Heathrow in trial to cut stacking times

A NEW operational procedure to cut the amount of time aircraft circle in ‘holding stacks’ at London Heathrow Airport has begun.

Traditionally NATS, the UK’s air traffic service provider, has been able to influence an arriving aircraft’s approach to Heathrow only once it enters UK airspace … sometimes only 80 miles from the airport. This limits the opportunity to manage the flow of traffic and can result in additional time spent in the holding stacks.

Now, if delays in the Heathrow holding stacks begin to build, air traffic controllers in the Netherlands, France, Scotland and Ireland will be asked to slow down aircraft up to 350 miles away from London to help minimise delays on arrival.

The trial is being led by NATS with the aim of cutting average holding times by at least a quarter from the current time of just under eight minutes.

Martin Rolfe, managing director, operations at NATS, commented: ‘We expect the trial to be a significant benefit to airlines in terms of fuel savings. Slowing aircraft down during the en-route phase of flight when they are much higher will save fuel and CO2 emissions, while reducing the impact of noise for those living under the holding stacks in the south east of England.’

The trial will run until the end of 2014.

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