Wikiposts
Search
Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner) If you're not a professional pilot but want to discuss issues about the job, this is the best place to loiter. You won't be moved on by 'security' and there'll be plenty of experts to answer any questions.

Aircraft over North London

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 22nd May 2010, 10:29
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Aircraft over North London

Hello

Sitting outside a pub in North London yesterday evening, I saw several commercial aircraft (both narrow and wide bodied) flying overheard in what I think was a northerly direction. The aircraft appeared to be at/below 10,000ft (I know it's not possible to tell). In any case, quite "low".

Could someone tell me where they were flying to? I assume they weren't Luton-bound as there were a couple of 747s. Were they leaving a hold? Or were they in fact departing from LHR? If so, why were they still quite low over North London?

Many thanks
Nick
Nicholas49 is offline  
Old 22nd May 2010, 10:41
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: se england
Posts: 1,588
Likes: 0
Received 49 Likes on 22 Posts
If you want a realsitic answer you will have to be alot more specific than North London, with Heathrow on Easterlies yesterday ie taking off towards London you could have seen LHR outbounds heading east or north or inbounds heading west on the downwind leg of their approach
PB
pax britanica is offline  
Old 22nd May 2010, 11:25
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Interesting that you consider 10,000 ft or below to be quite "low". If they were Heathrow outbounds they would be about half that height.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR is offline  
Old 22nd May 2010, 11:48
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: London
Age: 50
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with HD on this one. I "think" they are only cleared to about 6000 on departure from LHR.

Highley likely to be LHR departures.

I pose the question posed before, N London is a big area, which part?
ukdean is offline  
Old 22nd May 2010, 21:20
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Coalville
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Quite a lot of activity over Woodford (NW London), lower than I have usually seen previously. Not an expert on the area as just there on business, just my opinion but I would guess by the aircraft types it was LHR traffic and not LCY.
Crusher1 is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 06:59
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can't find Woodford for some reason, but Heathrow has been on easterlies which may account for what you saw. Inbound traffic to Heathrow in those circumstances would be around 6-8000 ft and higher.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 07:55
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
activity over Woodford (NW London)
Can't find Woodford for some reason
Maybe because it is northEAST of London? Chigwell/Loughton area.
Ray Dahvectac is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 08:43
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: east ESSEX
Posts: 4,682
Received 72 Likes on 46 Posts
Spotters

Try`radarvituel.com`, or`flightradar24.com`...
sycamore is online now  
Old 23rd May 2010, 08:46
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK, thanks. Inbound traffic over there for Heathrow for easterly landing would generally be 8000 feet or higher.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 12:04
  #10 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello

The precise location was Belsize Park. And the pub was The Stag, which I recommend if you're in the area!

Yes, LHR easterly departures heading north/east sounds plausible.

HD: yes, the aircraft appeared lower than 10,000ft so I take your point there.

Many thanks
Nick
Nicholas49 is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 13:47
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ME
Age: 56
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stag

Know it well, I grew up there. Last had a pint in the beer garden last summer.
Sounds like these aircraft were on a standard BPK VOR departure and most probably at FL60. They usually fly runway heading 09R/L then make the turn north right over the top of the Stag. I think the SID used to be call BPJJ6
Enjoy your beer.
Coopz67 is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 14:41
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The SID off 09R is a BPK 6J, which goes to 6000 ft. BUZAD 4J also follows the same initial track before turning left northwest bound.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR is offline  
Old 23rd May 2010, 19:56
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: EGNX
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Much the same last night - I was on the South Bank of the Thames enjoying a few pints and there were a string of wide-body departures heading in an E or NE direction to our North. I am guessing these were heading to points in Asia and being held level for a while.
Doors to Automatic is offline  
Old 24th May 2010, 06:30
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The reason they may have been held down at 6000 ft is that the departure track passes under the inbound stream which leaves Lambourn on a westerly heading descending to a flight level at least 1000 ft above 6000 ft. Once clear, the outbounds are climbed.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR is offline  
Old 24th May 2010, 08:49
  #15 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Coopz67 and HD - that description completely fits with what I saw. The aircraft were indeed making the northbound turn overhead.

One more question: were the long-haul wide-bodied aircraft likely to be heading across the Atlantic? Or could they have still been 'heading north' and then going to the East?
Nicholas49 is offline  
Old 24th May 2010, 08:53
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If they were trans-Atlantic they would have turned northwest after a short while and headed up the UK and either out over Ireland or Scotland. Those that turn further to the right are heading for northern Europe, Russia, Far East, etc,
HEATHROW DIRECTOR is offline  
Old 24th May 2010, 12:44
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ME
Age: 56
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Think they should give us our own waypoint called STAG of course
Coopz67 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.