V-Flyer

I was looking to take the father-in-law over to LHR on Saturday to see the 12 noon Emirates A380 landing. Is there any way of finding out which direction the planes are coming from and which runway before we set out? I,m hoping it will be coming in over the field near Hatton Cross - that seems to be the nearest you get at LHR. ?|

Runways alternate in terms of t/o and landings according to a fixed schedule that changes daily at 3 pm and alternates on Sundays, usually. This is then complicated by the Cranford agreement - which is that if the prevailing wind is from the east, then only the southern runway can be used for take offs.

Currently, with the wind from the east, 09R is therefore used for take off and 09L for landing.

Hatton Cross won't be much use if, as the weather predicts, the wind will still be from the east on Sunday. This guide might be useful, but to be honest one of the best places I have found is T5 and the outside on the car arrival ramp right at the end by the runway - great and close but you'd need to part your car in the short term and I don't know if you get moved on from there ...

The planefinder app for iPhone is your friend for this sort of thing.

Or look at http://www.flightradar24.com a quick look at the LHR area will show you which way the que is forming to land.

If the north runway is in use then there is a viewing area on the eastern end at the back of the business centre if I remember correctly. (near Harlington corner) if landing from the London side this would be your alternative to Hatton Cross on the southern runway. (I like the bridge over the road just outside the station for a better view)

As Slinky says if aircraft are landing from the Windsor direction then the only spot will be outside T5.