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Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – Pilot Briefing
The UK's biggest airport and the world's busiest international airport awaits you, fully staffed for
another event you will never forget!
As usual, ATC from block to block will be provided during the period of the event.
In this guide you will find all the important information required for you to operate correctly within
UK airspace, and Heathrow in particular.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Performance
As is to be expected in an event of this scale, there will be a lot of aircraft on the ground in
London. To avoid frame rate problems on approach, which will cause severe delays, you must
reduce your aircraft display distance to 10-15 miles and limit the amount of aircraft
IvAp will draw to something your system will handle. W e recommend 10-15 as a maximum for
most average systems. Pilots using low-end systems are advised to reduce rendering settings as
much as possible.
Last year 10% of all inbounds crashed on downwind due to frame rate issues.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Airport Information
ICAO – EGLL
IATA – LHR
Reference Point – 51 28 39N 000 27 41W
Location – 12nm West of Central London
Elevation – 83ft
Traffic permitted – IFR/SVFR
Runway Physical Characteristics
Runway
09L
27R
09R
27L
True Bearing
89.67
269.71
89.68
267.72
Dimensions
3901 X 50
3901 X 50
3660 X 50
3660 X 50
Surface
Grooved Asphalt
Grooved Asphalt
Grooved Asphalt
Grooved Asphalt
Threshold Elevation
79
78
75
77
ATS Communication Facilties
Position
INT N
INT S
FIN
AIR N
AIR S
GMC N (T1/3)
GMC S (T4)
GMC W (T5)
GMP
IvAc Callsign
EGLL_N_APP
EGLL_S_APP
EGLL_F_APP
EGLL_N_TWR
EGLL_S_TWR
EGLL_N_GND
EGLL_S_GND
EGLL_W_GND
EGLL_DEL
Radio Callsign
Heathrow Director
Heathrow Director
Heathrow Director
Heathrow Tower
Heathrow Tower
Heathrow Ground
Heathrow Ground
Heathrow Ground
Heathrow Delivery
Frequency
119.725
134.975
120.400
118.700
118.500
121.900
121.700
121.850
121.975
Radio Navigation and Landing Aids
Type
ILS 09L
ILS 27R
ILS 09R
ILS 27L
VOR
Ident
IAA
IRR
IBB
ILL
LON
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Frequency
110.30
110.30
109.50
109.50
113.60
Preferential Runway Procedures
If Easterly operations are in use;
All day:
Landing runway – 09L
Departure Runway – 09R
If Westerly operations are in use;
All day:
Landing Runway – 27L
Departure Runway – 27R
Please note, these are the preferred runways only. You may be assigned, and required to accept
a different runway at short notice.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Departing Aircraft
Delivery
You must log on to the network and submit your flight plan at least 20 minutes before your
pushback time.
Once you have prepared your aircraft you can obtain your IFR clearance by contacting the
delivery controller.
All departing aircraft must contact “Heathrow Delivery” (EGLL_DEL) on 121.975. Please allow
up to 30 seconds before calling up to avoid ‘stepping on’ other pilots.
If requesting your clearance by voice you must include:
- Callsign
- Stand Number
- Aircraft type
- ATIS received
- QNH
If you don’t include these, this may delay the issuing of your clearance.
“Heathrow Delivery, Good afternoon, Speedbird 442, Stand 503 , A319 with Tango ,
1024hPa , request clearance Amsterdam.”
In the UK, your clearance will only contain:
- Callsign
- Clearance limit
- SID
- Initial climb
- Squawk
“Speedbird 442, Cleared Amsterdam, BPK7F, Initial climb 6000ft, squawk 7316 ”
The departing runway is not included in the clearance as it is specified in the ATIS.
All Heathrow SIDs climb to 6000ft - never climb above this level unless cleared by ATC as
arrivals descend to FL70 and cross the SID
tracks.
Once you have your clearance, you will be told to contact Ground for push,
start and taxi.
Ground – Pushback
On first contact with the appropriate ground frequency, you should inform them of your stand
number :
“Heathrow Ground, Speedbird 442, stand 503 , request push and start”
If you are parked within one of the cul-de-sac’s, have a good check around
your aircraft before pushing back to ensure that you don’t come into conflict with anyone else.
ATC may make use of a conditional clearance when approving pushback . A
conditional clearance is a clearance that may only be carried out once certain conditions have
been met. An example:
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
“Speedbird 442, after the British Airways A319 crosses behind from left to right, push and
start approved, stand 503.”
The condition in this clearance is that we may only push back after the BA A319 has crossed
behind us from left to right.
If you are issued with a conditional clearance but don’t fully understand what you have to do, then
tell ATC immediately – Don’t just try do it. If you are in
doubt, check!
Ground – Taxi
You must have ground charts – The ground frequencies will be incredibly busy
and ATC do not want to have to provide progressive taxi instructions.
Also some scenery packages show construction areas near the holding point for 27L and 27R. It
is essential you ignore these and comply with taxi
instructions. Construction at Heathrow is constantly changing and your scenery will be out of date
- follow the ground charts!
When the ground is congested, there is a very good chance that you won’t
be told to taxi straight to the runway from the gate. You may only be cleared as far as
intermediate holding points positioned around the airfield. If you
are cleared to one of these points, make sure you stop at them!
As well as there being normal holding point names like A1, N2W etc, some are given full 5 letter
designators such as ETTIV, MORRA, TITAN. If you hear any of these being mentioned, don’t
panic – They are just holding points and should be used like any other holding point.
During taxi, you could be asked to switch between the different ground
controller positions. If you are given any frequency changes, ensure that you listen to the
frequency being given – don’t just assume!
When you approach the queue for the holding point of the departure runway, you will be told to
monitor the tower frequency: “Speedbird 442, Monitor the tower, 118.7, bye”
The word “Monitor” means just that – You monitor the next frequency, DON’T
call up. All you need to do is switch to 118.700 and stay quiet – The
controller will speak to you when he needs to. Ensure that you listen to the tower frequency given,
don’t just assume!
Departure
When it is your turn to line up, the tower controller will contact you. He may issue you with a
conditional clearance, so make sure you understand it:
“Speedbird 442, after the departing Air India 747, via A3, line up runway
27R”.
Once you have been cleared for take-off, you will be handed of f to one of the
London Area sectors, NOT approach control. Please listen to the frequency that you have been
told to contact, don’t just assume.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Climb out
On first contact with the area sector, you should report your passing level, cleared level and
departure route.
“London Control, Speedibrd 442, passing 2200ft climbing 6000ft, BPK
7F”
To assist with identification procedures, you will be asked to squawk ident .
”Speedbird 442, London, roger, squawk Ident ” “Ident, Speedbird 442”
You must climb in accordance with the SID profile. Do NOT climb above the
initial altitude (6000ft) until you have been cleared higher. The London TMA
is very congested, so don’t be alarmed if you do not get further climb
straight away. You may end up following the entire SID at 6000ft due to the shear volume of
traffic.
ATC will climb you when they can, so please don’t request further climb.
When you are cleared to climb to a Flight Level, change your altimeter from the local pressure
setting to the standard 1013mhPa immediately.
You could pass between various sectors in quick succession so listen carefully to all frequency
change instructions. When instructed to change frequency, you should do so without delay. When
you join a new frequency, wait for about 10 to 15 seconds before transmitting your message –
You may inadvertently step on another aircrafts transmission or interrupt a conversation that is
going on.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Arriving Aircraft
Initial descent
As you approach your top of descent, if you have not received any descent instructions, ask the
controller for descent:
“London, Speedbird 442, request descent.”
Do NOT start descending without a clearance just because your FMC told
you to do so. You MUST always have been given a clearance to change the level that your
aircraft is flying at.
Expect a stepped descent, stopping every 3-5000ft. Once you have
requested initial descent do not ask again - ATC will descend you as appropriate.
End of route
All arrival routes into Heathrow from Amsterdam terminate at the LAM (Lambourne) holding
stack.
As you approach the end of your requested routing, the en-route controller
will inform you of the STAR you should fly. If the last waypoint of your route is LOGAN for
example, the controller would say:
“Speedbird 442, LAM 3A London Heathrow”.
They may also say:
“Speedbird 442, after LOGAN – LAM 3A London Heathrow.”
In both of these examples, the controller is instructing you to join the LAM
3A arrival at the waypoint LOGAN.
There are a number of STARs which are designated as “stack swap” STARs. During busy
periods, when stacks become full, aircraft can be transferred from a busy stack to a stack with
free levels. These STARs are for use only as directed by ATC and must not be used for flight
planning purposes.
They are:
- BIG 1E/3D
- BNN 1D/1E
- OCK 1D/1G/1H
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Initial Approach
Unless ATC have removed any speed restrictions, you should cross Speed
Limitation Points (SLPs) at 250kts or less. SLP’ s are clearly indicated on the STAR charts.
If the LAM stack into Heathrow become full of aircraft, then holding may
need to take place further away from the aerodrome. Don’t be alarmed if you are asked to hold at
one of these designated points;
Heathrow Stack
LAM
Overflow Stack
BRASO
Inbound holding radial
265
Direction of turn
Left
Once you reach one of the 4 Heathrow stacks (BNN, LAM, BIG, OCK) you must NOT proceed
beyond them without a clearance. If you have not had any instructions on what to do once
reaching the stack, enter the published holding pattern:
Stack
BNN
LAM
BIG
OCK
Inbound course
119
265
303
330
Direction of turn
Right
Left
Right
Right
Note – Maximum speed in the hold is 220kts.
Either before you reach the stack, or while you are in the stack, you will be
instructed to contact Heathrow Director. Listen carefully to the frequency you have been
instructed to contact.
On first contact with Heathrow, you should pass the following information:
- Callsign
- Cleared Level
- Position
- Aircraft type
- ATIS received
“Heathrow Director, good evening, Speedbird 443, descending FL90, routing towards LAM
, we’re an A319 with Tango ”
If you have been instructed to hold or are already in the hold, you will be informed of the expected
delay:
“Speedbird 443, Heathrow, Hold at LAM, total delay is 10 to 15 minutes”.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
When you have been instructed to leave the hold, you must comply with any speed restrictions
that have been specified. If for whatever reason you are
unable to fly at an assigned speed, let ATC know as soon as possible so that they can issue you
with an alternative speed. You must NOT slown down or speed up unless cleared to do so
by ATC. Due to the final approach spacing in use at Heathrow, it is vital that speed control
is followed.
When you are first instructed to descend from a Flight Level to an altitude,
you should change your altimeter from the standard pressure setting (1013)
to the local QNH. ONLY change to the local pressure setting (QNH) when cleared to an
ALTITUDE. If you have been instructed to fly at a FLIGHT
LEVEL your altimeter should be set to 1013.
Final Approach
At some stage during the approach, you may be instructed to contact the
final director, who will put you on the ILS. It is likely that you will be given the following instruction
with the frequency change:
“Speedbird 443, Contact director with callsign only, 120.400.”
This means that you should do just that – Give your callsign only to the
controller on 120.400:
“Speedbird 443”
“Speedbird 443, hello, 19 miles, runway 27L”
F ol l owi ng t he recent ch ang e t o t he i nt ercept of t he I LS, ai rcraf t are now cl eare d
t o i nt ercept and de sc end wi t h t he I LS i f t hey are at or l ower t han t he p roce dure
al t i t ude. Ai rcraf t hi gher t han t he proce dure al t i t ude m ust ensur e t hey hav e
receiv ed cl earance t o de sce nd on t he I LS f rom t he cont rol l er. Bel ow are a f ew
dif f erent ex am pl es of what you m ay hear on t he day:
"Cl eared I L S ap p ro ach ru nw ay 27L " -> may estab l i sh l o cal i ser an d
g l i d esl op e
"Rep o rt l o cal i ser estab l i sh ed ru n w ay 27L " -> estab l i sh on l y on th e
l o cal i ser
"Wh en l o cal i ser estab l i sh ed , d escen d w i th th e g l id ep ath " -> Estab l i sh o n
th e l o cal i ser an d th en d escen d w i th th e gl id ep ath .
O n c e y o u a r e e st a b l i sh e d a n d d e sc e n d i n g wi t h t h e I L S, y o u wi l l l i k e l y b e
g i v e n t h e sp e e d r e st r i c t i o n “ 1 6 0 k t s u n t i l 4 DM E . ” T hi s m e a n s t h a t y o u m u st
r e d u c e y o u r sp e e d t o 1 6 0 k t s a n d m ai n t a i n t h a t sp e e d u n t i l y o u p a ss 4 D M E
f r om t h e r u n wa y . Y o u m u st N O T r e d u c e b el o w o r i n c r e a se a b o v e t h i s sp e e d
u n t i l y o u a r e c l o se r t h a n 4 m i l e s f r om t h e ru n w a y . M o st m o d e r n a i rc r af t a r e
m o r e t h a n c a p a b l e of m e e t i n g t h i s sp e e d r e st r i c t i o n .
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015
Y o u wi l l u su a l l y b e h a n d e d o f f t o t h e t o we r c o n t r o l l e r so m e wh e r e b e t we e n 6
a n d 1 5 m i l e s o u t f r om t h e r u n wa y , E n su r e yo u l i st e n c a r ef u l l y t o t h e
f r e q u e n c y a n d j oi n t h e c o r r e c t o n e .
Landing
Heathrow, like many major airports, has “Rapid Exit Taxiway’ s”. A Rapid Exit taxiway is a taxiway
leading off the runway, usually at a 45 degree angle , to allow aircraft to turn off the runway at a
quicker speed (up to about 60kts), getting them of f the runway quicker. Final approach spacing
at Heathrow can be as close as 2.5nm so it is vital that you vacate the runway as quick as
you can. Make use of rapid exit taxiways wherever possible. Don’t stop your aircraft on the
runway – Keep rolling.
As you clear the runway you will be instructed to contact the ground controller. Listen carefully to
the frequency as there could be up to 3 separate ground controllers online at any one time.
Once you have followed the taxi instructions to your assigned gate, there is no
requirement for you to report on the gate or request shut down.
Heathrow and Amsterdam Airbridge – April 2015