Editing Gatwick Airport (section)

===Flight movements===
Gatwick operates as a single-runway airport although it has two runways; the northern runway (08L/26R) can only be used when the main runway (08R/26L) is out of use. The UK Integrated Aeronautical Information Package gives the Takeoff Run Available (TORA) of its main runway (08R/26L) as 3,255 m when aircraft take off in a westerly direction (26) and 3,159 m when takeoffs occur in an easterly direction (08). The documentation lists the respective TORA for the northern runway (08L/26R) as 2,565 m in both directions. Nearly three-quarters of takeoffs are towards the west (74% over 12 months). Both runways are {{convert|148|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide; they are {{convert|656|ft|m|abbr=on}} apart,<ref>"Gatwick Runway Options Consultation" (Section 2: Our runway options / 2.1 Features common to all options – The length of the runway), Gatwick Airport Limited, April 2014, p. 16</ref> which is insufficient for the simultaneous use of both runways. During normal operations the northern runway is used as a taxiway,<ref name="runway_moratorium">{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%203094.html |title=Gatwick runway deal agreed, Air Transport |work=Flight International |date=25 August 1979 |page=569 |access-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306205026/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%203094.html |archive-date=6 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="1979_expansion_plans">{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%203288.html |title=BAA reveals Gatwick expansion plans, Air Transport |work=Flight International |date=8 September 1979 |page=757 |access-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306204526/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%203288.html |archive-date=6 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> consistent with its original construction (although it was gradually widened).<ref name="LGW_History">{{cite web |url=http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk/history.asp |title=History – 1958 |website=Gatwick Aviation Society |access-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002201253/http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk/history.asp |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, the airport announced that it was "exploring how to make best use of its existing runways, including the possibility of bringing its existing standby runway into routine use".<ref>{{cite news |title=Airport second runway 'by the back door' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-45861559 |work=BBC News |location=Tunbridge Wells|publisher=BBC English Regions|date=15 October 2018 |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015110120/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-45861559 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> One scenario would see 08L/26R used for departing narrow-body aircraft only, while the longer 08R/26L would be used for wide-body take-offs and all landings; widening 08L/26R would also increase the centreline separation slightly. New technology could also be used to increase capacity on the main runway, and, in the longer term, the airport remains interested in constructing a new runway to the south.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gatwick floats back-up runway for single-aisle departures |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gatwick-floats-back-up-runway-for-single-aisle-depar-452816/ |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=Flight Global |date=18 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103224541/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gatwick-floats-back-up-runway-for-single-aisle-depar-452816/ |archive-date=3 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, plans were announced to expand the second runway and make it operational for regular use.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Will |date=4 July 2023 |title=London's Gatwick Airport Expects Second Runway – AirlineGeeks.com |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/07/04/london-s-gatwick-airport-expects-second-runway/ |access-date=5 July 2023 |website=AirlineGeeks.com – LIVE. LOVE. AVIATION. |language=en |archive-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705224000/https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/07/04/london-s-gatwick-airport-expects-second-runway/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The main runway uses a Category III [[Instrument Landing System]] (ILS). The northern runway does not have an ILS; when it is in use, arriving aircraft are radar vectored to intercept an RNAV ([[GNSS]]) approach, providing the aircraft is equipped and the operator has approval. This approach is satellite-based and is also available for the main runway. When an RNAV approach is not possible, assistance from the approach controller using surveillance radar, an "SRA approach" is available. This involves heading instructions and altitude callouts supplied by the [[Air Traffic Control]]ler.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=93&Itemid=142.html |title=NATS – London Gatwick Aerodrome Approach Charts |publisher=Nats-uk.ead-it.com |access-date=15 August 2010 }}{{dead link|date=November 2023}}</ref> On both runways, a [[continuous descent approach]] is used to minimise the environmental effects of incoming aircraft, particularly at night.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flight Evaluation Report 2006/07 |url=http://www.gatwickairport.com/assets//B2CPortal/Static%20Files/FEU%20Report%202006-07.pdf |access-date=26 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227080554/http://www.gatwickairport.com/assets//B2CPortal/Static%20Files/FEU%20Report%202006-07.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Night flights are subject to restrictions;<ref>{{cite press release| title=Tighter regulation| url=http://gatwickairport.com/business-community/aircraft-noise/what-were-doing/tighter-regulation/| publisher=Gatwick Airport| access-date=11 February 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211224516/http://gatwickairport.com/business-community/aircraft-noise/what-were-doing/tighter-regulation/| archive-date=11 February 2015| url-status=live}}</ref> between 11 pm and 7 am, noisier aircraft (rated [[Quota Count system|QC]]/8 and QC/16) may not operate. From 11.30 pm to 6 am (the night quota period) there are three limits: Number of flights, a [[Quota Count system]], limiting total noise permitted<ref>{{cite web |title=Night noise |url=http://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/aircraft-noise/air-traffic-noise-explained/noise-around-the-airport/night-noise/ |publisher=Gatwick Airport |access-date=11 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222014440/http://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/aircraft-noise/air-traffic-noise-explained/noise-around-the-airport/night-noise/ |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}</ref> and no night [[Night flying restrictions|QC/4]] flights.

Air traffic control services are [[outsourcing|outsourced]]. In 2014 a proposed contract award for air traffic control services was suspended due to errors in the airport operator's [[procurement]] process, which was governed at the time by the [[European Union]]'s rules on procurement in the energy, telecommunications, transport and water sectors. Consideration of the legal case brought by [[NATS UK]] discussed whether the court's approach to resolving such cases should consider the ''[[American Cyanamid#Legal issues|American Cyanamid]]'' principles reflected in UK national procurement law or a different "balance of interests" test, as proposed by NATS, which was less likely to allow a proposed contract award where [[damages]] paid to a successful challenger might be an adequate [[legal remedy]]. Use of the "balance of interests" test was ruled out by [[Vivian Ramsey|Mr Justice Ramsey]].<ref>Referred to in England and Wales High Court (Technology and Construction Court), [https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2018/200.html Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and another v Lancashire County Council <nowiki>[</nowiki>2018<nowiki>]</nowiki> EWHC 200], paragraph 18, delivered on 8 February 2018, accessed on 30 September 2024</ref>