Rwy 23 at LHR
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Farnham, Surrey. ENGLAND
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Well Scottie - not a silly question but........
It's true what Gonzo says, a 600 ton section of the new VCR will be constructed beyond the end of 23, behind the 450 stands. However, what isn't mentioned is that on completion it will be transported to its permanent location, just North of stand 365 in T3. There it will wobble around for years to come. That's the theory anyway.
As regards 23, I think you can say goodbye to it forever. Not only are new stands being built near the 27L hold, but new ones will also be built near the Virgin hangar. Furthermore I heard a rumour that in the near-ish future new pavement is to be constructed from the 23 blastpad round to the 27R blastpad to give another line-up option for the latter. I believe also mooted are stands parallel to the 150s, bang in the middle of 23.
Add to this the chaos caused to BA's operations when 23 is promulgated in (a) T4 - to clear the eight stands at the end of 23 and (b) T1 - where the 150 stands have to be restricted to 767 size a/c, then I think its days are severely numbered. I believe the beancounters in BA have deemed that they they would rather have a/c divert all over the place on the few occasions it happens than put up with the bloodbath that ensues when the loss of remote parking snarls up a (mostly) finely tuned operation.
Whilst it is sad from a safety point of view that the accountants rule the roost, Heathrow is now run flat out and using 23 only makes it exceedingly difficult to keep the thing on an even keel.
The only things preventing BAA/HAL from saying that 23 is no more are the political/PR issues if the government announces another runway is to be built at the airport.
It's true what Gonzo says, a 600 ton section of the new VCR will be constructed beyond the end of 23, behind the 450 stands. However, what isn't mentioned is that on completion it will be transported to its permanent location, just North of stand 365 in T3. There it will wobble around for years to come. That's the theory anyway.
As regards 23, I think you can say goodbye to it forever. Not only are new stands being built near the 27L hold, but new ones will also be built near the Virgin hangar. Furthermore I heard a rumour that in the near-ish future new pavement is to be constructed from the 23 blastpad round to the 27R blastpad to give another line-up option for the latter. I believe also mooted are stands parallel to the 150s, bang in the middle of 23.
Add to this the chaos caused to BA's operations when 23 is promulgated in (a) T4 - to clear the eight stands at the end of 23 and (b) T1 - where the 150 stands have to be restricted to 767 size a/c, then I think its days are severely numbered. I believe the beancounters in BA have deemed that they they would rather have a/c divert all over the place on the few occasions it happens than put up with the bloodbath that ensues when the loss of remote parking snarls up a (mostly) finely tuned operation.
Whilst it is sad from a safety point of view that the accountants rule the roost, Heathrow is now run flat out and using 23 only makes it exceedingly difficult to keep the thing on an even keel.
The only things preventing BAA/HAL from saying that 23 is no more are the political/PR issues if the government announces another runway is to be built at the airport.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Hampshire, UK
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BLK33, a couple of questions: How do you "move" a tower? And what will happen to the old (current) tower when the new one is in place? Also what is the timescale (Well supposed anyway!) for this building work?
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
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Slowly............five hours to cross the runway to the central area. The idea is to move the three storey VCR to its fianl resting place, and then hoist it up every so often and build it up to its fianl height.
Old tower will remain in place, and will be our contingency.
Old tower will remain in place, and will be our contingency.
Join Date: Jun 2000
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230/65 G75 and the gripper (Trident) stopped in 600M, but that was in the days when it was called 23L.
Also landed on 23R (so old) with the threshold just a few metres from the entrance to the two tunnels
Also landed on 23R (so old) with the threshold just a few metres from the entrance to the two tunnels
Join Date: Dec 1999
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No idea. Overnight at some point. Maybe in 2005? I'm sure we were told at our last meeting, but I wasn't paying attention, obviously!
I remember there being talk that we may have a party that night in the tower, as we watch the tower being dragged across the runway, and see how much the BAA reps sweat and pray that something doesn't break while 600tons of steel and glass are bang on the centreline of 27L.
I remember there being talk that we may have a party that night in the tower, as we watch the tower being dragged across the runway, and see how much the BAA reps sweat and pray that something doesn't break while 600tons of steel and glass are bang on the centreline of 27L.
