Ferry Aircraft Between LGW and LHR

[scudpilot]

Just wondered, on the odd occassion that an aircraft (say a 747) needs to be "repositioned" between LHR and LGW (or vice versa) how long would the flight take, and what kind of altitude would it cruise at?

[BOAC]

Depending on time of day, between 20 and 30 minutes at around 6-8,000 ft as ball park figures.

[barit1]

Taxi time would probably be greater than flight time.

(BTW - what do the British know about "ball parks" anyway??)

[GK430]

Last time, about 10 mins at 2,000ft and were level by time we crossed the
10R numbers....okay, it was that long ago
(and we weren't brutush )

[AlphaWhiskyRomeo]

Originally Posted by GK430

Last time, about 10 mins at 2,000ft and were level by time we crossed the
10R numbers....okay, it was that long ago
(and we weren't brutush )

20-30 minutes seems too long.


Once airborne, I have seen flightplans for VS reaching FL 080 to FL100 with an airborne time of 10-15 minutes.

Guess it depends on time of day though.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

AWR... it's the routing which takes the time; they don't go direct. Flying a SID out of Gatwick and a climb to minimum stack level at BIG, then the approach into Heathrow could easily take 20+ minutes. Years ago we just used to pull them off at low-level straight into the circuit. Maybe that doesn't happen now.

[BOAC]

Guess it depends on time of day though.

-you said it

EG LTN-LGW = routing via LARCK to hold TIMBA = 45 minutes. Straight line at 2000' - lovely stuff- but my advice is don't load fuel for that only.

[Global Pilot]

Originally Posted by BOAC

Depending on time of day, between 20 and 30 minutes at around 6-8,000 ft as ball park figures.

A Titan 73 positioning from STN to LTN (for an Easy days work ) earlier this morning flight planned for 9 mins airborne (planned taxi 15mins). Routing EGSS Buzad5A Lorel5A BKY BUSTA LOREL EGGW at FL070. Actuals showed it leveled at 5 and took 11mins in the air.

[BAforever]

How long does it take for a 777 or 747 to get from CWL to LHR, LGW, MAN?

[lobby]

Used to be the case that any delay would be taken on the ground until the min stack level at BIG was available (FL070) and depart on the BIG SID.

[bamcb38c]

it usually takes around 30 mins from lhr to cwl a little longer from gatwick. thety tend to follow the m4 at around 12000ft

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<they tend to follow the m4 at around 12000ft>>

Aha.. is that how they do it? All my life in ATC I wondered about that!

[BOAC]

HD - I wonder what they do if the motorway is closed.........................

[Dan Air 87]

And do they still have to pay the toll by the M4 Severn bridge?

[bamcb38c]

thats the ansewer i got from a captain last week when i asked anyway.......

[haughtney1]

Recently I did an 0 dark 30 LGW-LTN reposition, 12 mins airborne and cruised at 6000 ft, from the left turn too going through the 27/27 centre lines, the flying time was about 4 mins.....we were doing 310 kts though (bloody ex fastjet pilots!)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

bamcb38c.. well to put it politely, he was pulling your wire! You surely do not imagine that modern commercial aircraft rely on roads to navigate?

[Kestrel_909]

Originally Posted by HEATHROW DIRECTOR

bamcb38c.. well to put it politely, he was pulling your wire! You surely do not imagine that modern commercial aircraft rely on roads to navigate?

I'm remembering David Gunson talking about this, very funny They also follow the English Channel ferries to get across to France and follow the autoroute or whatever it's called.

[Seat1APlease]

When training at Oxford we used to go everywhere using IFR ( I follow railways) I think the rail timetable was more use than the Air Pilot

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Seat1Aplease... They used to use Smokey Joe a lot when I was there!!