It always annoys me to see this, when on live the atc uses both runways. That’s not how it works. Whilst Gatwick does indeed have two runways, 08L and 26R, this runway is actually used as an emergency runway, so when 08R and 26L are either being maintained or have a problem. There isn’t enough separation to use the runways together.
The runway is used as a taxiway.
So, atc: Don’t land aircraft on 08L and 26R, because it’s only used as an emergency runway. Don’t take aircraft off on 08L and 26R either.
As controllers, we are to decide which runway to use. Since the 26R/08L is marked as a runway, we can use it.
Personally I don’t use it unless it gets busy, as I like the realism. But as soon as it gets busy I use both.
Hi,we all know that,but we (IFATC) are here to accommodated you (pilots) maximum,so when is very busy we are allowed to use both runways,is a bit insane to use only one runway when we have more than 10 holding short,but is a controller decision.i usually use only one.
As Emil said, I also try to keep it as realistic as possible. But somewhere we have to draw the line between real life and a flight simulator. We try to keep things as realistic as possible, but sometimes to make things easier and not have people holding short for too long. We might use 08L/26R.
There are a lot of unrealistic stuff,believe me,like flying at 12000 ft at 600 kias,calling inbound at 20000 ft 39 nm away,asking VFR in B777…so…[quote=“Giacomo_Lawrance, post:5, topic:76716”]
That’s very unrealistic, and the separation is too small meaning that it is illegal.
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And also, if you’re unsatisfied by the job we do, go ahead and join IFATC, I’d love to see you handling 15 planes on ground, 18 inbound, and only using 1 runway, even though you have 2.
IF strives to be as realistic as possible. However, we do not have SID/STAR capabilities, voice communication or 100% expert pilot. Thus we can’t do EVERYTHING they do IRL.
And as for your comment on it being “illegal”.
No, it isn’t. It’s not enough for simultaneous approaches. It also doesn’t have ILS capabilities, hence why it’s mostly used as a taxiway, if 08R/26L isn’t out of use. It can perfectly fine be used as a runway.
Another thing, as Emil also mentions, is that IF has totally unrealistic amounts of traffic. Single runway ops on an airport as busy as EGKK is ridiculous. Pilots would only be mad because they have to hold. See the dilemma?
So, ATC: Go ahead and use both runways. There is no problem in doing that.
Pilots: If you’ve been instructed to land at 08R/26L - don’t request a runway change. PLEASE.
Lets not talk abt realism when the pilots don’t even know what is left or right.i believe the whole ball game .to make it realistic is in pilots hands,fly like a human.
I didn’t really mean it like that. I meant that the ‘rules of flying’ if you will, say that minimum distance for parallel runways is 4300ft if I remember correctly. :)
