UK: Heathrow to rely on one runway till October
After decades of insisting it needs three runways, Heathrow airport will make do with just one – with closure of the southern runway either partially or fully until October. A “Notice to Airmen” (Notam) has been issued to pilots and airlines warning that the runway, known as 09R/27L, will close at one minute to midnight on Sunday 12 July until the same time on 30 September. The reason given is “WIP” (work in progress). The airport is taking advantage of the lull in air traffic to conduct repairs on the southern runway. Terminal 4, which is adjacent, has been closed since April. All operations will be concentrated on the northern runway (09L/27R), which will run a “mixed mode” operation of landings and take-offs. Normally one of the two runways is used for arrivals and the other for departure. Air traffic controllers usually switch them at 3pm each day, giving respite to residents. But instead, west Londoners will hear the arrival of aircraft from before 5am to nearly 11pm daily. John Stewart, chair of Hacan, the group opposed to expansion at Heathrow, said: “Runways always need repairing from time to time but this is going to be tough on people living under the northern flight path. It will mean all-day flying. Even at a time when there are fewer planes, it is going to present problems.” A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Reduced passenger demand as a result of Covid-19 means we have an opportunity to undertake necessary repairs to the southern runway with less disruption caused than if we were operating at full capacity."<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2020-07-13/general/uk-heathrow-to-rely-on-one-runway-till-october
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/logo.png
UK: Heathrow to rely on one runway till October
After decades of insisting it needs three runways, Heathrow airport will make do with just one – with closure of the southern runway either partially or fully until October. A “Notice to Airmen” (Notam) has been issued to pilots and airlines warning that the runway, known as 09R/27L, will close at one minute to midnight on Sunday 12 July until the same time on 30 September. The reason given is “WIP” (work in progress). The airport is taking advantage of the lull in air traffic to conduct repairs on the southern runway. Terminal 4, which is adjacent, has been closed since April. All operations will be concentrated on the northern runway (09L/27R), which will run a “mixed mode” operation of landings and take-offs. Normally one of the two runways is used for arrivals and the other for departure. Air traffic controllers usually switch them at 3pm each day, giving respite to residents. But instead, west Londoners will hear the arrival of aircraft from before 5am to nearly 11pm daily. John Stewart, chair of Hacan, the group opposed to expansion at Heathrow, said: “Runways always need repairing from time to time but this is going to be tough on people living under the northern flight path. It will mean all-day flying. Even at a time when there are fewer planes, it is going to present problems.” A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Reduced passenger demand as a result of Covid-19 means we have an opportunity to undertake necessary repairs to the southern runway with less disruption caused than if we were operating at full capacity."<br/>
