Heathrow |
During normal operations, FIN will pass instructions to inbound traffic routeing from the North and South in order to perform integration of the two streams onto the ILS until handover to the Tower.
Traffic should normally be received by FIN descending to altitude 4000ft (QNH) at 220kts. If any non standard altitudes or speeds are used, FIN should have been informed about these when the aircraft was transferred.
The minimum radar separation between aircraft is 3nm however 2.5nm radar
separation may also be used under certain circumstances. These are:
- The second aircraft of any given pair is within 20nm of the threshold
- Appropriate vortex spacing is not required between the 2 pairs
- Speed control is used to avoid separation eroding below 2.5nm.
Do not confuse 2.5nm radar separation and 2.5nm spacing. 2.5nm radar separation
may be used by FIN all the time, but unless 2.5nm spacing has been approved by
the tower, the aircraft must be 3nm apart on the ILS before being handed off to
the tower.
The minimum spacing between aircraft is 3nm unless there are vortex implications. There are occasions when the tower may authorise 2.5nm spacing. Heathrow has special permission from the CAA to use reduced vortex spacing on final approach. The final approach vortex spacing to be used by Heathrow Approach is:
| Super | Super | 4 |
| Heavy | 6 | |
| Upper Medium | 7 | |
| Lower Medium | 7 | |
| Small | 7 | |
| Light | 8 | |
Heavy |
Super | 4 |
Heavy |
4 |
|
Upper Medium |
5 |
|
Lower Medium |
5 |
|
Small |
6 |
|
Light |
7 |
|
Upper Medium |
Upper Medium |
3 |
Lower Medium |
4 |
|
Small |
4 |
|
Light |
6 |
|
Lower Medium |
Small |
3 |
Light |
5 |
|
Small |
Small |
3 |
Light |
4 |
Upper Medium aircraft are B707, B757, DC8, IL62 and VC10
Lower Medium are all other medium aircraft
During the night, different spacing requirements are used. These are:
- Between 2230 local and 2330 local = 6nm (or vortex)
- Between 2330 local and 0600 local = 12nm
A minimum of 15nm must be used between a known emergency aircraft and any traffic following it on final approach. The tower will be responsible for determining the required gap.
Aircraft established on adjacent parallel runways can be separated by 2.0nm
diagonally provided that:
- Both aircraft are established on the ILS LLZ for different runways.
This separation can be reduced provided that:
- Both aircraft are established on the ILS LLZ for different runways
- Visual separation is established and can be maintained by the pilot of the
succeeding aircraft
- AIR is informed
Aircraft that are established on the localiser may be cleared to descend on the glidepath from altitudes up to and including 5000ft QNH.
Westerly:
Aircraft can not be descended below 4000ft until within
13nm from touchdown unless the controller can verify that no outbound will
depart London City whilst the aircraft is on approach.
Aircraft can not be descended below 3000ft until within 11nm from touchdown
Aircraft can not be descended below 2500ft until within 9nm from touchdown
Aircraft can not be descended below 2000ft until within 7nm from touchdown
The minimum level aircraft can be descended to is 1800ft
Easterly:
There is no restriction on descending below 4000ft as long as aircraft remain
within controlled airspace
Aircraft can not be descended below 3000ft until within 11nm from touchdown
Aircraft can not be descended below 2500ft until within 9nm from touchdown
Aircraft can not be descended below 2000ft until within 7nm from touchdown
The minimum level aircraft can be descended to is 1800ft
FIN is responsible for carrying out SRA's. SRA's with advisory heights on a 3 degree glidepath terminating at 2nm from touchdown are approved for all runways.