Originally Posted by
4PW's
Apparently, the British Airport Authority, owners of Heathrow, were concerned about the loss of an available runway should VS plough up 27L.
The reply from the Captain was unemotional, and very simple.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," and with that, he was vectored unceremoniously to an uneventful landing on 27L.
Hmmmm. As ATC, unless there is a fuel shortage, I hardly consider a landing gear issue to be a "MAYDAY" matter.
Where is the need for immediate assistance? Why should we give them priority, only to divert everybody else after this aicraft has blocked the runway?
I can understand why they wouldn't want to go to another airport where they might not have the logistical support required to get the aircraft (or passengers) taken care of but MAYDAY?
Rather childish from the captain, IMVHO.
LX