LCY Operations
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Where the test flights are
Posts: 136
LCY Operations
Hello Fellow PPruners !
I am very interested to gather some information on London City operations: steep approach, at what weights can airplanes take-off and land there usually, in particular reg. large BizJets (up to BBJ's or ACJ's if applicable), all kind of tips and useful gouge on Runway Performance, i.e. what about wet or contaminated runway and its implication on Operations there ?
Thanks a lot !
Happy New Year !
Leo
I am very interested to gather some information on London City operations: steep approach, at what weights can airplanes take-off and land there usually, in particular reg. large BizJets (up to BBJ's or ACJ's if applicable), all kind of tips and useful gouge on Runway Performance, i.e. what about wet or contaminated runway and its implication on Operations there ?
Thanks a lot !
Happy New Year !
Leo
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Europe
Posts: 85
The largest biz-jets that currently operate from LCY are the Global Express series and Falcon 7X. The ACJ and BBJ aren’t steep approach equipped, the only Airbus certified to operate in their is the BA A318 which was modified for steep approaches.
Weather can make a huge difference, low QNH, high temperatures and not much wind can really limit take off weights. Generally runway 09 is better than 27 as there’s less obstacles.
Weather can make a huge difference, low QNH, high temperatures and not much wind can really limit take off weights. Generally runway 09 is better than 27 as there’s less obstacles.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Where it is comfortable...
Age: 57
Posts: 799
Many moons ago I was doing a feasbility study to launch a 2hr long commercial route into LCY with F70. We have found that the key limiting factor was wet runway takeoff, V1 was so low that with the required fuel load the remainng payload would have been limited to 25-30 pax on rainy days, which effectively killed the project. Interestingly another operator just recently launched the same route with E90.
Last edited by andrasz; 30th Dec 2019 at 07:56.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CYUL
Posts: 855
Originally Posted by Piece of Cake
The largest biz-jets that currently operate from LCY are the Global Express series and Falcon 7X. The ACJ and BBJ aren’t steep approach equipped, the only Airbus certified to operate in their is the BA A318 which was modified for steep approaches.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: On the lake
Age: 79
Posts: 665
Originally Posted by Jet Jockey A4
Don't forget that the C Series now the Airbus 220 can also operate out of LCY and IIRC can even go overseas from LCY.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: London UK
Posts: 6,732
All the types, airline and business, that are approved for LCY are listed on their website.
https://www.londoncityairport.com/co...roved-aircraft
Well Austrian did run a route of this length from Vienna for quite some time with the F70.
The E95 is not approved for LCY, only the E90. The same applies with the E75/E70. Reason is the slightly extended 75/95 versions are longer behind the main gear, which is an issue for tailstrikes when flaring on landing with the particular characteristics of the steep approach. Not by much but it becomes relevant.
For all that there's concern about the short TORA aircraft are commonly airborne well before the halfway point. Must be fun ...
https://www.londoncityairport.com/co...roved-aircraft
Many moons ago I was doing a feasibility study to launch a 2hr long commercial route into LCY with F70. We have found that the key limiting factor was wet runway takeoff, V1 was so low that with the required fuel load the remaining payload would have been limited to 25-30 pax on rainy days, which effectively killed the project. Interestingly another operator just recently launched the same route with E95.
The E95 is not approved for LCY, only the E90. The same applies with the E75/E70. Reason is the slightly extended 75/95 versions are longer behind the main gear, which is an issue for tailstrikes when flaring on landing with the particular characteristics of the steep approach. Not by much but it becomes relevant.
For all that there's concern about the short TORA aircraft are commonly airborne well before the halfway point. Must be fun ...
Last edited by WHBM; 30th Dec 2019 at 07:22.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 12,910
Originally Posted by Lord Bracken
Indeed - and I think "full business class load" mentioned actually means around 30-40 pax.
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Shoreham
Age: 69
Posts: 35
B747-400 into LCY
Landed at LCY in the B747-400 simulator at max landing weight 285T with autobrakes MAX...VREF 153 kts...rate of descent 1400 feet/min...flare at 70 feet...stopped at last turn-off before the end of the runway.
Take-off was also very impressive. Queen of the skies!
Take-off was also very impressive. Queen of the skies!
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Central UK
Posts: 531
Originally Posted by Nomad2
744IRE
But did you have it down before the lights?
But did you have it down before the lights?
I'd have loved - just loved to have seen/done that in the 747 sim!
I remember the excitement and sheer improbability of it working in the 146 the first time I was shown it!
I remember even more clearly the challenge of getting a 320 down there - so hats off to our 744 wheel above!
But of course with practice and a little unnecessary disrespect for your brakes the 146 would turn off midway with ease. Natch!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: London UK
Posts: 6,732
One of the key drivers behind the whole Canary Wharf/London Docklands redevelopment was a UK bureaucrat, Reg Ward, who was appointed in charge of the London Docklands Redevelopment Corporation, which started from very small beginnings in the 1980s and ended up with what you see there today.
He had done his time in the RAF, where he was contemporary with … Harry Gee, who he talked into doing this flight, and the rest is history. No Reg, no London City. He met a banker along the way as well; something similar happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Ward
He had done his time in the RAF, where he was contemporary with … Harry Gee, who he talked into doing this flight, and the rest is history. No Reg, no London City. He met a banker along the way as well; something similar happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Ward
