T5 @ Heathrow, any impact in number of aircraft movements?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T5 @ Heathrow, any impact in number of aircraft movements?
Hi there, donīt know if this is the best forum to post the question in but figured that you guys that are handling the airport knows best.
Will/has the new terminal lead to an increase in aircraft movements or is it just a matter of stuffing more pax into the tubes in shorter time?
On a similar note, is there much free capacity left to cram more movements to/from Heathrow? I recently visited the Stockholm Arlanda tower and learned that the biggest issue there is gate availability for certain types of flights such as Schengen/US.
Cheers!
Will/has the new terminal lead to an increase in aircraft movements or is it just a matter of stuffing more pax into the tubes in shorter time?
On a similar note, is there much free capacity left to cram more movements to/from Heathrow? I recently visited the Stockholm Arlanda tower and learned that the biggest issue there is gate availability for certain types of flights such as Schengen/US.
Cheers!
Time merchant
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Belgium
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All statements issued so far indicate no extra aircraft movements, just the capability to handle more pax more efficiently and in greater comfort (for BA anyway).
There is no spare capacity at Heathrow. Its generally 44 arrivals per hour maximum, and there is no possibility to increase that.
There is no spare capacity at Heathrow. Its generally 44 arrivals per hour maximum, and there is no possibility to increase that.
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: LONDON
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow is scheduled to 98% of its capacity, itself about 10% more than is desirable, as such a high scheduling places great service pressure on the system that operates it (NATS). Not much headwind reduces capacity to the extent that Heathrow quickly becomes oversubscribed and robustness of service deteriorates accordingly.
In my view, this degree of scheduling puts inappropriate levels of pressure on the Final director to achieve minimum spacing in all conditions, on a near saturated r/t frequency, with a high proportion of foreign operators, using an airspace system that was not designed for this level of traffic - and which currently does not build in a vertical safeguard when traffic is turning in towards each other form opposite sides. Under such circumstances there is little time or, most importantly, ATCO & r/t capacity, to correct errors of judgement and as a result spacing errors often get left uncorrected. NATS' own wake vortex separation figures conclusively prove this.
This situation is the direct result of the interpretation of the government's policy of "...best use..." to mean maximum use. There is no more room at Heathrow; T5 is principally a service improver, with some additional capacity available if a decision is made to increase runway capacity.
.4
In my view, this degree of scheduling puts inappropriate levels of pressure on the Final director to achieve minimum spacing in all conditions, on a near saturated r/t frequency, with a high proportion of foreign operators, using an airspace system that was not designed for this level of traffic - and which currently does not build in a vertical safeguard when traffic is turning in towards each other form opposite sides. Under such circumstances there is little time or, most importantly, ATCO & r/t capacity, to correct errors of judgement and as a result spacing errors often get left uncorrected. NATS' own wake vortex separation figures conclusively prove this.
This situation is the direct result of the interpretation of the government's policy of "...best use..." to mean maximum use. There is no more room at Heathrow; T5 is principally a service improver, with some additional capacity available if a decision is made to increase runway capacity.
.4
Beady Eye
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BD