. As I understood it they made enough money from filling Zurich/London with "bankers" that when it came to the London/Zurich it was a case of selling what they could to make some cash flow.
I miss the DC-10 - used to look out for the Biman Bangladesh one which operated into Heathrow until end of 2017. All the modern wide bodies are virtually identical whereas the tri-jets had some drama about them.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Yes the DC-10's were 'different' and they are missed, even if the odd MD-11F does fly over from time to time. I remember seeing one of the THY DC-10's doing and emergency return to LHR a few days after one of their's crashed in the forest outside Paris in 1974 (I think ?), the crew had an issue with a cargo door or some such, which was a contributing factor to the Paris crash. I remember also waiting until it was dark to glimpse an Air Zaire DC-10 landing for the first time at LHR, such was it's rarity back then ;-) The colour-scheme of National always used to make me smile, even on grey winter days when spotting at the Queens Building :-)

[Trinity 09L]

The lease of a NZ 10 caused confusion to pax, “I’m not going to NZ” when on a BA flight. 🤣

[renfrew]

I flew on the last BA service operated by an Air New Zealand DC-10,in 1980.
Boarding from a jetty, I doubt if many of the passengers even noticed it wasn't a BA plane.

[Trinity 09L]

There were coaching stands, and I have found they were used on Miami and Montreal BA services, thus a surprise to wary pax.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw a Virgin Atlantic 747 float by earlier today, rather nice to see I must say. I'm assuming this doesn't mean that they are going to used on a limited basis as traffic increases on the long-haul sector ?

[wub]

The 747 was being retired from Manchester to Heathrow, from where it will be going to USA to join Atlas Air as a troop carrier.

[treadigraph]

Noticed an interesting 787 outbound the other day, forget to mention it - Far Eastern airline I'd never heard of I think. Quick check online, Vistara from India I think it was?

Also Biman 787s now, they been regular for a bit? I hadn't noticed them until sometime in August.

[DaveReidUK]

Noticed an interesting 787 outbound the other day, forget to mention it - Far Eastern airline I'd never heard of I think. Quick check online, Vistara from India I think it was?

Also Biman 787s now, they been regular for a bit? I hadn't noticed them until sometime in August.

Vistara started their 3 x weekly service to/from Delhi at the end of August. Biman resumed services in June, currently only one a week serving, variously, Dhaka or Sylhet.

[trident3A]

Anyone know what happened here? Did this BA flight immediately return to LHR or is the site showing bad data?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/912x405/capture_21633cc202cae3d4a30eb526195fedc2dd5ed5d6.png

[sewushr]

It returned to Heathrow because that was exactly what it was supposed to do (planned LHR-LHR, presumably an engineering flight)

FR24 and other trackers notoriously unreliable when it comes to 'ferry' flight numbers as they will always default to the route flown the last time that flight number was used

[trident3A]

It returned to Heathrow because that was exactly what it was supposed to do (planned LHR-LHR, presumably an engineering flight)

FR24 and other trackers notoriously unreliable when it comes to 'ferry' flight numbers as they will always default to the route flown the last time that flight number was used
Ah makes sense, thanks for the info!