Reply to: why the zig zag approach over tower bridge then waterloo bridge into heathrow?

[xchaotic]

I often wonder another sharp right near waterloo bridge/millenium wheel before eventually straightening up for the landing approach?

They're just positioning themselves to fly over my roof with the loudest possible sound...

[hyperD]

When we entered the Lambourne stack the map display said we were approx 35 miles from destination, during the S manouvre I think it was about 20 miles

The initial left turn is made at LAM D11 which is 25 nm (29 miles out) followed by a right turn onto the localiser at BNN D19 16 nm (18 miles out).

The Initial Approach Procedures chart explains it all.

[Menelaus]

Isn't it to make terrorist ground-to-air missile attempts a bit trickier?

Stinger would certainly be able to out-turn a 747!

[Menelaus]

No good for a quick getaway though, unless they jumped on a speedboat..

Certainly not able to get a 747 into LCY!

[Flubster]

It would be easier to get a plane approaching london city airport (not a 747 though)

No good for a quick getaway though, unless they jumped on a speedboat..

[MPwannadecentincome]

Probably not, but crawling along in a straight line makes a 747 a very easy target. I live near Southampton airport and on more than one occassion, I've wondered why that arab looking gentleman has a large pipe resting on his shoulder pointing towards a pond-hopper.

It would be easier to get a plane approaching london city airport (not a 747 though)

[Zippy]

Probably not, but crawling along in a straight line makes a 747 a very easy target. I live near Southampton airport and on more than one occassion, I've wondered why that arab looking gentleman has a large pipe resting on his shoulder pointing towards a pond-hopper.

Probably just enjoying a bit of cultural smoking ...

[Flubster]

Can't see that being very effective

Now everyone look out of the window. Oooh we're all going to die ....

Probably not, but crawling along in a straight line makes a 747 a very easy target. I live near Southampton airport and on more than one occassion, I've wondered why that arab looking gentleman has a large pipe resting on his shoulder pointing towards a pond-hopper.

[Zippy]

Isn't it to make terrorist ground-to-air missile attempts a bit trickier?

Can't see that being very effective

Now everyone look out of the window. Oooh we're all going to die ....

[Flubster]

Isn't it to make terrorist ground-to-air missile attempts a bit trickier?

[centurian]

I often wonder when flying into Heathrow, what is this zig zag left hard turn

Making sure the hydralics still work

[MPwannadecentincome]

"The zig-zag is to permit traffic to be sequenced into the "circuit". A similar procedure exists off BIG to the south. When things are quiet LAM traffic can leave the VOR on a SW track for a straight-in on westerlies. On easterlies traffic which would be going round in the hold on westerlies can be on the downwind leg for the 09s. Track distances from LAM are around 35+ miles on westerlies and 50+ miles on easterlies but there is more room on easterlies to have more off LAM all at the same FL and 3nm apart."

whatever that means

source

When we entered the Lambourne stack the map display said we were approx 35 miles from destination, during the S manouvre I think it was about 20 miles

[MPwannadecentincome]

http://avsim.com/geoffschool/combined/HeathrowSTARs.htm

maybe some help

or this

Ah so I was in Lambourne and its an S shape - I don't remember going quite as far as the M1 though, I think it was a much smaller S - maybe due to lighter air traffic at that time.

I've noticed even if there is no stack the approach still does a tight S.

[xoggoth]

These things are done in order to annoy as many people as possible. Most of the large corporate and public sector budgets are spent on research in order to maximise annoyance among the general public.

[hyperD]

Many years ago, I practised the racetrack holding pattern on the CIT NDB at Cranfield for my instrument rating. I'll have to dig out the old charts...