Last usage of runway 23 at LHR
Thread Starter
The 10-7 page is just one of the pages that Jeppesen publishes for my airline and it and the subsequent 10-7A,10-7B etc. are considered airport information pages. For us it simply states that 9L is not used for departure for noise abatement reasons. My life is way too short to have launched a 1000 hour inqiury with the airline as to why this is in the book and how to get it changed and how many people would need to sit in on a meeting with Jeppesen to formulate a review plan and if a contractor should be studied to determine if this statement is valid at all times etc. 
In other words I simply read the thing and took it for what it was worth but was certainly surprised by it.
Of course I have landed on 9L many times--it is just that I have not been there when it was being used for takeoff ---which when I am only there perhaps 4 times a month hat makes sense that the odds of me seeing this runway used for departure are slim.
I did look through my books however (in a serious case of geekdom I must admit that I am doing this at home!), and indeed noticed that all the 10-3 departure pages list 9L as a possibility so all the obstacle data must be in. One of those things perhaps that just does not come up that often for some of us and I never really noticed it as all my departures seem to be 27 R/L or 9R with the turn at LON 2 DME to a heading of 220. Sort of like asking the European crews if they knew that ORD had until not so long ago a runway 36? Not long enough for large jet use but I have seen departures from it.
In other words I simply read the thing and took it for what it was worth but was certainly surprised by it. Of course I have landed on 9L many times--it is just that I have not been there when it was being used for takeoff ---which when I am only there perhaps 4 times a month hat makes sense that the odds of me seeing this runway used for departure are slim.
I did look through my books however (in a serious case of geekdom I must admit that I am doing this at home!), and indeed noticed that all the 10-3 departure pages list 9L as a possibility so all the obstacle data must be in. One of those things perhaps that just does not come up that often for some of us and I never really noticed it as all my departures seem to be 27 R/L or 9R with the turn at LON 2 DME to a heading of 220. Sort of like asking the European crews if they knew that ORD had until not so long ago a runway 36? Not long enough for large jet use but I have seen departures from it.
Last edited by Uncle Fred; 10th Jul 2009 at 17:54.
Thread Starter
Sorry Director. I was not very clear on my first writing and I could see how what I said could have been misunderstood!
Talk to all of you tomorrow morning upon arrival!
Talk to all of you tomorrow morning upon arrival!
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Runway 23 / 05
There's a lot of interesting stuff written about 23 / 05. I have landed a few times on 23. It was always an interesting experience. There was always plenty of whoooooo from the passengers. I remember doing a trip to Athens on a BA 757. It left terminal 4 and back tracked runway 23. It then did a 180 and launched off runway 23. It was late at night, so the airport wasn't busy. With regards to runway 05, I can rember seeing a few land on it, but that was extremely rare. I have often wondered when 23 was last used - does anyone know?
John (Airport Staff)
John (Airport Staff)
I can remember 05 being used for landings late 80s/early 90s as I used to live in Frimley and they turned final about there. I think it was used maybe up to mid 90s when the wind required it; certainly I can remember watching the inbounds on the radar at Farnborough.
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Scotbill.. I've flicked quickly through The Book but there appears to be no mention of the airfield beacon. I think it said "LH" but that chart above seems to suggest "VA"?? It's certainly in the right location - at the end of Beacon Road south of the 05R threshold. Hmmm... interesting.
During ADC validation boards question Jack Carruthers always asked about the beacon.
Bren
During ADC validation boards question Jack Carruthers always asked about the beacon.
Bren
Zooker
Only of the Scottish airfields.
Heathrow Director
Do you remember what the ident was on the green beacon? I thought it was LH but the memory banks can play tricks and there is no confirmation on the chart.
Only of the Scottish airfields.
Heathrow Director
Do you remember what the ident was on the green beacon? I thought it was LH but the memory banks can play tricks and there is no confirmation on the chart.
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Sorry to step on HD's anticipated reply, but it was 'LH' in the late 60s/early70s. I remember seeing it on my first visit to EGLL on a Trent Bus Co day out from Loughborough. We had a guided tour around the perimeter road. It was amazing. I had never seen jet airliners before. The guide told us that the beacon, (or pundit), could be seen from over The English Channel. It was this bus trip which made me decide to become an ATCO.
A year or so later, (1970ish), my dad and I went to EGLL at night, with a friend who drove freight down there 4 nights a week. We stood on the grass outside the 'Hunting. hangar for an hour or so watching Argosies, Merchantmen and DC8 freighters landing on 28L. No security. I remember this beacon lighting up the whole sky with green flashes.
We had a smaller 40W model at EGNX, west of the old tower. It flashed 'CA', also in green, I think the RAF beacons were red.
Why were they called 'pundits' though?
A year or so later, (1970ish), my dad and I went to EGLL at night, with a friend who drove freight down there 4 nights a week. We stood on the grass outside the 'Hunting. hangar for an hour or so watching Argosies, Merchantmen and DC8 freighters landing on 28L. No security. I remember this beacon lighting up the whole sky with green flashes.
We had a smaller 40W model at EGNX, west of the old tower. It flashed 'CA', also in green, I think the RAF beacons were red.
Why were they called 'pundits' though?
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I remember doing 23 ops in the early 90s as a trainee. Saw an Aer Lingus 737 do a screaming turn onto a 1/2 mile final for 23 to beat another inbound. As the plane vacated |I asked to pilot if that was fun to which the reply was "Best fun I've had in cockpit for years, keep lucky". Creased me and the mentor.
The logbook says my first arrival at LAP (sic) was just after Xmas '59 by DC3 from Glasgow. Must have been an extra. (2.20 block time since you ask - 2.45 on the return).
I could easily convince myself it was LH then.
I could easily convince myself it was LH then.
RW05
Talkdown Man and I started at LL on 3rd Nov '86, and we saw loads of 23 ops particularly in that winter of 86/7.
I can honestly say that I never saw 05 in operation, but of course it could have been used when I was not at work.
Chevvron, the Heathrow Book states that 05 was finally pensioned off in the latter part of '93. I'm not a betting man but I'd wager it hadn't been used for a year or two before that.
Just been talking to Bob Hillyer on the blower and he was a 05 virgin too.
I can honestly say that I never saw 05 in operation, but of course it could have been used when I was not at work.
Chevvron, the Heathrow Book states that 05 was finally pensioned off in the latter part of '93. I'm not a betting man but I'd wager it hadn't been used for a year or two before that.
Just been talking to Bob Hillyer on the blower and he was a 05 virgin too.
Sorry about the thread drift but Zooker did ask!
Copied from a notebook I used to keep in the late 50s (hence the scribbles).
Note they both had VDF homers as well as light beacons.
Copied from a notebook I used to keep in the late 50s (hence the scribbles).
Note they both had VDF homers as well as light beacons.