Heathrow Runway Alternation
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Age: 70
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Heathrow Runway Alternation
Ok, to start, hopefully this doesn't come across as another old f*rt complaining about "in my day we did it this way, why has it changed"!! More that I am genuinely interested in the reason!
I have noticed on FR24, that when the runway change on westerlies occurs, aircraft will often be given a spin around the hold, even though (to my aging) eyes there was no need to, assuming standard spacing was maintained. Back in the late 70's if I recall correctly we would maintain standard spacing at 1500 albeit with a runway change. Now there seems to be a 15-20 mile gap between the last lander on one side and the first on the other. My guess is this it to get checker on for an uninterrupted runwat inspection. Is this true.
ex-egll
I have noticed on FR24, that when the runway change on westerlies occurs, aircraft will often be given a spin around the hold, even though (to my aging) eyes there was no need to, assuming standard spacing was maintained. Back in the late 70's if I recall correctly we would maintain standard spacing at 1500 albeit with a runway change. Now there seems to be a 15-20 mile gap between the last lander on one side and the first on the other. My guess is this it to get checker on for an uninterrupted runwat inspection. Is this true.
ex-egll
LOWI
I'll think you'll find the OP is en ex-Egll ATCO -the 1500 westerly runway alternation was there in his day and certainly in mine ( 86- 2000 ) - all to do with noise abatement not Modern H & S.
A sterile rwy insp sounds like elf & safety and not noise abatement to me Brian.
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ex-egll
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I believe 4 x Ops vehicles do the routine inspections. "Seagull" plus one from mid-point to the end and "Checker plus one from start to mid-point. So sterile runway ensures no risk of vehicle incursion. Also having the 4 x vehicles ensures a thorough and effective inspection.