Originally Posted by
demomonkey
I guess familiarity
- If LHR is your home base vs STN isn't
- You have the LHR procedures/frequencies drummed into your brain vs not having the faintest about STN
- You still have the LHR booklet open vs the STN one being hidden in a diversions manual at the back somewhere
- Technically STN could be less track miles away but if it takes you 5 mins to set it up and brief it rather than 30 seconds to say "Back to 27R?" which is better?
I'm sure the crew would have taken a look at the situation and if they had perceived serious doubts about their ability to make it back to LHR would have put it down on the nearest bit of tarmac too them anyway possible.
Of course, these points all seem to be counted not significant for the substantial number of following aircraft which had to be subsequently diverted to Stansted, without seemingly any of the concerns above.
It would also have avoided the gross interruption to BA's business for the rest of the day.