Mike away/awave LHR?
 

Hi guys,

I just been asked by a friend why BA pilots always request this kind of approach for Heathrow? Not even sure if the typo is correct.

I couldn't find anything in the charts.

It's Microwave (Microwave Landing System), a landing system that was originally developed and intended to replace ILS or at least supplement it.

I'm nothing to do with Heathrow but I would guess they're asking for a microwave (MLS) approach.

Thanks!

Just found the answer in the www.

Here's an example of an MLS approach chart for LHR:

http://fly.rocketroute.com/plates/ad...6554&icao=EGLL

Minor point but FWIW "they" don't always request it since most of the BA Fleets don't have MLS installed/operational :8 . The only BA Fleet routinely using MLS is the Airbus.

British Airways and NATS intend to implement the third phase of MLS operations at LHR. This reduces the spacing between aircraft flying an MLS approach in LVPs by one mile. As part of the rollout, ATC needs to be confident that MLS-equipped aeroplanes will, in practice, fly MLS approaches.
In particular, the Heathrow Directors (who set the arrival spacing) have no indication of MLS capability on their flight progress strips. Hence, without asking, they do not know if an aeroplane is MLS-capable unless or until the crew asks for an MLS approach, and even if so equipped they cannot be confident that the planned spacing will be possible between the aircraft.
All flight crew and ATC need to have shared confidence that all MLS-equipped aircraft can and will fly an MLS in all weathers so that it becomes a fully ‘normal’ procedure. If ATC cannot be confident that that all MLS-equipped aircraft will fly the MLS without individual requests, they will not be able to apply the reduced spacing on final approach that only MLS can safely support.

If only the same (ILS) phraseology applied for clearing an aircraft for an MLS approach! If it were the same, ATC really wouldn't care whether it was an ILS or MLS and the BA pilots could stop cluttering the frequency with their requests!!

Only then during low vis. procedures would the pilots really need to let us know what type of approach they intend on flying (for spacing purposes).

why keep MLS operational at LHR
 

I would have expected the system to be defunct by now anyway.

So what are the economic benefits for MLS at LHR.

The bean counters need to know.

Glf

This would be great until we need to turn one or the other off (or downgrade) for maintenance, or worse one fails unexpectedly and we have no idea who is flying which approach.

Not fail safe I'm afraid.

Equals:

Capacity.

Also, the procedures we develop for MLS phase 3 will be identical to those we will use when eventually other approaches such as GBAS can be used for CAT III approaches.