London City Thread
 

Do my eyes deceieve me, or at about 12.30 today did i see an aircraft resembling the above description (A319/737/Embraer) climbing out of London City R28?

Isn't the new Embraer trying to get approval to make a 5 degree approach for London City?:8


check out:
http://www.aerospace-technology.com/...s/embraer_170/


(Edited to add website)

EMB170 PPXJB has been present at EGLC during the past few days, presumably for type certification at City

Fried Chicken

A319 at LCY?
 

Driving to London City airport this morning I saw what appeared to be an A319 taking off. It was certainly nothing like the usual jet airliners and biz jets that use the airport. The a/c was white, had no obvious company markings but had a dark blue fin. Ryanair up to something secretive perhaps? I have certainly heard rumours that Easyjet might be interested in operating from the East London airport.

Possibly an Embraer 170? I believe they're trying to certify the ERJ170 at City.

Ah. That explains it. I had no idea EMB had produced an a/c with underwing engines. Must pay more attention and keep up with aviation developments.
Perhaps this thread had better be closed down or moved.

The Embraer 170 is down there for LCY certification testing. I was talking to one of the OPS guys at city a couple of weeks ago and he said that Airbus want to certify the A318 into City! Apparently the current limit is ground manouvering room.

Yep - it did 9 ILS full stops yesterday lunchtime.

Not sure if it is still there/staying - I think that they have finished now. (Didn't have any go-arounds which is a good thing I guess!!)

Would it be possible to operate an A 319/320 from LCY?

What are the limitations apart from manouvering space there? Noise? Size of the a/c?


Rgds

Tyne

It's there again this morning (Tuesday 3rd). Looks impressive to see something full-sized in there.

On a related topic I notice this on the LCY website :

"ScotAirways is set to introduce additional flights on its already successful Edinburgh to London City route with the imminent launch [Monday 9 May] of its first jet aircraft.

The introduction of the BAe 146 jet, which has a seating capacity of 80, will bring with it an additional daily return flight at key business travel times.

Departing from Edinburgh at 07.50 the new jet aircraft will return from London City at 17.15."

Seems unusual to do just one round trip a day and stand at LCY all day. Are they using someone else's aircraft - Euromanx maybe ?

If my memory serves me well, Airbus showed the A318 performing steep approaches during the Farnborough show last year. So, I guess the steep approach thing is well underway so landing should be OK; its got the wing and engines of an A320 so it must have great take-off perfomance. All the A320 models are fairly quiet so I suppose that would be alright at lightish weights. Does anyone know if there are any plans to make a bigger apron at LCY?

The only remaining expansion space at LCY is to the east of the terminal. A straightforward pier out of the terminal on that side, set further back from the runway allowing more manoeuvring space than the present stands (which were sized for Dash Sevens and are a squish even for 146s) would be the most effective.

Key problem is it is over the dock and therefore requires an expensive civil engineering job to fill this in, hard up against the terminal, although the bulk fill material could be brought in from the river by barge.

Anyone who has been there recently will know the mess that the DLR extension has created (and for something called "light rail" the viaducts appear to be sized for TGV trains !). Before long they may need to put a multi-storey structure onto the car park as well (which means you need space for a year or so for a temporary car park - the space for the terminal extension could be needed for this first). So potential building works for years to come.

Rather than fill it in, I believe they are looking at building a new apron on Stilts over the dock.

Are Swiss still getting some EMB170s? I know they originally wanted the aircraft to be LCY capable when they ordered it. Also, I believe LCY are talking to Alitalia (who have Emb170s) about launching services to City.

Fried Chicken

A318

I have from the horse's mouth that Airbus strongly wish to get the A318 cleared for LCY operations.

On slightly less good authority I believe Airbus contend that the 318 will offer greater range out of LCY than any other type, and will therefore open up an entirely new range of destinations.

So it would be a major plus for the 318 programme, in view of the difficulties with PW6000 power and the low overall level of airline interest in the type.

This is the plan for the airfield by 2010.

The 28 hold is already complete of course.

http://www.pbase.com/kbmphotography/image/42952456.jpg

And interestingly, the 28 holding area is a steal platform. There are a few operator's who think that sitting on the metal at the hold for elongated periods is bad news for the nav kit on some craft.

A few operator's what?

On a modern aircraft the only thing affected by the metal would be the standby compass. Nobody ever looks at that, so what's the problem?

Reinforced concrete of the strength required for aircraft taxiways and runways is up to about 40% steel, as mesh and bar embedded in the concrete. You can't see it but it is in there. If it wasn't the concrete would be cracked in a day.

It is the reason given for SID deviation when operators were asked for the reason they didn't fly the SID properly.

I didn't say I believed it!

London City Helo
 

Did my eys deceive me or did Mrs Green and I see a helicopter land at LCY last night (Saturday). Ok, I had a few nice drinks at the Yi-Ban Chinese (Recommended for those who are in this area) but I had not drunk that much! LCY is closed at that time of night so I am guessing some kind of emergency for the helicopter or a medical emergency? Anyone know anything about this or did I really just have too many drinks??

A good place for a view of the airport. Make sure you know how to get there. And book one of the tables by the window for the view across the airport.

Mrs WHBM :) likes it too but I'm always disappointed, of course, when it's Saturday night and the airport is closed.

No turnip - you were not P1$sed!! (well you may well of been.....)

A little white one did pop in for a few mins......

London City Twin Otter on floats
 

I was amazed this afternoon to observe a Twin Otter on (probably amphibious) floats fly over the Isle of Dogs in East London and land on the eastern side, I think somewhere near the Excel exhibition centre or the Dome (I live on the western side so can only guess). Anyone got any further details?

It's a Greek Twin Otter SX-BVP , expected to be on dock by the Excel Centre until Wednesday! Hope the LCY arrivals will be on 10 this week - should get a great view of it!
M

I noticed a DHC6 Twin Otter on floats actually on the water next to LCY tonight? Did this land on the water or was it dragged up the Thames. I think its for some display at the Excel rather than a new (floatplane) service from LCY

Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken,

It landed, flew down runway 24, and got very low over the Jet Centre, had a great view! I believe it's here until the end of the week.

It is here for the Greek Government I believe, as part of the travel exhibition at the Excel.
(runway 24!?!?!?!)

So... where's the best place for "Joe Public" to see it please? My wife and I would sure like to see a Greek Twin Otter.

HD :

It sounds like it is next to the Excel Centre. You can walk right along the dockside all past the centre. Take the Docklands Light Railway to Custom House/Excel, walk past the Excel entrance to the dockside from where you can look up and down to see where it is. It's all open access.

I wonder where it actually landed (not clear so far). The Excel is on the long Victoria Dock but there's a footbridge across it halfway along.

Thanks WHBM. We'll be driving from Berkshire so will check on car parking, etc. Never been on the light railway so that could be an experience too!

I can see it ....... :)

http://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/search/phot...nct_entry=true

Some shots with a London background would be something!!!! .....

WHBM - yes it landed on that water - avoiding that bridge!

HD - send me some pics when you get them!!! :)

Back in to work tomorrow so will find out when she is flying again.

Alan.. Wildo, if only to give u a larf!!

To give Ruth and me an evens chance, probably on Wednesday.... is this flying machine parked on the Thames or in the Royal Victoria Dock?

Make sure you sit at the front.

Unless I'm mistaken it's here

I can remember a (land-based) DHC-6 doing a few flights out of LCY in its very early days, the operator was Brymon. It had a noticeably noisy departure sound but nevertheless got clearance to operate in/out, although I don't believe any scheduled operator used it.

WHBM - that is where I am led to believe it is. (At least that was the plan on the paperwork!!!) The approach over the Connaught Bridge would have been fun!

HD - I am sure your pics are brilliant as always. Will re-read the TOI at work and quiz ops to get some movement info tomorrow.

HD - why not go and visit LCY tower>????? I am sure we can sort something out.

Unless you have a ticket for the show the best place to see it is the East door to ExCel or from the bridge over Royal Victoria Dock.http://www.petermcsorley.com/sx-bvp_800bridge.jpg
http://www.petermcsorley.com/sx-bvp_2113.jpg
Owing to the footbridge it will probably go through the swing bridge to the dock north of LCY. From there it can either take off from the water or be lifted into the airport like they do for maintenance in Corfu.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5618465

I've edited the link in my post above to give a more accurate position for where it is according to these photographs. The walkway behind the aircraft is a public footpath along the dock edge.

I would think it was unlikely the aircraft could be taken through the swingbridge towards LCY as I don't think the wingspan would fit the distance between the dock walls at that point. But if you look at the lower picture it can have a good run down the water from either direction, pass well beneath the high-level footbridge, and lift off after passing underneath.

Great pics - thanks.

The walkway behind the aicraft has temporary fences in place guarded by goons in high viz jackets. The only access is via the exhibition centre with a ticket for the show.

Going by the size of some of the boats they have in that dock the swing bridge carrying Connaught Rd is wide enough for a twotter.

So... do I take it that Joe Public cannot see the Twin Otter as I have no intention of paying to go into the show?