I was travelling back from DUS to LHR last night and would like to congratulate the BA crew on how they handled the situation. The cap'n came out, explained the situation and we were served with refreshments by the cabin crew and kept up to date with the slot time until we were ready to go.
As far as contingency planning by BAA or ATC for such a situation.......well i'd have to side with 411A and wonder why there wasn't a 'mobile' control tower on hand to keep the fluidity of the imminent landing/departing aircrafts going. These things happen seldomly, but when they do the effects can be far reaching. It would be nice to think that in such a crowded airspace as the London TMA there should be a fall-back system that should there have really been a fire, that it wouldn't have necessitated the amount of time to set up again in the old tower.
Btw, was the old equipment left ready for such a situation ?
Anyway, well done to all in difficult circumstances.
Regards
SHJ