Other stacking beacons exist without any fuss
JOHN Bone (Journal, May 8) was right to support concerns about increased low flying in the area due to proposals aimed at reducing the demand on the stacking beacon currently shared by Stansted and Luton airports.
But holding beacons like Lambourne in Essex – one of four serving Heathrow – have existed for many years without fuss.
And the lowest altitude that aircraft will fly round the beacon before being called off by the approach controllers is usually 7,000ft.
Of much greater concern for all of us who fly is slotting in to the crowded, high-speed upper airways along which medium to long-haul traffic needs to travel.
Currently, even the en-route controllers can sometimes be kept waiting for information about delays in another country before giving clearance to flights leaving this one.
Missed slots are as much the bane of air traffic controllers as everyone else involved with flying.
Against this, some local low-level activity may not seem so bad if you have been lucky enough to reach your destination safely and joined the queue (or holding stack) before landing.
Peter Seekings-Foster
Boeing Way
Mildenhall
The full article contains 196 words and appears in Newmarket Journal newspaper.
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Last Updated:
21 May 2008 4:20 PM
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Source:
Newmarket Journal
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Location:
Newmarket
