Hi everyone,
Whilst over last week I noticed seven planes land ( jets, not Binter etc ) in a forty minute period.Surely this must put a terrible strain on resources ( flight control tower,baggage handlers,taxi's etc ) Is there a reason that they are not more spread out over a longer period or is it just gross inefficiency ??

Airlines operate to a "slot" system, whereby the airport will allocate a certain number of slots per hour.
Depending on flight times from the destination country. UK is 3.45-4.30 whereas Finland can be 8-8.5hrs.

Any delays in departure can cause an increase in traffic at the arrival airport. Yes, It can cause a little bit of hard work for the airport workers but also aircraft must be seperated by a certain time between take-offs and landings and a limit to parking stands, so at some point the airport becomes "saturated", constrained by these limits the airport workers are able to deal with a saturated airport albeit at a slower pace.

Hope this helps.

Thanks' cymmon I knew you would know the answer

While on the subject of the airport,last week we saw at least three aborted landings ! I realise it is impossible to know the exact reasons but when a plane has been given permission to land and it is on it's aproach and quite low and only a minute or two from touchdown,what could be the reason ?

Could be one of many things;

A runway incursion, or an aircraft too close to the runway or not yet cleared the runway. Minimum distance between aircraft being too low.

Main is aircraft approach instability. The aircraft has to be "set up" for the final part of its flight. If the flying crew member is unhappy with any of the parameters, height, speed, drift etc then he elects to "go around".

I had this second from last flight into Lanza, the pilot decided that at the last minute the line-up was not correct and rather than "risk" (poor word usuage) anything the best option was to go around and try for a properly stabilised approach.

Lanza is well known for wind, so a last minute gust can lower the wing, hence go-around. Also windshear, where the wind suddenly shift vertically instead of horizontally "makes" the aircraft climb or descend towards the runway at a speed inconsistant with a "safe" landing.

Better safe than sorry. And also remember, the pilot + co-pilot + crew may have family at home, if they're willing to fly, I'm willing to go with them.

Hope this helps, PS: definately not a pilot, but luckily had the chance to fly a few aircraft and speak to pilots and instructors.

great reply,thanks'

I saw a ryanair have to abort about 7 weeks ago. As can happen the side winds picked up just before landing and blew the plane a little sidewards so pilot obviously decided to go round and try again. It land safely about 10 minutes later.

Live near to Manchester and am a fully paid-up anorak where trains and planes are concerned. Once saw four overshoots at Heathrow in a three hour period - one of them concorde.

In Lanzarote for the 1st time on Thursday and looking forward to it very much. Thanks to all on this Forum - some superb advice.