CORK - 5

[ryan2000]

Surely the cost of diversions and the loss of revenue should outweigh the cost of paying for a calibrator. We need a clear unequivocal statement from the IAA as to why Cork has been left without CAT 2 for over two weeks. Whatever about Shannon there is no way that this would be tolerated at Dublin.

[Johnny Tightlips]

Looks like someone from the IAA is a PPRuNe reader! This just showed up on their website. Not looking good...

Irish Aviation Authority - Possible disruption to flights at Cork Airport

[PPRuNeUser0176]

Would put the fall in traffic in July down to a decline on flights between UK-Ireland. CAA stats show the majority of routes had a fall in numbers.

[francis omahony]

very strange IAA statement issued 2 weeks after problem began. if it took that length of time to discover it, cork can look forward to no ILS for some time yet

[ryan2000]

No indication of why the Landing instrument has been u/s for two weeks or what they intend to do about it. Maybe the airlines will start complaining after today's disruption.

[francis omahony]

wizz and ei after landing weather improving after 14 diversions

[Jack1985]

very strange IAA statement issued 2 weeks after problem began. if it took that length of time to discover it, cork can look forward to no ILS for some time yet

Airlines were notified in late June of this ILS problem, it will be unserviceable until Sept before tests can begin. Please stop moaning about everything Francis you seem good at that.

Yet again, today has turned into another day of abject shame for Cork Airport with aviators being put into the position of having to attempt tailwind approaches in low visibility and winds out of limits, lengthy holds and the almost inevitable diversion later to other competitor airfields. All while Minisiter Varadkar says the priority must be rest with the midwest airfield's independence.

Another buffoon of a Transport Minister in a long, long line of buffoon Transport Ministers.

I think that it is high time there was a forensic investigation into the operations of the DAA and IAA

Hear, hear. What surprises me is that Leo is young and still seem's so out of touch to the problems facing the industry, the time is long overdue that Ministers should be elected to portfolios they have experience in.

Investigations into the DAA, CAA and IAA are long over due. Branch reform is needed in all boards.

No indication of why the Landing instrument has been u/s for two weeks or what they intend to do about it.

Reason I heard was a failure in the G/S needed to be corrected, IAA do not refer to that however. The fact they're waiting until Sept for a contractor to begin tests is something I'm surprised Ryanair haven't jumped on.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

I'm surprised Ryanair haven't jumped on.

It loses its appeal to FR unless its at the DAA or BAA.

[Jack1985]

It loses its appeal to FR unless its at the DAA or BAA.

haha very true

[ryan2000]

IAA need to be told that Cork simply cannot afford to be without an ILS for the peak Summer Month of August. Airlines are on very tight margins. The far off days of the 70's and 80's when cosy cartels could pass the losses on to the customers by charging rip off fares are over.

The question that needs to be asked is why are the IAA waiting untill September to deal with this issue? Surely it must be technically possible to address the problem now.

[francis omahony]

JACK 1985
I have a lot to moan about

[Scottso]

Cork 17 ILS performance

Out of curiousity, what was/is the problem with Cork 17 ILS? And how did it demonstrate itself? Did it shut down or alarm; or was it as a result of airborne reports?

Probably totally unrelated but, if I recall correctly, in the early '90s there used to be an occasional anomaly with some smaller Aer Lingus aircraft and traced to the nature of the pre-threshold terrain and auto-pilot gear-change height.

It seems unusual to have outages with modern equipment so no doubt it has aroused interest and possibly concern..

Unless the failing is within the equipment itself which subsequently needs repair or replacement is not the question of priority for recalibration a question within the calibration contract itself rather than with the IAA?

Hope it is sorted, reapproved soon. Even Cat 1 would be a help.

[ryan2000]

Is the caibration contract not with the IAA rather than the DAA. In any event I'm sure there are calibrators in France or Germany if the UK one isn't available. I know that cost is an issue but the level of disruption could be very high if the weather closes in again.

[Jamie2k9]

Yesterdays problems have caused Air Contractors to lease an aircraft and crew to operate a flight and put passengers and crew up in hotels for 2 nights. Its not acceptable for airlines to have to cover costs like this as the majority can't afford it. I also can't see FR patience lasting much longer. As Ryan said if it happend at Dublin it would be fixed right away.

[Cabincrewifly]

Aer Lingus must be delighted that Ryanair's Malaga service is gone summer only!!

[Jack1985]

Out of curiousity, what was/is the problem with Cork 17 ILS?

All airlines were informed in late June that maintenance would be carried out on both 17/35 for the ILS equipment and that the IAA did not expect any disruption due to the test with the private contractor scheduled for the first weekend in September lasting only a day. However on either the 1st or 2nd of August an Aer Lingus aircraft approaching in CAT II visibility went around sighting a discrepancy in the G/S (Glide slope) the tower then asked a second approaching aircraft which was a Ryanair flight to confirm the issue and the crew also confirmed there was a discrepancy in the G/S, ILS on 17 was then taken out of service until scheduled maintenance in early September.

Yesterdays problems have caused Air Contractors to lease an aircraft and crew to operate a flight and put passengers and crew up in hotels for 2 nights. Its not acceptable for airlines to have to cover costs like this as the majority can't afford it. I also can't see FR patience lasting much longer. As Ryan said if it happend at Dublin it would be fixed right away.

Very true especially as its going to eat away at any profits generated during the peak month of travel.

[Johnny Tightlips]

Irish Aviation Authority - Cork Airport update

Looks like the IAA are finally doing something about the ILS

[PPRuNeUser0176]

Aer Wizz Air fighting back aginst FR. From 1 November the second weekly ORK-WRO will restart. Fares are well cheeper than FR on the route.

[DublinPole]

They're playing exactly the same game with Ryanair as Ryanair are with them on a few routes from the winter season onwards I have heard with a little bit more to come in that regard.

It's not going to be sustainable for them to do it long term you would have thought, as they would not have dropped it to once a week if the yields were holding up. It's all about trying to become the dominant carrier on the route and obviously with FR having flights twice a week they wanted to keep up with that.

I'd say this time next year most of these Ryanair/Wizzair competition routes from Cork will not be at the combined frequency they are now, from having flew from Ireland to Poland many times for several purposes and seeing loads I'd say Wroclaw and Gdansk they'd manage at best 3 flights a week between both operators, with Warsaw being able to support at least 4.

Katowice is an interesting one because of it's close proximity to Krakow, an airport where Ryanair have very strong brand awareness and customer base and have seen several airlines off there in the last few years on a few routes so I would imagine that would be the most difficult one for Wizz to win.

[Jack1985]

Looks like the IAA are finally doing something about the ILS

Thank's for that link, so obviously the G/S wasn't the major factor for the closure of the ILS for the sustained period since it was taken out of use.