Why is the LHR radar dish not going round?
Jun 29, 2012, 12:38 am
#1
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Original Poster
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Why is the LHR radar dish not going round?
Just got into LHR from DOH via BAH. A great flight with six hours sleep in 13K.
What was strange though was that I could see that the orange and white radar dish at LHR, the big one on the concrete tower, was not revolving. It normally does though, at least as far as I can remember.
Any ideas why this might be the case?
Many thanks in advance.
PS. I am going to write 'Sixth Freedom from FlyerTalk was here' in the guest book at Galleries Arrivals. Let me know/post a pic if you see it!
What was strange though was that I could see that the orange and white radar dish at LHR, the big one on the concrete tower, was not revolving. It normally does though, at least as far as I can remember.
Any ideas why this might be the case?
Many thanks in advance.
PS. I am going to write 'Sixth Freedom from FlyerTalk was here' in the guest book at Galleries Arrivals. Let me know/post a pic if you see it!
Jun 29, 2012, 12:48 am
#2
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It's no longer required and will shortly be decommissioned and removed as part of the Central Terminal Area redevelopment.
Jun 29, 2012, 1:51 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Jun 29, 2012, 12:07 pm
#8
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Jun 29, 2012, 12:09 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: LHR Air Traffic Control
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It's been out of use for quite a while.....but I heard a story that it was to be kept turning otherwise the travelling public might get worried that there was no radar coverage anymore!
Jun 29, 2012, 12:25 pm
#10
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Jun 30, 2012, 3:47 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2008
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The radar dish at LHR is part of my earliest memories of the airport and somehow my love of aviation...
In my mind removing the radar dish at LHR would be like removing the Houses of Parliament in London.. (actually the latter may not be a bad thing)...
Jul 1, 2012, 3:55 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: LHR Air Traffic Control
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Posts: 880
jaguarpig
LHR has multiple radars to provide contingency.
Up until recently we had what is called the 23cm radar (the large one in the central area that has just stopped rotating), and the 10cm radar which is the one that moved to the southside (the one to which you refer).
There is a new radar on the old airfield at Bovingdon to the North of LHR to enable the 23cm to be switched off. We can also access the feed from the radar at Debden near Stansted.
Passengers may also see the smaller, fast rotating 'ship-style' radars on stalks around the airfield, one by the coach park northside, one east of the new T2 pier, one by the Royal Suite, and one by the fire station between T5 and T3. These are the ground radars, or in ATC speak part of the A-SMGCS (Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System).
LHR has multiple radars to provide contingency.
Up until recently we had what is called the 23cm radar (the large one in the central area that has just stopped rotating), and the 10cm radar which is the one that moved to the southside (the one to which you refer).
There is a new radar on the old airfield at Bovingdon to the North of LHR to enable the 23cm to be switched off. We can also access the feed from the radar at Debden near Stansted.
Passengers may also see the smaller, fast rotating 'ship-style' radars on stalks around the airfield, one by the coach park northside, one east of the new T2 pier, one by the Royal Suite, and one by the fire station between T5 and T3. These are the ground radars, or in ATC speak part of the A-SMGCS (Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System).
Jul 1, 2012, 4:17 am
#14
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Passengers may also see the smaller, fast rotating 'ship-style' radars on stalks around the airfield, one by the coach park northside, one east of the new T2 pier, one by the Royal Suite, and one by the fire station between T5 and T3. These are the ground radars, or in ATC speak part of the A-SMGCS (Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System).
Jul 1, 2012, 10:11 am
#15
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Probbably showing my age but is WW cranking it round using a handle on his desk like the Met Police Commissioner cranked the revolving sign outside of New Scotland Yard in the Not the Nine O'Clock news sketch?