It has said since then that it will still build one anyway, and it did need extra capacity urgently — until recently. The new majority owner, VINCI , had to weigh up the pros and cons, although its track record did suggest it would welcome the challenge.
In mid Gatwick announced that it was planning to prepare a development consent order DCO to bring its standby runway into routine use. The process would include a public consultation process seeking feedback from local authorities, communities, businesses and partners. The airport added work that would be carried out to ensure that environmental impacts were to be "appropriately managed and mitigated".
The main runway has a 'Take-off Run Available' TORA of 3,m when aircraft take off in a westerly direction and 3,m when takeoffs occur in an easterly direction. Compared with the main runway, the TORA for the northern runway is 2,m in both directions.
Both runways are 45m wide and they are m apart, which is inadequate for them both to be used simultaneously. Hence, the northern runway has been used as a taxiway during normal operations, which is in line with its original purpose, although it has been widened since it was built. In Oct Gatwick said that it was "exploring how to make the best use of its existing runways, including the possibility of bringing the standby runway into routine use".
That would at least increase operational capacity. New technology might also be used to increase capacity on the main runway. By using the second runway, Gatwick would be able to increase their passenger count by half according to the Independent.
As part of the planned expansion, Gatwick could embark on a huge building project that may include a full second runway. However, this is likely a long way off. Ultimately, Gatwick has previously planned to build a whole new terminal, which would have a new runway built as well.
This is only speculation at this point, as the airport would need to secure a whole raft of permissions to make it a reality. Should London Gatwick build a second runway? Let us know in the comments! Aviation Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for aircraft pilots, mechanics, and enthusiasts. It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.
In , the taxiway was upgraded so that it could be used as a runway when the main runway was out of use. Since this used existing infrastructure, the locations were obviously fixed. However, at that time the then owners of the airport BAA agreed with West Sussex County council that the second runway would only be used when the main runway was unavailable.
This was to protect the interests of the airport's neighbours. With this agreement in place there was no incentive to address the issue of separation. The agreement was set to run for forty years, and expired recently on 13th August With the imminent expiry of that agreement, the airport is now exploring ways to bring that second runway into use. One suggestion is to widen the existing main runway southwards, allowing the centerline to be moved south and increase the separation.
The airport claims the plans will create about 18, additional jobs, and will be "implemented in a sustainable manner". Passenger numbers dipped dramatically during the global pandemic, but airport bosses have previously said they expect pre-Covid traffic levels to return by or Local campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions said it was "the wrong time for such expansion plans", and accused the aviation industry of using "smoke and mirrors" over meeting environmental commitments.
It added: "Time and time again we have seen airport owners promising jobs, but they seem to disappear once planning is achieved which is possibly due to aviation seeking to reduce jobs through automation long before Covid. Members of the public can review the proposal in detail during the consultation period which ends in December. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday bbc.
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