LCY Is the Benchmark

London City Airport (LCY) has become the benchmark for corporate aircraft operations. Sam Hill, corporate executive vice president of Embraer Corporate Aircraft, said at EBACE earlier this year, "It's more important than ever to demonstrate that the Legacy can be flown to city airports, and London City is regarded as the industry standard."

Other business aircraft manufacturers, such as Cessna and Dassault, have also already certificated some of their machines at LCY, and others are ongoing. The Citation Excel is currently being evaluated and should gain certification by year-end.

What makes LCY so important for corporate aircraft certification?

"If you can get into LCY then you can get into most places," LCY's M.D. Richard Gooding says. "The long-term value of a corporate aircraft is enhanced by its ability to fly in here."

It's a big plus for manufacturers if they can get their corporate aircraft certificated to fly into LCY. "It's almost worth an extra warranty stamp on your aircraft," says Gooding.

It's also a good place for aircraft to be seen -- this airport is in the middle of London's financial district.

On approach, LCY looks more like an aircraft carrier surrounded by the river Thames on three sides of the runway. All approaches are flown at 5.5 degrees and pilots must demonstrate an abuse case of 7.5 degrees.

The runway is rather short but has recently been lengthened slightly, so now pilots have all of 3,934 feet available for takeoff and 4,327 feet for landing. Some corporate jet manufacturers are stretched to build in the necessary short-field performance and gain enough thrust for safe takeoff without penalties. "Obstacle clearance is not an issue going to the east, but it can be flying to the west, and most takeoffs are in that direction," says Gooding.

To fly into the airport pilots have to prove that they are "Steep Approach" current, and individual aircraft types have to be specially certificated. New aircraft types have to be demonstrated at LCY to satisfy the authorities that the aircraft, under various weight conditions, can be safely operated from the airport.

"Corporate jets are allowed to use reverse thrust but we don't encourage it. It's very unusual for us to get noise complaints from local residents -- we are closed from 2230 hours until 0630 hours each night and closed completely from 1230 Saturday until the same time on Sunday, which makes us very popular with our neighbors," said Gooding.

By Mike Vines