Heathrow Approach oddities
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Heathrow Approach oddities
this is not really worthy of the professional ATC forum hence posting here.
Was at Blackbushe today around 2pm idling away half an hour watching the local movements and the 9R inbound traffic to LHR including that from the north via the bins and FR24. Around 2 15 my attention was drawn to a LH A320 just north of Blackbushe in a close to 180 degree left turn having clearly gone way way through the localiser. I know this si sometimes done for spacing but trun completed it was now headed directly at (but 1000' below) a Ethipian 788 also heading south way way beyond the 9R final approach course as they passed the Ethiopian began a 180 to the right taking it below (by 2-3000 ft) a BA Airbus also heading due south which duly made a 180 to the right .
The upshot of all these unusual evolutions was now three aircraft headed roughly NNE back towards the 9R final approach neatly separated in distance and height for joining finals.
I have never seen anything like this although I know in busy time the occasional Lamboure inbound is switch via Ockham to even out the flow . Was it due to any unusual event or just a very slick piece of ad hoc controlling although it must have seemed a bit odd to the pilots especially the Ethiopian who was suddenly presented with a A320 head on although clearly 1000 below.
Any comments from a friendly controller?
Was at Blackbushe today around 2pm idling away half an hour watching the local movements and the 9R inbound traffic to LHR including that from the north via the bins and FR24. Around 2 15 my attention was drawn to a LH A320 just north of Blackbushe in a close to 180 degree left turn having clearly gone way way through the localiser. I know this si sometimes done for spacing but trun completed it was now headed directly at (but 1000' below) a Ethipian 788 also heading south way way beyond the 9R final approach course as they passed the Ethiopian began a 180 to the right taking it below (by 2-3000 ft) a BA Airbus also heading due south which duly made a 180 to the right .
The upshot of all these unusual evolutions was now three aircraft headed roughly NNE back towards the 9R final approach neatly separated in distance and height for joining finals.
I have never seen anything like this although I know in busy time the occasional Lamboure inbound is switch via Ockham to even out the flow . Was it due to any unusual event or just a very slick piece of ad hoc controlling although it must have seemed a bit odd to the pilots especially the Ethiopian who was suddenly presented with a A320 head on although clearly 1000 below.
Any comments from a friendly controller?
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First thing that comes to mind is that the landing runway was blocked and aircraft were being routed through the ILS to increase track distance..
Don't believe all you see on FR. I spent an interesting half hour yesterday watching Farnborough traffic landing everywhere except on the runway!
Don't believe all you see on FR. I spent an interesting half hour yesterday watching Farnborough traffic landing everywhere except on the runway!
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Looking at FR24 around that time, yes a number of aircraft made quick orbits away from the usual holds, or extended legs, the Ethiopian 787, BA A320, BA 777, Jordanian 787 as HD says, probably a temporary problem on 09L. Something like overheated brakes and inspection for example?
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I suspect it may have been something a little more than a hiccup etc.
I was there taking photos yesterday (the runway was 9L, by the way).
Following the arrival of a BA 787 at 14:19, I commented to another spotter that the wait for the next aircraft seemed extremely long.
Eventually a BA A320 arrived around 14:25, followed by the Lufthansa, then the Ethiopian. The gap between the BA 787 and the following traffic was around 7 or 8 minutes.
This was not the only "glitch" yesterday. Around an hour earlier, there was another longish gap between an American B777 and a BA A320. During this gap, an RAF C17 suddenly appeared, flying south to north more or less overhead the M25 at something like 2 to 3 thousand feet, cutting perpendicular across the 9L approach. Eventually, it made a left hand circuit and landed at Northolt. It seems this was the repatriation flight for the military nurse being repatriated from Freetown.
I was there taking photos yesterday (the runway was 9L, by the way).
Following the arrival of a BA 787 at 14:19, I commented to another spotter that the wait for the next aircraft seemed extremely long.
Eventually a BA A320 arrived around 14:25, followed by the Lufthansa, then the Ethiopian. The gap between the BA 787 and the following traffic was around 7 or 8 minutes.
This was not the only "glitch" yesterday. Around an hour earlier, there was another longish gap between an American B777 and a BA A320. During this gap, an RAF C17 suddenly appeared, flying south to north more or less overhead the M25 at something like 2 to 3 thousand feet, cutting perpendicular across the 9L approach. Eventually, it made a left hand circuit and landed at Northolt. It seems this was the repatriation flight for the military nurse being repatriated from Freetown.
All in a day's work for any approach radar controller.
Culprit appears to have been a BA B788 from Hyderabad, which landed at 14:18. Next landing wasn't until 14:25.
Thread Starter
Gentlemen
Thank you very much for your interesting and informative replies. yes of course it was 09L don't know what iwas thinking of there. It struck me as i said what a nifty bit of and hoc controlling that was to get the three inbounds from the north delayed time wise but beautifully sequenced back for the ILS as the picture from FR24 shows exactly what i saw from a different perspective. And as one response says -all in a days work is being too modest because clearly it doesn't happen every day and it really was very impressive to see.
I agree with HD that FR 24 is a bit dubious near the ground - I was using it yesterday to see what was actually heading for finals from the north rather than this incident.
thanks again and a big well done to the controller-by the way HD would that have been the Heathrow Director handling these flights given the location?
Thank you very much for your interesting and informative replies. yes of course it was 09L don't know what iwas thinking of there. It struck me as i said what a nifty bit of and hoc controlling that was to get the three inbounds from the north delayed time wise but beautifully sequenced back for the ILS as the picture from FR24 shows exactly what i saw from a different perspective. And as one response says -all in a days work is being too modest because clearly it doesn't happen every day and it really was very impressive to see.
I agree with HD that FR 24 is a bit dubious near the ground - I was using it yesterday to see what was actually heading for finals from the north rather than this incident.
thanks again and a big well done to the controller-by the way HD would that have been the Heathrow Director handling these flights given the location?
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I did that job for 20 years in the tower building and 10 years at West Drayton when the Approach facility moved. It's all done from Swanwick now.
Talkdownman was one of my colleagues for many years at Heathrow/LATCC too.
Talkdownman was one of my colleagues for many years at Heathrow/LATCC too.
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Originally Posted by pax britanica
would that have been the Heathrow Director handling these flights given the location?
Once when I was doing Number 2 with about seven off we lost both runways simultaneously (for different reasons - can't remember why) so couldn't switch any to the departure runway. Couple of missed approached back to the hold, and spun the rest. Have to start the orbits from the back though! Just sat there for about ten minutes watching them going round in circles on intermediate approach. Not difficult, that's why we do TRUCE. It's all about maintaining spare capacity for such unforeseen circumstances. Vectoring routine traffic in the groove over the same streets is the easy bit, just have to make sure you don't nod off…
Yes, all in a day's work...
