LUTON - 6
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Somewhere between here and there....
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Airport EGGW - LTN - LONDON/LUTON RWY 08 26
SA 180020Z 03020KT 0800 R08/0750 SN BKN004 M00/M00 Q1009=
FT 172257Z 1800/1824 36015G28KT 9999 FEW015 SCT022 TEMPO 1800/1810 01022G38KT 0300 SHSN DRSN VV/// TEMPO 1810/1818 35016G26KT 2000 -SHSN DRSN BKN001 BKN015CB TEMPO 1818/1824 4000 DRSN PROB40 TEMPO 1818/1824 1200 SHSN BKN001=
SA 180020Z 03020KT 0800 R08/0750 SN BKN004 M00/M00 Q1009=
FT 172257Z 1800/1824 36015G28KT 9999 FEW015 SCT022 TEMPO 1800/1810 01022G38KT 0300 SHSN DRSN VV/// TEMPO 1810/1818 35016G26KT 2000 -SHSN DRSN BKN001 BKN015CB TEMPO 1818/1824 4000 DRSN PROB40 TEMPO 1818/1824 1200 SHSN BKN001=
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bournemouth UK
Age: 49
Posts: 862
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gatwick is also SNOCLO.
We were one of the last flights to get in at 23:20. It was reported as being closed for 90 minutes but the way the snow was coming down I believe it could be longer.
SW
We were one of the last flights to get in at 23:20. It was reported as being closed for 90 minutes but the way the snow was coming down I believe it could be longer.
SW
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just measured 13cm of level snow in 3 locations on concrete around a mile from the airport. Not surprising as it has been snowing for hours. The way it is blowing around as soon as they clear a section of runway it will blow back off the grass. This is looking as bad as February except this time we have a strong wind as well.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SASKATOON9999 I think your comments are somewhat unfair. You complain about the length of time that the runway closes at Luton then complain again that they don't close the runway earlier enough thus prolonging the closure.
It’s a fact of life that due to its location on the top of the Chilterns that when it snows locally Luton will always be dumped on more. As already mentioned in a previous post that while Luton had 13 cm of snow not a flake had dropped on Milton Keynes which is just 20 miles north as I headed for my bed.
While Stansted and Heathrow only reported light snow this was Luton
03 AM (3) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.85 (1011) NNE 21 heavy snow
02 AM (2) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.83 (1010) NNE 24 heavy snow
01 AM (1) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.83 (1010) NNE 26 snow
00 AM (0) Dec 17 32 (0) 32 (0) 29.80 (1009) NNE 23 snow
11 PM (23) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.80 (1009) N 22 heavy snow
10 PM (22) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.80 (1009) N 25 heavy snow showers
9 PM (21) Dec 17 30 (-1) 28 (-2) 29.80 (1009) N 21 heavy snow showers
8 PM (20) Dec 17 30 (-1) 26 (-3) 29.83 (1010) N 22 snow showers
It’s a fact of life that due to its location on the top of the Chilterns that when it snows locally Luton will always be dumped on more. As already mentioned in a previous post that while Luton had 13 cm of snow not a flake had dropped on Milton Keynes which is just 20 miles north as I headed for my bed.
While Stansted and Heathrow only reported light snow this was Luton
03 AM (3) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.85 (1011) NNE 21 heavy snow
02 AM (2) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.83 (1010) NNE 24 heavy snow
01 AM (1) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.83 (1010) NNE 26 snow
00 AM (0) Dec 17 32 (0) 32 (0) 29.80 (1009) NNE 23 snow
11 PM (23) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.80 (1009) N 22 heavy snow
10 PM (22) Dec 17 30 (-1) 30 (-1) 29.80 (1009) N 25 heavy snow showers
9 PM (21) Dec 17 30 (-1) 28 (-2) 29.80 (1009) N 21 heavy snow showers
8 PM (20) Dec 17 30 (-1) 26 (-3) 29.83 (1010) N 22 snow showers
Last edited by LTNman; 18th Dec 2009 at 06:24.
Perhaps saskatoon 9999 should be offered a a job in Ops i/c the snow plan!
Clearing snow and slush from airfields, particularly manoeuvring areas and aprons, to the exacting standards demanded today, is no easy task!
Equipment extremely expensive and relatively rarely used; if the snow is still falling the task is more difficult; if there is any wind, the problem is exacerbated even further; unable to use salt and the liquid de-icer/anti-icer is quickly diluted; serious limitations on acceptable snow banks; visual aids must be cleared etc etc.
Beating the weather is a difficult task.............
H49
Clearing snow and slush from airfields, particularly manoeuvring areas and aprons, to the exacting standards demanded today, is no easy task!
Equipment extremely expensive and relatively rarely used; if the snow is still falling the task is more difficult; if there is any wind, the problem is exacerbated even further; unable to use salt and the liquid de-icer/anti-icer is quickly diluted; serious limitations on acceptable snow banks; visual aids must be cleared etc etc.
Beating the weather is a difficult task.............
H49
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saskatoon9999
For the last 13yrs I have been LTN based . . . .Mind you, its probly all in vain as EVERY YEAR without fail the agents always run out of de-icing fluid, so were marooned anyway! -
Have seen problems of rigs running out of fluid and having to be refilled, have heard the airport have run low on anti-icing fluid but run out?
There's nearly as much spin on that as a post from UNITE?!?!?
aceatco, retired
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: one airshow or another
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Anti-icing ops on the runway ahead of heavy snow is a double edge sword. Yes it can melt a light fall of snow but as more and more snow falls the deicer agent dilutes and you end up with the worse of all worlds, slush. Then you have to start sweeping. And when you do there are always people urging you to wait so they can get one more flight in/out, and then when you start the same people ask why you didn't start much earlier!!
Thing I learnt about snow clearing is you can never be right, and there are an amazing number of experts around, particularly from a nice warm office.
Thing I learnt about snow clearing is you can never be right, and there are an amazing number of experts around, particularly from a nice warm office.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: u.k
Age: 62
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Left Luton at 0645 this AM after a busy night shift, 50 mile journey to Cambridgeshire only took me 40 mins longer than normal. I thought the roads would be worse than they were after the amount of snow that fell last night. I noticed the snow ploughs were out all night on the runway.
aceatco, retired
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: one airshow or another
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Dunno, it's been over 10 years since I was directly involved (thank goodness! 
)
Am surprised to just hear on the radio that the airport is still closed, until at least 1000. Blue skies at the moment, must have stopped snowing ages ago. But now I am pontificating from a nice warm office!
Edit: Standby, there's a nice line of wx around Northampton seems to be heading this way . . . .
Where's me sledge?
)Am surprised to just hear on the radio that the airport is still closed, until at least 1000. Blue skies at the moment, must have stopped snowing ages ago. But now I am pontificating from a nice warm office!
Edit: Standby, there's a nice line of wx around Northampton seems to be heading this way . . . .
Where's me sledge?
aceatco, retired
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: one airshow or another
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Snow showers are forecast all day and overnight. This is quite a good site for looking at the radar picture Will it Rain Today? | Rain radar for the UK | Going to rain? | Meteogroup (if the Mods don't mind?)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Switzerland ... oh wait: Swaziland
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All in all: it is a tiny runway with not much taxiways and closed for half a day every time if there is more than 1 cm of snow. And that is not a rare phenomenon recently (ever heard of climate change?). Who cares if snow cleaning equipment is expensive and rarely used? Hope they will never think the same way about fire service... It is a basic service which must be provided by ALL airports from New York to Magnitogorsk.
If an aircraft got frozen because the de-icing fluid was not the right strength surely that is not the responsibility of the Airport. They only do the taxiways and runways.
When are we going to understand that in this country we are never going to be totally prepared for snow. In my 30 years at the airport nothing has really changed, as Vintage ATCO said, eventually the snow is to much for the anti-icing fluid that has been put down. And while it snows it covers the runway as fast as it is swept. Unless you have an extremely large fleet of snow ploughs which would probably never pay for themselves.
I was in Las Vegas last December when it snowed, they just gave up and went home, they didn't have one snow plough.
Anyway just make sure its gone by Monday when I come back from holiday. Its 27 and sunny so can't see what the fuss is all about!!!!
When are we going to understand that in this country we are never going to be totally prepared for snow. In my 30 years at the airport nothing has really changed, as Vintage ATCO said, eventually the snow is to much for the anti-icing fluid that has been put down. And while it snows it covers the runway as fast as it is swept. Unless you have an extremely large fleet of snow ploughs which would probably never pay for themselves.
I was in Las Vegas last December when it snowed, they just gave up and went home, they didn't have one snow plough.
Anyway just make sure its gone by Monday when I come back from holiday. Its 27 and sunny so can't see what the fuss is all about!!!!
Last edited by Level bust; 18th Dec 2009 at 11:37. Reason: Response to previous post
