Originally Posted by
Offchocks
there was no 08 ILS when I was based at Luton with Monarch!
I stand to be corrected, but I think the 08 ILS was installed in 1987. Touchdown RVR minima was 700m as opposed to 550m on 26 - higher I believe due to fewer approach lights because of the terrain.
One winters night in the late 80's I remember the last Ryanair Dublin flight was on approach to 08. Aircraft was a 1-11 500 crewed by Tarom pilots. 5 miles out and the touchdown RVR was 800m. Shortly afterwards the tower controller passed him an RVR of 400m. No reply from the aircraft. 2 miles out and the RVR had dropped to 200m. "Ryanair 208 RVR now 200 metres, confirm your intentions. Ryanair 208, please acknowledge". Still no response. Then there was an almighty roar of the thrust reversers and "ve are on ground" from the pilot.
They probably didn't break any rules as I believe they were entitled to continue down to decision height (200ft) if the RVR dropped below minima less then 5 miles out. Did they see the lights at 200ft? Maybe....