DoorstoAutomatic

Thank You!"
Afraid I cant see that far!
Shame!:(

video of landing on sky news.. http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...309658,00.html

No. They are just still being cautious with the wake separation. If you only have one superheavy all day then why not just make a space in the departing traffic and keep it away from the other arrivals.

380 two weeks ago
 

Please bear with me on this. I realise a certain amount of crystal ball gazing may be involved but in the collective view of you expert flyers, how would the 380 have handled the appalling weather at LHR given that other aircraft had a not very comfortable time landing.

Perhaps the extra weight and size would provide better stability?

JC

Landed 27L mainly due the press, it arrived early and was unable to hold until the alternation.

st7860,
Thanks, nice touch-and-go.

Classic "party trick" on the real Concorde sim (carrier located not far from Kai Tak, IIRC).

Airbus 380 lands at LHR
 

The necessary taxyway widening to permit A380 operations has only been completed between Terminal 3 and 27L/09R. At the time of the improvements British Airways had yet to order the aircraft. When aircraft are using 27L for landing separation will be increased.

A380 into 27L
 

I too got caught out when it went into 27L but was amused by a BA arrival 15mins later, heard on the ground frequency, asking what all the folk in hi-viz jackets were up to and unaware of the A380. "Was there a Marshallers' Convention today?!!"

When does it head back ?

Scheduled to depart at 1855

I assume it will fly out over Gerrards Cross?
Clouds seem to be clearing, but I guess it will be too dark by the time it comes overhead..

Departs at 1855 tonight as SQ319.
P.S the next one is already on its way, departed SIN at 1545. three minutes before todays touched down. So for three minutes there were two A380s heading to LHR. It is estimating arrival at 0508 tomorrow.
D

I went up to Blackheath, South London (next to the tea hut!) Was listening to 119.725 (northern hold) waiting for her to drop below the 4k cloud base, when she was handed over to Director 120.4 the officer said 'Singapore 308 its 27 left for you.. you have 20 miles turn right 240 and report established 27 left :) She was a Little to far away for any worth while video but I used the zoom to get a better look... Awesome... I will have to get used to not being woken up at 5am in the future when she IS 20 miles out for a direct in approach 27R ;)

Yes, sorry about that. In fact, the first thing we always think about when making decisions is how we can annoy all those spotters! Facts like safety as it was with Concorde, and a request from the owner of the airport, as it was today, just don't have the same weight behind them.

See above for the reason why we used 27L for landing.

Not correct. A10E south down Echo is A380 compliant, as is the eastern side of the airfield from the 09L turn offs from A5 and A4.

Here's a view you wont have seen on any TV news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvR1Oe6CfoQ

Diedtrying,
Yes indeed!
And nice to see a water salute at a first arrival, rather than just at the sad occasion of a very last flight (i.e., Concorde......).

Nice video Diedtrying. Thanks for posting :ok:

S

Dang missed it! I was so busy working (yeah right!) that I was about 5 mins late reaching my vantage point by the coffee machine. Oh well, saw the very first one to arrive at Heathrow in '06...

^^ yes thanks for the super video :D

Great vid, watched it come in from Myrtle Ave, fantastic stuff. Not often you see a first like that!

What was the immigration hall like in terminal 3? Did it take as long to clear as the flight took? Bet the baggage reclaim wasn't much better either!!

Sorry but I have had 2 bad experiences inside that dump regarding queues and baggage.