more oA sorry story that highlights the flaws of aviation policy

Begin forwarded message:

From: Paul Davey <[email protected]>
Date: December 23, 2006 7:45:11 PM EST
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [IP] more oA sorry story that highlights the flaws of  
aviation policy


Some interesting supplementary comments I gleaned from the UK media ...

Heathrow has only 2 runways, to 3, 4 and 5 in Frankfurt, Paris and  
Amsterdam
It runs to 98.5% capacity on a normal day, rather than the 80%  
typical of these others.

Planes typically have a 45 second gap. but the limiting factor was  
separation of planes on the ground in the thick local fog.

This 98.5% was reported as normal for an asset. but it seems  
unreasonably high to me.

Since the three London airports are run by a private company (BAA)  
their aim is obviously to maximize profits.

BAA are being given a hard time in the press by airlines and  
commentators but their party line was that its safety/air traffic  
concerns that have caused the delays - when terminal five is  
completed better ground facilities will be available - but that this  
shows the need for further runways for all three main London airports  
(which have only five between them).
(This is an ongoing debate - and it took years to agree Terminal 5)

There were already calls for the formerly publicly owned BAA (which  
runs Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) to be investigated  by the  
competition authorities. Airlines feel that its dominant position and  
and limited landing slots do not promote a fair market.

Some reports also suggested that British Airways flights had been  
worst affected - and some other (smaller) UK airlines reported far  
less disruption. Eg BMI who use Terminal 1 at Heathrow.

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate it,
and Happy Holidays for all those who don't with time off work!

regards
   Paul

At 13:52 23/12/2006, David Farber wrote:

> Begin forwarded message:

> From: Giles Robertson <[email protected]>
> Date: December 23, 2006 5:33:28 AM EST
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: [IP] more oA sorry story that highlights the flaws of
> aviation policy

snip

>>  This isn't out of line
> with
> other airports - ORD, when fogged up, will usually take some time to
> get the
> flights off the ground.
>
> Building runways may not be the whole answer - if Heathrow and
> Stansted get
> an extra one each, we may run out of airspace in southern England to
> cope;
> this has been a major problem with plans for a whole new airport.
>
> The people most affected were Brits flying in or out for Christmas