Antigua:
This morning very strong winds rapidly built us 30 odd minutes delay. You might imagine the pressure one then feels under to get traffic tight and it takes great self discipline not to succumb. Inevitably there are "casualties", today it was BAW 84. Whilst this was going on, 3 cranes were blocking the approach to 27R leaving us perilously exposed should something have gone wrong with 27L. That is both unprofessional and unsatisfactory but is apparently a commercial decision.
Evidently the policies regarding fuel and runways are are not satisfactory and clearly there is disquiet in the ranks. The bean counters don't understand/ want to understand the position they put us in; all they see is numbers. Heathrow Airport Limited want to increase the hourly declared capacity, presumably on the basis that we often land mid 40s per hour. (This morning we did very well (acknowledged by management) to reach 39.) That they can even ask demonstrates a worrying lack of understanding.
Can BALPA not get involved and argue the cause? The issue here is safety and that ought to concern them.
Point 4
