Gatwick Approach / Tower

[Jet A1]

Was downwind for 26L last week at LGW. We were No. 2 behind a EZY 737 and although they called LOC established they werent handed over to tower. Strange we thought, especially when the EZY called short final. The Approach controller cleared the EZY to land and told them to contact ground when landed. Even stranger we thought !!

I always thought that the Approach controllers for LGW and LHR were not at the airports themselves and didnt think they were perched in the tower...If they are in say West Drayton or Swansick, how can they determine if they are clear or not as they cannot see the runway visually ???

[spekesoftly]

Approach Controllers for any Airport have direct landline communication with their respective Tower Controllers, and would only relay a landing clearance that had been authorised by Tower. Usually happens if either the pilot or ATC overlook the frequency change at the normal time - better than a last minute frequency change on very short final.

[Warped Factor]

Just to add that the approach controllers for Gatwick, who are indeed located at West Drayton, have two direct lines to the air controller in the tower.

One is for what might be called normal calls, the other is a priority line which has a different ring tone designed to attract immediate attention as and when required.

I suspect the latter was used by approach to get a landing clearance from the air controller on this occasion.

WF.