Not at all scary, in my limited, long ago experience. Back in the day, jet operations at LCY were mostly, if not entirely, limited to the four-engine BAE 146-100/200/300 variants, succeeded by their next generation equivalents, the RJ-70/85/100s. I recall a particularly attractive service by a Scottish carrier operating to/from Berlin for a German (if memory serves) brand, staffed by very attractive lassies in kilts supplying a nice variety of Scottish single malt whiskys. The takeoffs offered a close-up view of Canary Wharf office towers. Very scenic both landing and taking off. Given the conservative regulations imposed by UK authorities, and reinforced by local London East Ender residents, I was more than happy to use LCY.
Daniel Solon On Sun, Mar 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM Jack Keady via Mifnet < [email protected]> wrote: > how scary/hairy is the old appeach? keady > > LONDON — London City Airport (LCY) has submitted > <https://www.londoncityairport.com/media-centre/press-releases/london-city-airport-submits-application-to-accommodate-the-a320neo> > a > regulatory application to enable operations by larger Airbus narrowbodies, > particularly the A320neo, by introducing a shallower 4.49° approach angle, > replacing the current 5.5° profile. > > If approved, LCY’s operator states the change would apply to both runway > ends, potentially expanding the range of aircraft able to serve the > Docklands airport while maintaining compliance with its constrained > airspace and performance requirements. > [image: Flying Thai Airways new Business Class from Bangkok to Phuket] > [image: auto skip] > Why glideslope angle matters > > According to Skybrary > <https://skybrary.aero/articles/instrument-landing-system-ils>, a > glideslope, or glide path, provides vertical guidance for aircraft > during final approach. On an ILS approach, ground equipment generates > “above” and “below” lobes, allowing the aircraft’s receiver to indicate > whether it is above or below the desired descent path. > > The normal case: ~3° > > Most commercial runway approaches use a 3° descent angle, which supports > a stable energy profile for configuration changes, speed control, and > manageable descent rates, while ensuring obstacle clearance. FAA training > materials > <https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/10_afh_ch9.pdf> > describe > a typical glide path as a constant 3° to the touchdown zone, provided > there are no obstructions. > Implications of steeper approaches at LCY > > A steeper glideslope: > > - increases the required rate of descent for a given groundspeed, > - increases pilot workload and places greater emphasis on stabilized > approach gates, > - can constrain eligible aircraft to those certified for steep-approach > operations. > > The descent-rate rule of thumb illustrates this: > > - 3.0° ≈ 5.3 × groundspeed (kt) in feet per minute > - 4.49° ≈ 8.0 × groundspeed (kt) > - 5.5° ≈ 9.8 × groundspeed (kt) > > At a groundspeed of 140 knots, the approximate descent rates are: > > - 3.0° → ~740 fpm > - 4.49° → ~1,120 fpm > - 5.5° → ~1,370 LCY’s proposed change from 5.5° to 4.49° is > significant. While still above the standard 3°, it substantially reduces > the steep-approach penalty, allowing aircraft not approved or not ideally > suited for 5.5° approaches to operate at the airport. > > Touchdown zoneTDZ3.0°4.49°5.5°LCY proposedLCY current (steep)Steeper angle > → higher descent rate at the same groundspeed > Diagram is illustrative: three glidepaths converging on the touchdown > zone. The operational effect is primarily the required descent rate and > stabilized-approach margin. > Groundspeed > 14 > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Revised: 20250507 > > You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. > > The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't > exactly cost-free. If you'd care to make a small contribution to the > effort, please know that it would be greatly appreciated: > https://wardell.us/url/mifbit > > All posts sent to the list should abide by these policies: > > 1) List members acknowledge that participation in Mifnet is a > privilege--not a right. > 2) Posts are always off the record, absent specific permission from the > author. > 3) The tone of discussions is collegial. > 4) Posts are expected to be in reasonably good taste. > 5) We discuss ideas and not personalities, and we don't speak ill of other > Mifnet members. > > * The Mifnet WEB SITE is: > https://www.mifnet.com/ > > * To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at any time please visit: > https://lists.mifnet.com/ > OR: SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: > [email protected]?subject=leave > > * Send Mifnet mailing list POSTS/SUBMISSIONS to: > [email protected] > > * You may reach the person managing The Mifnet at: > [email protected] > > * Please consider the DIGEST version of The Mifnet, which consolidates all > list traffic into 1-3 > messages daily. See instructions at: > https://lists.mifnet.com/ > > * Manage your personal Mifnet SUBSCRIPTION at: > https://lists.mifnet.com/ > > * For a list of all available Mifnet commands, SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: > [email protected]?subject=help > > * View The Mifnet LIST POLICIES and PRIVACY POLICY at: > https://mifnet.com/index.php/policies > > * View instructions for Mifnet DELIVERY PROBLEMS at: > https://mifnet.com/index.php/delivery-problems > > * View The Mifnet LIST ARCHIVE at: > https://lists.mifnet.com/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/ >
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised: 20250507 You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't exactly cost-free. If you'd care to make a small contribution to the effort, please know that it would be greatly appreciated: https://wardell.us/url/mifbit All posts sent to the list should abide by these policies: 1) List members acknowledge that participation in Mifnet is a privilege--not a right. 2) Posts are always off the record, absent specific permission from the author. 3) The tone of discussions is collegial. 4) Posts are expected to be in reasonably good taste. 5) We discuss ideas and not personalities, and we don't speak ill of other Mifnet members. * The Mifnet WEB SITE is: https://www.mifnet.com/ * To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at any time please visit: https://lists.mifnet.com/ OR: SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: [email protected]?subject=leave * Send Mifnet mailing list POSTS/SUBMISSIONS to: [email protected] * You may reach the person managing The Mifnet at: [email protected] * Please consider the DIGEST version of The Mifnet, which consolidates all list traffic into 1-3 messages daily. See instructions at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * Manage your personal Mifnet SUBSCRIPTION at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * For a list of all available Mifnet commands, SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: [email protected]?subject=help * View The Mifnet LIST POLICIES and PRIVACY POLICY at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/policies * View instructions for Mifnet DELIVERY PROBLEMS at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/delivery-problems * View The Mifnet LIST ARCHIVE at: https://lists.mifnet.com/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/
