Yes, we are able to do simultaneous parallel approaches (i.e. a/c both 5 miles out on 27L, and 5 miles out on 27R), but the aircraft need to agree to maintain visual separation with each other, and that needs to exist at all times where other separation (radar or vertical) does not, so in practice it is rarely used. To be used effectively, you’d need two separate Final Director frequencies, and the danger comes where you are pointing a/c at each other on the closing heading, with a very small time window to recover if one of them fails to capture the localiser and sails straight on.

Very interesting Gonzo, I had wondered whether this was possible, so thanks very much for the information!

With this in mind, if ‘simultaneous parallel approaches/take-off’s’ were to be introduced at LHR, would this increase the number of ‘slots’ because in effect you are having two aircraft taking off quicker than at present by using just one runway for take-off’s and the other for landings, or is it not as simple as I am thinking?

If the market won’t bear the costs of the operation, then either the enterprise will fail, or serious cost-cutting is called for.

I think you have hit the nail on the head there TwinAisle, however, there can only be a certain amount of cost-cutting done before it will start to have an effect on the passenger experience and people’s perception of that airline, as they will simply choose to fly with another airline in the future…and with no passengers, your enterprise is also doomed to fail.

Seriously gutted about Silverjet, I was hoping to fly on them at some point, but kinda glad that I didnt make a booking as I would of lost everything. Feel especially sorry for those people on either side of the Pond that are stranded, especially as other airlines are not obliged to help them!

Similar doom prophecy last January! Time will tell……

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=77642&highlight=SilverJet

I appreciate it might seem like another ‘doom prophecy’ to some Newforest, but at least I have provided some new and up-to-date information about their situation…;)

I must say though I think that they do offer a decent product/service. Although I have not yet had the pleasure of being able to fly with them myself, the reviews I have read speak volumes about how good they are, how those that have flown them would recommend them to others, and also the fact that they are value for money, compared to a business-class flight on other airlines (i.e. AA/BA/VS) and I think it would be a great shame to see them fail when you consider the above, especially as they are so close to securing capital from other resources, unlike other airlines that are continually focusing on reducing their own costs and hiking-up charges/fees in order to survive.