Heathrow arrivals via Lambourne, radio frequency
 

Usually, aircraft arriving via Lambourne operating on London 119.725Mhz are then handed over to Heathrow on 120.4. Have been listening this afternoon for the first time to handovers being given on 128.025. Would be interested to know why this is being used. Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

119.725 and 120.4 controllers sit close to each at Swanwick and both use the callsign "Heathrow Director". 128.025, if I recall, is a standby frequency for use if one of the other Heathrow frequencies is u/s.

CAution about talking too much as it is a) illegal to monitor the airband and b) a further offence to publish anything you hear.

HTH

Many thanks HD, comments noted!

Unusual. Borrowed from City Radar (which would have been closed this afternoon - I wonder if they will ever know…I hope Heathrow returns it clean and tidy). 127.525 MHz is usually Heathrow's spare for 120.4. Perhaps it's broken through lack of use.

Excuse thread drift. I watched a BA 320 break off an approach to 27L on Saturday somewhere over Richmond, I don't think I've seen that happen before is it a common occurrence?

Not common but not unheard of.

Heathrow typically sees around 10 missed approaches per week, on average.

I think he means break-off rather than missed approach Dave. It occasionally happens, maybe for a tech problem with the aircraft or a runway blockage. In those cases, aircraft a few miles out may be instructed to climb and break-off the approach - not technically a go-around.

Thanks HD, found an old thread which suggests a few possibilities including police activity

http://www.pprune.org/atc-issues/323...-approach.html