London Gatwick Airport’s new taxiway exit enables arriving aircraft to leave the runway more efficiently. Thus, reducing delays and carbon and noise emissions at the facility, which is part of VINCI Airports’ network.
London Gatwick has completed an infrastructure project which helps reduce delays and go-arounds. This also supports the airport’s sustainability targets.
RAPID EXIT TAXIWAY
London Gatwick’s new Rapid Exit Taxiway (RET) opened last month, enabling arriving aircraft to leave the main runway at a more optimal location after landing.
The new RET was used by more than half (56%) of all arrivals in its first four days of operation, according to TravelDailyNews.
LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT
Previously, some landing aircraft missed the first taxiway to exit the runway.
Examples of this might include when an aircraft landed later than anticipated; if weather conditions made braking more challenging; or if flying with a heavier load than usual.
This resulted in the aircraft moving slowly along the runway to the next taxiway exit, which could take an extra 20 seconds or more due to the distance.
EFFICIENCY AT LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT
With this new efficient exit, London Gatwick Airport’s runway will perform more consistently.
This supports all pilots, particularly those less familiar with London Gatwick. More pilots can take the first exit.
If they miss the first exit, the time to the second exit is much shorter meaning they are less likely to impact other aircraft.
“For aircraft exiting the runway, it is like the speed of turning onto a motorway slip road rather than onto a suburban street. Putting an exit in a place which is natural for how pilots normally brake, that can handle aircraft exiting safely at higher speeds, increasing resilience, reducing delays and limiting carbon and noise emissions.”
Gavin Sillitto, Transformation Programme Lead, London Gatwick Airport
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SUSTAINABILITY ENHANCEMENTS
The new development helps to reduce carbon emissions since aircraft spend less time burning fuel. In addition, this helps to reduce the noise created by aircraft.
Air Traffic Controllers can therefore also be more confident in the performance of landing aircraft, reducing delays, the likelihood of go-arounds, and holding times for aircraft waiting to depart – all helping to limit emissions and noise.
Construction initially began in 2020. But following a pause to the initiative during the height of Covid-19, the project was reviewed, resulting in a redesign reducing construction carbon emissions from the original plan by more than 10% – the equivalent of a petrol car driving more than 1.3million miles.
