Alitalia 747 at ABZ??

[solitaire]

A friend of mine (very reliable - not prone to hallucinations) insists he saw an Alitalia 747 make 2 approaches including a touch-and-go to Aberdeen last Friday 12th march. As a 747 pilot I cast some doubt on it but he seemed very certain. No mention in the local press so does anyone know anything about it??

Cheers

[KAT TOO]

Yeah i think he got lost, first time he thought it was Manchester so went back for another look!! too busy pinching the hosties bum to read the approach plates

[Findo]

Yes it did happen. I was on duty when the plan was filed. From what I remember a B747-200 from Milan went as far north as Sumburgh and returned to Milan via the approaches at Aberdeen.


Not the biggest to make an approach there. I was on duty at Aberdeen in the late 80s when we managed to persuade a C5 to make an approach. It did generate a switchboard full of phonecalls !! :D :D

[sharpshot]

Largest that actually parked up was Sultan of Brunei's A.340

[Runway 31]

I believe that this aircraft had been getting some work done on it in Amsterdam and was doing some test flying over the north sea.

[excrewingbod]

Indeed, he made two approaches, before disappearing back to AMS.

He probably would have made the news (ala the visiting C17 a while ago), if it wasn't for the inbound PA31, with landing gear problems.