London City Airport is the smallest, but most centrally located, of London’s airports. With its size and urban location, it has several restrictions on aircraft that can use it. You won’t find any of the larger Boeing or Airbus aircraft there, but there are plenty of smaller aircraft that can operate, as this article explores.

Restrictions on landing

London City Airport is located in a built-up area of the docklands. While it is immediately surrounded by water, the built-up areas of Canary Wharf and beyond are on the approach. As such, there are several restrictions in place on aircraft that can use it. The following are all prohibited:

  • Helicopters and other vertical take-off or landing aircraft
  • Single-engine aircraft
  • Aircraft using the airport from flying or leisure clubs
  • Aircraft operated by a single pilot
  • Those aircraft that do not meet strict noise limitations

There are then further restrictions on which fixed-wing aircraft are permitted to land, based on the nature of the airport. In particular, London City has a short runway at just 1,508 meters, and narrow at only 30 meters wide. For comparison, London Heathrow’s runway is 3,902 meters long. It also requires a steep approach due to the height of the buildings surrounding it.

LCY_Aerial_View_-__2018_3
London City has a short runway and an urban location. Photo: London City Airport

Making the steep approach

The most unusual aspect of London City is the steep approach required for landing, with a rate of descent almost double that of other airports. This approach is at 5.5°, compared with a standard approach of around 3°. This also affects take-off, with aircraft making full use of the available runway and climbing faster than usual.

Aircraft must be technically capable of making this approach. But pilots also must be experienced in this type of approach. This requires a particular rating for pilots. In reporting in The Express, British Airways Senior Training Captain Mike Pickard explains this:

“London City Airport has special requirements to allow a pilot to operate into and out of. Once pilots have completed their conversion training, they are required to then have further simulator training for the steep approach, short take-off, and landing.”

London City Airport Jet facing towards camera
Many airports have introduced fees to recoup losses sustained over the pandemic. Photo: London City Airport

Approved aircraft

So, which aircraft (with the right pilots) meet these requirements? The following are all approved for use by airlines at London City:

  • ATR 42 (both the -ATR 42-300 and ATR 42-500 variants)
  • ATR 72
  • Embraer Enterprise Regional Jet (ERJ) 135, 170 and 190
  • Fokker 50 and 70
  • British Aerospace Jetstream 41
  • British Aerospace 146
  • Saab 340 and 2000
  • De Havilland Dash 8 (Q400)
  • Airbus A318
  • Airbus A220
  • Dornier 228, 318 and 328JET
  • de Havilland Canada DHC-7 (previously operated at LCY by London City Airways)

There are also many executive and corporate jets able to use the airport. These include the Cessna CitationJet series, the Beechcraft Super King Air, and the Hawker 400 and 800.

British Airways, of course, is the most prevalent operator at the airport. Its subsidiary BA CityFlyer presently operates a fleet of Embraer 190 aircraft on European routes from the airport.

It also operated the Airbus A318 on a business class only service to New York, with just 32 seats. BA1/2 operated via Shannon for refueling and immigration clearance. British Airways, however, confirmed in July 2020 that this route would end with the retirement of its A318 aircraft.

The A318 was specially modified to handle the steep approach. This added spoilers that can be raised on each wing and also warning announcements in the cockpit for the more complex flare procedures.

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New additions

A recent aircraft to get certification to operate at London City Airport is the Airbus A220-100. The aircraft completed several days of test flights at the airport in 2017. SWISS currently flies the type to the likes of Zurich and Geneva from the airport.

In 2019 the A220 gained an ETOPS 180 rating, opening up the possibilities for transatlantic flights.

The Embraer E2 joined services last September when Helvetic Airways performed the model's first commercial flight. This airline has been primed for a perfect suitor for operations at LCY.

Moxy A220
The range of the A220 from London City offers plenty of medium and long-haul options. Image: GCMaps

With the ability to operate long-haul flights out of London City Airport, the A220 could be an attractive option for British Airways. The airline has yet to express interest in it, but Simple Flying looked at the possibilities it would offer.

The next chapter

Looking ahead, the A220 and E2 will be mainstays at LCY. These aircraft have been tipped to lead services amid the airport's ambitions for sustainable expansion. With their efficiency and quietness, the pair will help the airport management's goal of increasing flight hours while meeting environmental and social responsibilities.

What do you think of London City airport? Have you experienced the steep landing and takeoff? Let us know what you think in the comment section.

Source: The Express