Heathrow could get a 3rd runway

Yes, I read that one too.

It's about time they got moving as Heathrow is not a good first impression for anyone coming to the UK.  When they build the third runway I hope they upgrade the transport links too.  A rail link from Reading is long overdue.  My cousin who lives in Colnbrook is waiting for the large cheque for the compulsory purchase of his property, but looking at one plan he's going to be disappointed.  Whilst I can sympathise with those living in places like Hounslow, I think Heathrow is here to stay as UK plc doesn't have the money to build a "Boris Island".

I have great admiration for controllers and pilots who manage to navigate the very congested airspace and airport, but it's nothing compared with places like Atlanta.....

They have been fighting a new runway for so long now that by the time they actually start building 1 they are going to both need 2 runways or the way planes take off and land with be different...

Also can you imagine the chaos on the M25 while they build a tunnel ...Oh joy 

According to BBC report today, the decision will not be made tomorrow as the PM wants to obtain the views of more MPs.  There's a meeting next Tuesday of the committee responsible for making the decision, so it could be announced then.  

There are reports that Zac Goldsmith will stand down if Heathrow expansion is chosen.  What will Boris do, who knows!

We were watching my daughters plane come in on Saturday night on flight path website and seeing Gatwick with only 1 runway makes complete sense to have it there .. I heard if Heathrow get it there will have to be a tunnel built under the runway for the M25 to go though  

Apparently, the Cabinet discussed this issue for over an hour this morning.  BBC reporting that a decision will be made next week.

Had various UK governments not stuck their heads in the sand over Heathrow expansion, then the M25 tunnel could have been built with less impact than it will have now.   No foresight; same as runway extension at my local airport (Birmingham).  Diverted main road in a loop instead of sinking below runway.  

Andy-C - do you use FR24?  Great site and you can zoom in to have look at airport layouts.  Development of the South terminal at Gatwick meant that the second runway could not be used.

I can't see it being at Heathrow....Too many tory ministers live around that area... Don't know why they don't have it up north somewhere..... If it were up north, big business would follow naturally, which in turn helps those unemployed....

Ok geek check, had to investigate  What an amazing site. www.flightradar24.com

So you can see all the aircraft, airspeed tracks and everything. Fascinating zooming into Heathrow, you can see one landing while ones taking off. 

Quite scary when you zoom out a bit and see how congested it is up there 

Thanks Julia, can see me wasting hours of my life on here 

yeah use it a lot as always have family flying ..Amazing how you see the migration of flights and the paths they use.. We saw 1 fly over our home and we could hear the noise so is pretty accurate...You don't realize how many planes are actually in the sky until you look on this website.Also it's amazing how you get loads of planes in 1 spot but if you look at South Africa there are hardly any  

Originally Posted by Steve Richardson

“Thanks Julia, can see me wasting hours of my life on here ”

Happy to oblige Steve!  Some of the US flights returning to Heathrow this morning are routing close to my house.  Already seen two Virgins (San Francisco and LA) coming home.  There was an Antonov 124 at Brize yesterday.

Andy-C, it can sometimes be behind time-wise but that could be my computer.  Quiet areas are to do with timetabling, time differences, etc.  UK traffic changes at night too, as you get more of the cargo traffic.  There's one cargo flight comes into Birmingham around 2130, loads up then goes to Liege, comes back to Birmingham during early hours then takes off again around 0500.  Reason I know, he wakes me up.......