Light single into Gatwick?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Norfolk U.K.
Age: 68
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
wonder if I could get my Xair into LHR?
I don't imagine they were charged anything like this ludicrous sum of money, and I belive they were allowed to use a taxiway for landing/takeoff.
Interesting thread though.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a splendid read and an equally splendid thing to do! And so little of the Pprune-bitch-fest!!
Well done.
Took a PA31-350 into Jan Smuts one day but it really was quiet, Lanseria the GA 'drome in Jo'burg where I was a frequent visitor was at the time the airport with most African movements. Still, not a patch on what you did!
Stik
Well done.
Took a PA31-350 into Jan Smuts one day but it really was quiet, Lanseria the GA 'drome in Jo'burg where I was a frequent visitor was at the time the airport with most African movements. Still, not a patch on what you did!
Stik
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I seriously wonder why Gatwick is like this.
Unlike Heathrow, the place is pretty quiet for much of the day and could easily handle GA traffic.
Europe has loads of airports which dwarf Gatwick or Heathrow in size so nobody should feel in some way inferior for not having been to Gatwick.
Incidentally Gatwick publishes perfectly reasonable VFR approach plates, via Jeppesen so probably via the UK AIP too. You get the usual VRPs
I hate VRPs; the IR was worth doing just to never again have to find another VRP 
Unlike Heathrow, the place is pretty quiet for much of the day and could easily handle GA traffic.
Europe has loads of airports which dwarf Gatwick or Heathrow in size so nobody should feel in some way inferior for not having been to Gatwick.
Incidentally Gatwick publishes perfectly reasonable VFR approach plates, via Jeppesen so probably via the UK AIP too. You get the usual VRPs
I hate VRPs; the IR was worth doing just to never again have to find another VRP
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Brighton, UK
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done that man. I was sorely tempted to splash out on a Gatwick logbook entry until I read this!!
I dropped into Edinburgh in August (another lifetime ambition) and really enjoyed the lining up with the big boys. It didn't cost £900 though
Good on ya for doing it though!! Maybe if I have a small lottery win I will blow it on a day out to Gatwick.
I dropped into Edinburgh in August (another lifetime ambition) and really enjoyed the lining up with the big boys. It didn't cost £900 though
Good on ya for doing it though!! Maybe if I have a small lottery win I will blow it on a day out to Gatwick.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: local
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done!! Great experience. I flew a Mooney 201 into LGW in 1988. Great fun and asked to keep high speed for as long as posssible so as not to slow up the big boys. What speed they ask you for and until what distance.
Good one for the log book and great pics.
elac2
Good one for the log book and great pics.
elac2
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, Ont, Canada
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
$1,720.00 Canadian ! 
I can book a flight from Toronto to London and stay in a pretty good hotel ... er.. maybe motel ... for that amount.
Or, more likely in my case a two or maybe three week golf vacation in the southern u.s..
Oh well, if the OP was happy, so be it.
I was contemplating flying into CYYZ a few years ago for the fun of it, but changed my mind quickly after finding out about the ~$100.00 CAD landing fee. ... Possibly / probably more now, haven't checked.
Instead, I did a *free* "flyover" one night when it was quiet. I was given "the option" by the controller, but elected to keep the wheels in the air for a "low and over" (and my money in my wallet).
The surprising thing I remember, was that even at only ~2,000 feet up, how "small" even those big runways looked
Mike
I can book a flight from Toronto to London and stay in a pretty good hotel ... er.. maybe motel ...
for that amount.Or, more likely in my case a two or maybe three week golf vacation in the southern u.s..
Oh well, if the OP was happy, so be it.
I was contemplating flying into CYYZ a few years ago for the fun of it, but changed my mind quickly after finding out about the ~$100.00 CAD landing fee. ... Possibly / probably more now, haven't checked.
Instead, I did a *free* "flyover" one night when it was quiet. I was given "the option" by the controller, but elected to keep the wheels in the air for a "low and over" (and my money in my wallet).
The surprising thing I remember, was that even at only ~2,000 feet up, how "small" even those big runways looked
Mike
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What fabulous pictures! Thank you Contacttower for an interesting thread. Many years ago I did a similar flight but from Lasham in a Cessna 150 - what an unforgettable experience. Sadly no photos were taken at the time.
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: north of barlu
Posts: 6,207
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IO540
You are not discribing the Gatwick that I know with , being cleared to land at 200ft on a regular basis and 100ft now and then I think that squeezing GA in would be quite hard as much as it would like it to avoid the commute around the M25.
The more that I fly IFR the more I like Visual approaches................. Big jet, small Greek island & visual approach from 10,000 ft........... now thats what I call fun!!
The more that I fly IFR the more I like Visual approaches................. Big jet, small Greek island & visual approach from 10,000 ft........... now thats what I call fun!!
I taxied out at JFK one night and found myself in the congo line behind a Cessna 172.
The Cessna duly got airborne. I was then cleared to line up and take-off on 22R "caution wake turbulence from previous departing aircraft".
I thought that was quite amusing since I was driving a DC-10!
The Cessna duly got airborne. I was then cleared to line up and take-off on 22R "caution wake turbulence from previous departing aircraft".
I thought that was quite amusing since I was driving a DC-10!
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just for anyone else contemplating a Gatwick visit, but not wishing to splash out quite as much, then I would recommend either Vallance Byways or Dovers Green. I flew into both earlier this year. Peter Vallance's strip running parallel to to 08R threshold lets you fly directly over the Gatwick apron and the best bit of all, he refused to accept a landing fee from me, gave me a tour of his museum and also a free lift to my CAA medical reval. 
I would say that the Museum strip does require some strip experience to do safely, but just up the road at Dovers Green (also PPR from Peter) a PA28 type should have no problem.
If you want to see some pics to get an idea, then I put a trip report here:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=445043
Well done to Contacttower for doing what floats his boat, but as already mentioned by other posters, you may well be better off nipping across to Europe to get a similar experience. We recently dropped into Hamburg on the way home in our SEP to give our group member a taste of the "Big Time" and he had a similar seminal pleasure, but for only 56 euros total.
Cheers
FF
I would say that the Museum strip does require some strip experience to do safely, but just up the road at Dovers Green (also PPR from Peter) a PA28 type should have no problem.
If you want to see some pics to get an idea, then I put a trip report here:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=445043
Well done to Contacttower for doing what floats his boat, but as already mentioned by other posters, you may well be better off nipping across to Europe to get a similar experience. We recently dropped into Hamburg on the way home in our SEP to give our group member a taste of the "Big Time" and he had a similar seminal pleasure, but for only 56 euros total.
Cheers
FF
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: In a house
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fair play to you sir, but sod that, how much ??????
LAX - $80
San Diego Int - $20
McCarran (Las Vegas Int) - $80
I flew into those 3 bad boys on a cross country flight in a Duchess over a long weekend last year. "Taxi to 25R, cross 25L at Golf, then taxi full length to Bravo behind the Quantas 747".
LAX - $80
San Diego Int - $20
McCarran (Las Vegas Int) - $80
I flew into those 3 bad boys on a cross country flight in a Duchess over a long weekend last year. "Taxi to 25R, cross 25L at Golf, then taxi full length to Bravo behind the Quantas 747".
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
Age: 74
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Gatwick's runways
By goodness given the lenght of 07 at Gatwick it would have to be a very poorly executed go around - unless of course you were intending to land very looooooong.
Gatwick's runways are 08R/26L and 08L/26R. I din't think it's due to change to 07L or 07R for some years yet...
FYFI 08R/26L is the main instrument runway, 08L/26R is the so-called 'Northern' runway and is visual only. It may only be brought into use when the main runway is unavailable, usually due to maintenance at night. Don't ask to use it just 'cos you're visual!
TheOddOne
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
Age: 74
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
No 'H' at Gatwick
Usually VFR in the rotary, and the routine is hold at the North Terminal, and then land after whichever sky darkening piece of alloy has just touched down. Sadly they then make us follow A lumbering line of jumbos to a hold for a runway departure. They just can't get the idea that all I need is somewhere reasonably flat and a route nothbound away from the approach/departure path, which is pretty much what Heathrow provides.
Years ago, there was an 'H' at Gatwick positioned on what is now taxiway Lima, just North of stand 150, if you have a plate of Gatwick to hand. This was fine when this taxiway was a cul-de-sac but it had to be removed temporarily for WIP. When we wanted to replace it with something more user-friendly we did risk assessments on all the possible locations and came up with...nowhere! Thus, all rotary traffic now has to land/take off on the runway in use and thus has to book slots instead of just dropping in. Something of an own goal, really. Vallance Byways now does good business in rotary movements and good luck to him.
TheOddOne
Presumably because there wasn't sufficient demand to make it profitable to store and supply avgas.Fly Conventional Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Winchester
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm so pleased that everyone seems to have enjoyed the thread....thank you again for all your comments and encoragement.
By the way the handling agent Interflight has refunded me £350 after they realised that they charged me the summer rate rather than the winter rate...so that made the cost more in line with what Bose suggested.
Gatwick doesn't usually have avgas but I think the handling agent could arrange it if given enough notice.
. By the way the handling agent Interflight has refunded me £350 after they realised that they charged me the summer rate rather than the winter rate...so that made the cost more in line with what Bose suggested.
Gatwick doesn't usually have avgas but I think the handling agent could arrange it if given enough notice.
Well done mate! 
Sorry to go off thread, briefly, but this reminds me of my first flight into Glasgow Prestwick as a 65 hour PPLer. We had flown up to Scotland from down south, Stapleford, ref-fueling at Gamston, and chose Prestwick for convenience. It has the feel of a big airport with 2 long runways and lots of Ryanair and 747 Freight traffic.
Left base for 31 in a C182 flying VFR and following ATC instructions explicitly, it went something like this:
Tower: "G-xxx, confirm visual 737 long final, keep it tight and report turning final"
Me: (seriously worried) "Negative on the 737, looking, will report turning final"
Me: "G-xxx final 31"
Tower: (after a 20 sec pause) a frustrated, "G-xxx, this isn't going to work, go around, right side of runway, maintain altitude and heading upwind until I call you"
Me: "Wilco, maintain upwind until you call"
I guess he hadn't realised that I was a low-hour PPL in an aircraft which I was told to land at 75kts (and I bl**dy well listen to my instructors!) and would not come in at 140ks like the 737!
We then proceeded upwind and watched a Ryanair 737 land pretty much alongside us on 31, flew out to sea at about 800ft and started to get a bit worried as the Isle of Arran loomed ahead, but finally:
Tower: "G-xxx, turn crosswind"
I acknowledged and did so. A little later, after a long silence from ATC came the sarcastic:
Tower: "G-xxx, Are you going to turn downwind any time soon?"
Me: (an equally sarcastic, but giggly) "I was waiting for your instructions! Turning downwind now"
We then proceeded to land happily on 31 and flew out of Prestwick for a week, having hilarious exchanges with that particular controller (who clearly hated GA). Memorable last exchange with him:
"G-xxx, have you GOT an airfield plan!?"
Oh, those were the days!
Sorry to go off thread, briefly, but this reminds me of my first flight into Glasgow Prestwick as a 65 hour PPLer. We had flown up to Scotland from down south, Stapleford, ref-fueling at Gamston, and chose Prestwick for convenience. It has the feel of a big airport with 2 long runways and lots of Ryanair and 747 Freight traffic.
Left base for 31 in a C182 flying VFR and following ATC instructions explicitly, it went something like this:
Tower: "G-xxx, confirm visual 737 long final, keep it tight and report turning final"
Me: (seriously worried) "Negative on the 737, looking, will report turning final"
Me: "G-xxx final 31"
Tower: (after a 20 sec pause) a frustrated, "G-xxx, this isn't going to work, go around, right side of runway, maintain altitude and heading upwind until I call you"
Me: "Wilco, maintain upwind until you call"
I guess he hadn't realised that I was a low-hour PPL in an aircraft which I was told to land at 75kts (and I bl**dy well listen to my instructors!) and would not come in at 140ks like the 737!
We then proceeded upwind and watched a Ryanair 737 land pretty much alongside us on 31, flew out to sea at about 800ft and started to get a bit worried as the Isle of Arran loomed ahead, but finally:
Tower: "G-xxx, turn crosswind"
I acknowledged and did so. A little later, after a long silence from ATC came the sarcastic:
Tower: "G-xxx, Are you going to turn downwind any time soon?"
Me: (an equally sarcastic, but giggly) "I was waiting for your instructions! Turning downwind now"
We then proceeded to land happily on 31 and flew out of Prestwick for a week, having hilarious exchanges with that particular controller (who clearly hated GA). Memorable last exchange with him:
"G-xxx, have you GOT an airfield plan!?"
Oh, those were the days!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
Age: 74
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Do Gatwick have Avgas?
The OddOne
ps the bowser would probably be refused entry to airside at Gatwick as it is not a clear plastic container of 100ml or less...
