London Banter - View Single Post

Martin Underwood · November 7th 05, 06:24 PM posted to uk.transport.london

Clive wrote in
:

In message , Paul Terry
writes
But its not, is it? I can't really see what your point is, other than
the obvious one that different airports are closer to different
groups of people in the London area.
LCY will never be a major player because it's planes need a 6%
approach as opposed to the 3% of all other major airports.

When you say "6% approach" are you referring to the rate of descent -
normally 300 feet/mile? I can imagine Canary Wharf and all the other tower
blocks of central London having a pretty serious effect for approach from
the west or departure to the west, but I presume approach/departure in the
other direction is much less restricted.

Would a steep descent/take-off be enough to restrict the usage of an airport
or would it just make life more "interesting" for pilots?

Presumably the big attraction of LCY is the short journey time to central
London in relation to the train fa LHR and LGW have similar journey times
but much much higher fares by Heathrow/Gatwick Express, or else much longer
journey times if you take the Piccadily line from Heathrow or the stopping
service from Gatwick so as to avoid being ripped off by the Express fares.