<1261> "no problems, no drama"
Erm, maybe not 'on the ground', but as one who was on sector at the time I can assure you it was scary - but of course we were told it could never happen. Lights flicker, big 'clunk', silence as aircon stops and the radar screens go blank blank blank. Frequency dead and telephone lines dead. All faces look left and right in amazement, colour drains into trousers. Pause for breath. Grab for emergency handset, select both frequencies in use, try to use R/T with handset clamped to left ear, write with right hand, no hand spare to try phone lines, no standby phone available for 10 minutes until programmed by Tels. Resorted to asking SH360 on one freq to call EGAA on another to tell them we had crashed - how's that for a backup? Offload tfc to adjacent units. Radar came back after about 6 mins (that's about 50 miles at cruise speed), but it felt like 20, phones were back similar time. But you are disorientated for a good while and need to get radars reset while still keeping on top of the tfc.....it all takes time.
<NNF> "Less that 500 min delays in total and no safety problems.
Just the sort of situation that shows how well everyone can work towards a common goal."
NNF, I think you need a reality check. Also let me know when you are at work cos' it scares me if these are your yardsticks. No safety problems ? WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON? Just the sort of situation that I hope never to experience again. One of the most stomach-churning moments for me in 16 years controlling - but of course it could never happen..... if you want to identify yourself and buy me and the rest of the watch a beer to explain your logic then feel free to email.
Thank God it wasn't busier. If that had happened 90 mins earlier in the middle of the morning rush it would have been chaotic. As it was there were probably about 70ac in the air at the time.
But at least all the computers in the offices stayed on, and the coffee machine in the canteen didn't go off
Amazed that it stayed out of the news. Read the class action 1261 when it comes out.
As a learning point, nothing in Emergency Training prepares you for the reality. My advice is have a practice on the nightshifts using handset and emergency phones to at least see how disorientating it is.