LUTON - 6
aceatco, retired
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Does a FLASH out trump an EMERGENCY . . . .
05/18:25: Heavy Snow - London & South East England
FLASH Warning of Heavy Snow for London & South East England valid from 1900 Tue 05 Jan to 1200 Wed 06 Jan
Just SN on the TAF now . . . .
05/18:25: Heavy Snow - London & South East England
FLASH Warning of Heavy Snow for London & South East England valid from 1900 Tue 05 Jan to 1200 Wed 06 Jan
Just SN on the TAF now . . . .
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Luton seems to be on the edge of the worst predicted snowfall area. I have learnt years ago not to count the snowflakes until they start falling as the weather centre seems to make a habit of predicting the worst just in case it happens. Anyway Luton is not classed as London and the South East
aceatco, retired
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Best indication is to watch the thickness lines on the synoptic charts. As soon we are below 525 it's gonna snow. In my experience the Met Office always seemed to forget we were 526ft amsl - me: "It's snowing", them: "We'll send you a snow warning"
I'm London and the SE, only country bumpkins watch Anglia . . . .
Edited: Got it the wrong way round . . .
I'm London and the SE, only country bumpkins watch Anglia . . . .
Edited: Got it the wrong way round . . .
Last edited by vintage ATCO; 5th Jan 2010 at 19:25.
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3mm of snow now on the runway and it looks like Luton could well be closing for the night:
Edit at 20:38: and yes Luton is now closed due snow for at least 4 hours and it is still snowing
Edit at 20:38: and yes Luton is now closed due snow for at least 4 hours and it is still snowing
Last edited by LTNman; 5th Jan 2010 at 19:46.
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Winter 81/82. I spent my first weeks working at Luton digging cars out on Crawley hill! Not seen snow like it since, well until this winter!
3mm of snow is.....NOTHING!
The problem airlines and airports have is;
3mm of snow is.....NOTHING!
The problem airlines and airports have is;
- How are our passengers going to get to our airport
- How are our 'key' staff going to get to the airport
- How are pilots, cabin crew and ground handlers going to get to our airport
- If we divert, how can we get PAX to destination
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I suppose this is Luton Airport's fault as well? 
Commuter anger as St Albans City station closes (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)
Commuter anger as St Albans City station closes (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)
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Whose fault is it anyway?
The problem with blame is that it can sometimes be laid at the wrong door - and often by those who haven't a clue about the complexities of the civil aviation industry. Whilst pax tend always to blame the Airport operator for any problems, because it's the most obvious reaction, in actual fact it may be the airline or its handling agent who has failed in a given situation.
A careful look at the number of different employers on site who all contribute to an on-time (or otherwise) departure after a good or bad turnaround will soon reveal the number of places where the buck could stop! No wonder 'business partners' is such a wonderful euphemism when things go wrong! But when it all goes right, what is demonstrated is real partnership and community.
A careful look at the number of different employers on site who all contribute to an on-time (or otherwise) departure after a good or bad turnaround will soon reveal the number of places where the buck could stop! No wonder 'business partners' is such a wonderful euphemism when things go wrong! But when it all goes right, what is demonstrated is real partnership and community.
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Some plane passengers have had to pay extra for outstaying their time in airport car parks, even though the airport was shut, PA reports. Marketing manager Richard Busby, 59, paid out an extra £65 after falling foul of bad weather at Luton Airport.
He had left his car in a short-term car park and planned to return to it after a business trip of just a few hours to Edinburgh on Tuesday. He was unable to do so because the airport was closed. But when he returned to collect his car, he was forced to pay an extra bill, and is unlikely to be able to reclaim this from the airport, airline or his travel insurer.
He had left his car in a short-term car park and planned to return to it after a business trip of just a few hours to Edinburgh on Tuesday. He was unable to do so because the airport was closed. But when he returned to collect his car, he was forced to pay an extra bill, and is unlikely to be able to reclaim this from the airport, airline or his travel insurer.
If anyone from Luton's Marketing Department reads this, I hope they have had a gander at the Gatwick thread. Apparently the new owners there are trying to discourage operators of smaller aircraft by unifying some of their fees.
This could present LTN with an opportunity - Air Southwest, FlyBe, and I'm sure others could be tempted north of the Thames, and help to replace some of the 'lost' EZY passengers.
This could present LTN with an opportunity - Air Southwest, FlyBe, and I'm sure others could be tempted north of the Thames, and help to replace some of the 'lost' EZY passengers.
More Luton muppetry...
After a long 4 sector day I had to park up on stand 21 last night along with other larger aircraft. Obviously due to the lack of stands because of the major works that have turned the whole place into a big cul-de-sac until April. No major problem, just yet another delay.
But...
All the pax were bussed as normal. All the crew though (at the instruction of chief muppet at "Airport Ops") have to be taken in a minibus right round the entire perimeter of the airport to the security station opposite stand 3 where we had to strip and be searched - in the same way as we do at the start of the day. Brilliant. Water removed. Apparently this was because we had parked in a controlled zone and had to enter a restricted zone to clear customs.
So, this will need a team of vans and security people to "clear" all the crew at the end of their duty days. But how come it's just the crew that need this end of day search, and not the passengers?
And why are the foundations crumbling on the ramp anyway?
And why does it take 40 minutes to do a one stage de-ice at Luton with a bloke and a Killaspray whereas it takes 8 minutes to do a full two stage at a real airport?
After a long 4 sector day I had to park up on stand 21 last night along with other larger aircraft. Obviously due to the lack of stands because of the major works that have turned the whole place into a big cul-de-sac until April. No major problem, just yet another delay.
But...
All the pax were bussed as normal. All the crew though (at the instruction of chief muppet at "Airport Ops") have to be taken in a minibus right round the entire perimeter of the airport to the security station opposite stand 3 where we had to strip and be searched - in the same way as we do at the start of the day. Brilliant. Water removed. Apparently this was because we had parked in a controlled zone and had to enter a restricted zone to clear customs.
So, this will need a team of vans and security people to "clear" all the crew at the end of their duty days. But how come it's just the crew that need this end of day search, and not the passengers?
And why are the foundations crumbling on the ramp anyway?
And why does it take 40 minutes to do a one stage de-ice at Luton with a bloke and a Killaspray whereas it takes 8 minutes to do a full two stage at a real airport?
Last edited by HundredPercentPlease; 13th Jan 2010 at 17:27. Reason: Changed stand 12 to 21.
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Luton Problems
Ah well, I suppose that is what comes from working and living in the United Kingdom in 2010 - fortunately for me (am not bragging) I do not do either anymore. You do have a choice though.
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HundredPercent
I sincerely hope you meant stand 21, as if you had to go through security from stand 12 then we are in trouble.
Apparently whoever built Taxiway Echo did not do the foundations correctly so it has to come up and be re-done!
When Harrods moved to their new base near cargo, the South Stands became part of the Restricted Zone and they even built a road from the East Apron alongside Taxiway Delta to allow easy access without having to get clearance to go on the taxiway.
Then Ocean Sky arrived and a Controlled Zone reappeared, making life difficult for anyone else needing to go to the South Stands.
I sincerely hope you meant stand 21, as if you had to go through security from stand 12 then we are in trouble.
Apparently whoever built Taxiway Echo did not do the foundations correctly so it has to come up and be re-done!
When Harrods moved to their new base near cargo, the South Stands became part of the Restricted Zone and they even built a road from the East Apron alongside Taxiway Delta to allow easy access without having to get clearance to go on the taxiway.
Then Ocean Sky arrived and a Controlled Zone reappeared, making life difficult for anyone else needing to go to the South Stands.
Last edited by DOOBIE; 13th Jan 2010 at 22:07.