Pilot qualifications - different levels needed?

[skr80]

As last night 5 Easyjet flights were diverted to STN from LGW, whilst all the other flights managed to land ok (during the storm).

Was it a ground crew call, or an airline call, or pilot call, to divert to another port?

[Bealzebub]

No question about it, the pilot in command is responsible for making that judgment call. If in their absolute opinion there is a requirement to divert then that is the right decision. It doesn't matter who else did or didn't land, that is wholly irrelevant.

Thunderstorms are dynamic events that change by the minute. They alter in severity, intensity and location such that what may preclude a decision to approach or land at a given point in time, has completely changed 10, 15 or 20 minutes later. In addition the information from a preceding aircraft or from local ATC may well influence and modify or reverse the decision of a successive crew.

Thunderstorms contain a number of elevated risk factors and as with all safety related issues, the crew will use all of the information available to them as well as skill, common sense, experience, resource and sound judgement to arrive at a solution that is best in the circumstances. Nothing to do with pilot qualifications other than various combinations of the mentioned factors might influence different pilots to slightly different degrees. However the main deciding factors will be the circumstances and conditions prevailing at the time.

Given the disruption and cost implications nobody would divert for any other reason than those related to the perception of safety, and it is entirely correct and proper than the crews of these flights did what they saw fit in the circumstances.

[skr80]

thanks - it was odd that it was just the easyjet pilots that chose to divert though

[Bealzebub]

It might seem that way, but as a large airline at that base they would likely have a block of similarly timed arrivals. Each crew would have made their own decision, although they might well have received information on the decisions made by earlier flights.

[boredcounter]

Unless they received Co. instruction to divert, to a better (WX) base, from people with the bigger picture?


Bored

[Diver_Dave]

Obviously down to each crew.

Looking out of the office at the approach to Manchester
a few years ago I saw 3* 747 Go around plus numerous
twins & props, then...

2* FlyBe Q400's came in smooth as you like as the weather
calmed for 5 min the Delta 76 behind wasn't as lucky and
cue another 20 min of missed approaches.

That was the same week the hyped up footage from
Birmingham appeared.

Just down to conditions at the time..

Regards

DaveA