Heathrow Director,

I was under the impression, they only use lambourne and biggin while the approach is on 27L/R passing over london, and they use other 2 stacks when "tresspassing on Queens abode "... never thought we have 4 stacks in use together.

boe777.... As John R suggested, there are 4 stacks in use all the time. Traffic from Scandinavia, Germany and various points east goes to Lambourne; traffic from Scotland and the north to Bovingdon; traffic from France, Italy and the southeast goes to Biggin Hill and traffic from the southwest and west goes to Ockham. Traffic at Bovingdon and Lambourne are on one frequency whilst that at Biggin and Ockham are on another. When the aircraft have left the stacks and commenced descent they are all then transferred to another frequency for final vectoring.

This not not unconnected to the above so can I ask: if I understand it properly, then "intercepting the localiser" means that the aircraft picks up a narrow radio beam from the airfield which guides it in.

How narrow is that beam - can you be a mile left or right of the centreline and still pick it up? Or have I misunderstood the concept (or the physics).

Boe777,

I'm a little lost.

Am I to assume you are using an analogy that we carry a lot of fuel? Hence the swimming pool?

If so, then yes there is a justification. The fuel is calculated based on many things and don't forget the extra fuel needed for diverting and holding. We don't just carry fuel for the sake of it.

If I am wrong and you really do mean that we literally carry swimming pools, then I'd tell you to get your face out of the Private Owners' A380 Brochures.

As for mpg, yes we do have have them for our engines. Urban, Extra-Urban and Combined. I usually get about 1 centimetre per gallon at Take-off for our RR engines.

togsdragracing - everything you ever wanted to know about an instrument landing system.

Instrument landing system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nicer picture of one here:-

Dictionary : Instrument_Landing_System

betpump5,

I only wanted to glean, just how do the pilots calculate the optimum fuel reserve needed before each flight..

and potkettleblack has explained it well
Also, if the engines are replaced due to maintainance etc, does that affect the consumption.

as far as A380 is concerned.. you may soon have Burger King or KFC in arcade for PAX.. who knows.

Question answered, thanks potkettleblack.

Back to enjoying lurking :)

It would be great, to be in league of Gates, Mittal etc etc lol:)
i bet they will struggle too...