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London Stansted Airport (ICAO EGSS) is a major international airport in Essex, some 31 miles north-east of central London, and is the largest UK base for low-cost carrier Ryanair. For the simulator pilot it offers a single long, ILS-equipped runway and a full suite of air traffic services, making it a good study in busy controlled-airspace arrivals and departures.
Stansted is one of London's principal airports, sited near the town of Stansted Mountfitchet in the Uttlesford district of Essex. It has grown from a wartime and post-war charter base into London's third-busiest airport, serving over 180 destinations and acting as the largest base for the low-cost carrier Ryanair. For a virtual pilot it is a rewarding destination for airliner-style operations, with a single long hard runway, full radar and tower services, and an ILS at both ends.
The airport lies near Stansted Mountfitchet in Uttlesford, Essex, about 31 miles (50 km) north-east of Central London. It sits within controlled airspace served by its own Radar, Director, Tower, Ground and Delivery positions, reflecting its status as a major scheduled and low-cost hub in the London airport system.
Stansted has a single physical runway, 04/22, of hard surface construction and fully lit, with an instrument landing system available at both thresholds. Recorded lengths are 9,005 ft for runway 04 and 9,963 ft for runway 22, the difference reflecting the declared distances published for each direction rather than two separate strips. Field elevation is 338 ft.
Stansted provides a full range of radio services. Stansted Delivery operates on 121.95 MHz, Stansted Ground on 121.725 MHz, Stansted Tower on 123.8 MHz, Stansted Radar (Approach) on 120.625 MHz and Stansted Director on 136.2 MHz, with the ATIS broadcast on 127.175 MHz. Both runway ends are equipped with an ILS.
Stansted's flying history stretches back to the immediate post-war years: in November 1946 the newly formed British cargo airline London Aero and Motor Services, flying ex-RAF Handley Page Halifaxes, moved onto the airfield and used it as an operating base until the company was wound up in July 1948. The Ministry of Civil Aviation took control of the airport in 1949, after which it was used by several UK charter airlines. From 1966, under BAA control, Stansted became popular with holiday charter operators seeking lower costs than Heathrow or Gatwick, and it had been earmarked as a potential third London airport since the 1950s. Following a 1966-67 public inquiry at Chelmsford, the government established the Roskill Commission (1968-71) to reconsider London's third-airport needs, though it ultimately recommended Cublington in Buckinghamshire rather than Stansted. A further public inquiry reported in 1984, and a 1985 government white paper approved a two-phase development of Stansted, expanding both the airfield and terminal facilities to a capacity of 15 million passengers a year, while rejecting a proposed second runway. Outline planning permission for a new terminal building was granted the same year, setting the course for Stansted's transformation into a major London airport.
Stansted is now London's third-busiest airport, handling flights to more than 180 destinations across Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is the largest operating base for Ryanair, which alone serves over 150 destinations from the airport, alongside other European low-cost and scheduled carriers.
