SR800 From Switzerland, joined Mar 2006, 13 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 8 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
Are there any LHR experts out there who can let me know if 09L at LHR has ever been used for departures...even back in the 1970s / 80s (when it was 10L)?
I have travelled through / visited LHR 00s of times, but have never seen it being used for departures, so just thought I'd ask the question.
Feroze From India, joined Dec 2004, 794 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (6 years 8 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1939 times:
The Cranford Agreement prevents 09L departures except in emergencies:
Quote: Departing aircraft normally do not use the northern runway on easterly operations due to the Cranford Agreement. This is an oral agreement between the Government and the residents of Cranford which has existed since the mid-1950s.
This agreement was designed to protect the residents of Cranford, which is very close to the eastern end of the northern runway, from the high noise levels experienced on the ground from departing aircraft which are at low altitudes over Cranford. However, overflight is permitted when necessary, for example when the southern runway is closed, e.g for maintenance works
Quote: g) The Cranford Agreement (as it applies today)
29.This is a 1950s undertaking to avoid easterly take-offs from the northern runway (09L) over Cranford when ever possible. Until the main runways were extended westward in the 1960s Cranford was the nearest residential area to the airport situated under the approach and departure tracks. It is not a written agreement, but is understood to have been a "best endeavour" undertaking given at a public meeting in 1952. The main effect of the restriction is to require take-offs to use the southern runway (09R) during easterly operations, which in turn means that most easterly landings must overfly Windsor and Poyle to use the northern runway (09L), thereby precluding runway alternation during easterly operations in the daytime.
Bellerophon From United Kingdom, joined May 2002, 574 posts, RR: 60 Reply 4, posted (6 years 8 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1842 times:
SR800
I've flown several departures from 09L in the last five or so years, due to 09R either being closed, or being too rough when resurfacing work was in progress, however, in general terms, Feroze is correct.
09L is not used for departures, unless there is no viable alternative runway available.
Dalb777 From United States of America, joined May 2005, 2192 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 8 months 3 days ago) and read 1779 times:
Any problem with 27R for landing? Aircraft fly over the same neighborhood when landing on 27R as they do when taking off from 9L. My guess is that landings are a little quieter than takeoffs, so they don't create as much as a problem???
Geaux Tigers! Geaux Hornets! Geaux Saints! WHO DAT!!!
UAL777UK From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2005, 3355 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (6 years 8 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1715 times:
Quoting Dalb777 (Reply 5): Any problem with 27R for landing? Aircraft fly over the same neighborhood when landing on 27R as they do when taking off from 9L. My guess is that landings are a little quieter than takeoffs, so they don't create as much as a problem???
No problems for landings at all, their cannot be for the reasons stated above, the take off's will be on 9R.
Planesarecool From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 4088 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (6 years 8 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1684 times:
9L was often for departures while the end of 9R was being resurfaced. Many aircraft which would have used up a lot of the runway used 9L as 9R had been shortened by quite a lot due to the work. On the last sunday before the Concorde retirement, I saw 5 other aircraft use 9L, an Emirates B777-300, a Singapore B747-400, Virgin A340-600, Thai B747-400 and Virgin B747-400. All 6 departures (inc. Concorde), made sharp turns straight after departure.
B747-437B From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 8 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 1649 times:
9L is periodically used for departures as well when there is a big backlog of flights due to depart before the night quota kicks in - they sometimes launch 2-3 of those off 9L simultaneously with 9R to clean things up before they turn into pumpkins.
Sponsor Message: 
From Switzerland, joined Mar 2006, 13 posts, 
From India, joined Dec 2004, 794 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 1058 posts, 
From United States of America, joined May 2005, 2192 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
