What's with the new paths?

[FlyGooseFly!]

Hi Guys, I'm addressing this to all you professional girls and boys handling the LTMA - in fact I live very close to the Maple Cross DME.

In normal times, I can see anything up to 12 aircraft in the Bovingdon stack (which is often pushing its title somewhat!) and there's a high level Flightpath running roughly south east / northwest with many contrails. Lower down, many aircraft after t/o from LHR appear still in climb on my western horizon and transit directly overhead with a few going more easterly towards Watford.

Since the shutdown, what aircraft there are seem to be flying where they like! Explanations will be appreciated.

[Gonzo]

Departures from LHR must follow the departure route until passing 4000ft.

When it’s busy, they usually continue more or less on similar paths due to the many interactions with different routes to and from all the other airports around London.

With traffic numbers being so low, aircraft are able fly more direct routes, but they still have to comply with the 4000ft restriction.

[DaveReidUK]

Departures from LHR must follow the departure route until passing 4000ft.

When it’s busy, they usually continue more or less on similar paths due to the many interactions with different routes to and from all the other airports around London.

With traffic numbers being so low, aircraft are able fly more direct routes, but they still have to comply with the 4000ft restriction.

Though there have been a fair number of easterly departures recently that didn't follow the SID/NPR below 4000'.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/314x394/ay1332_20200424_40efcf4d3b8ded43887a14c0b06ab2d276b8d172.jpg

Why would that have been ?

[Gonzo]

I believe that was due to a Police helicopter to the NE of LHR.

[zonoma]

Far less aircraft = far better direct routings in the slightly higher air (6000ft+). Inbound routings are the same, all the routes are designed to provide deconfliction on major routes, no routes are major at the moment so controllers will provide a decent direct routing as much as possible.