LUTON - 6
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Remember in 1987 I think the first B747 to land at Luton - International Caribbean do a sub for Britannia to Faro made a right mess of the sides of the runway - dust, dirt etc. but not any approach lights.
Also in the mid-1970s a Dan-Air B727 took off for Corfu 2 1/2 tons overweight and took out a number of lights on the 08 end. The Captain never flew again for Dan-Air!
Hope I have got the facts right - maybe Vintage ATCO would like to confirm please?
Also in the mid-1970s a Dan-Air B727 took off for Corfu 2 1/2 tons overweight and took out a number of lights on the 08 end. The Captain never flew again for Dan-Air!
Hope I have got the facts right - maybe Vintage ATCO would like to confirm please?
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Remember in 1987 I think the first B747 to land at Luton - International Caribbean do a sub for Britannia to Faro made a right mess of the sides of the runway - dust, dirt etc. but not any approach lights
I can also remember an exec jet knocking over some of the approach light pylons on 26 when an approach was made in thick fog. From memory the damage was done a long way from the runway so the aircraft must have then carried out a go around. This must have been a good 20 years ago.
Then there was the occasion when the airport authority thought it would be a good idea to block pave the turning circle. All was OK until an aircraft was damaged when the bricks came free due to jet blast.
Last edited by LTNman; 8th Jun 2011 at 18:36.
aceatco, retired
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Also in the mid-1970s a Dan-Air B727 took off for Corfu 2 1/2 tons overweight and took out a number of lights on the 08 end. The Captain never flew again for Dan-Air!
It was not overweight, accident report http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...F%20Append.pdf. Don't know about the fate of the Captain.
I can also remember an exec jet knocking over some of the approach light pylons on 26 when an approach was made in thick fog. From memory the damage was done a long way from the runway so the aircraft must have then carried out a go around. This must have been a good 20 years ago.
Then there was the occasion when the airport authority thought it would be a good idea to block pave the turning circle. All was OK until an aircraft was damaged when the bricks came free due to jet blast.
It was not simple jet blast that caused the disruption but the Bernoulli effect from low slung jet engines. Older generation jets were not (apparently) a problem but then along came the Boeing 737-300. The incident occurred after a prolonged period of heavy rain. The interlocking blocks were laid on sand which became saturated, a problem not envisaged. The Bernouilli effect caused the blocks to be sucked upwards which were then disrupted from the raised position from the jet blast as the aircraft rolled. I was first on the scene following the incident.
A complete rethink was necessary afterwards, not just by Luton but by other airports considering using them. They were tried to mitigate the effect of jet fuel that inevitable vented form some aircraft when they made the 180deg turn at the end of the runway. They had been used successfully on apron stands to mitigate the same problem. Luton Airport were praised by the CAA for their open and honest reporting of the incident to the aviation community at large.
Luton Airport were sued over the incident but the case was withdrawn by the plaintiff.
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Many thanks gentlemen, I knew you would put me right. Regarding the 2 1/2 ton overweight I was very friendly with one of the Dan-Air Station Managers at Luton for many years one BF who told me the story about the overweight regarding the load sheet but he was not on duty at the time. Cheers C3B
I remember the Falcon well!
For some reason the ILS was off and I had to give him a 2 mile SRA in not very good weather.
The trouble was I don't think he knew what an SRA was. Mind you the headings must have been good as he hit the approach lights!
For some reason the ILS was off and I had to give him a 2 mile SRA in not very good weather.
The trouble was I don't think he knew what an SRA was. Mind you the headings must have been good as he hit the approach lights!
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I know the approach light pylons are designed to break on impact but that Falcon crew had a near death experience. I think the aircraft struck the second row in, which was a mighty long way from the threshold. Also due to the runway being on top of a hill those lights where below the runway.
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Don't know that one but at the fire station at Stopsley they have a photo on the wall of a crashed Hawker Hunter that ended up on the grass minus its undercarriage. I’m sure the new control tower is in the background but I know nothing of this incident.
aceatco, retired
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It was Rod Dean returning from RIAT 1999 to Cranfield. He couldn't get the right main gear down and as Cranfield was closed with no fire cover (he had approval to land there) opted to divert to Luton. He first call inbound with a gear problem also included the phrase '20mins fuel remaining'. Exceptionally well handled by everyone involved especially Rod who managed to land it with little damage. The right hand external tank took the initial impact and then broke off. There was a small fire soon extinguished. The aircraft was flying again three days later.
I have the pics taken by the police heli but will not be posting them.
I was at RIAT leading the hot air balloonists off the airfield when my mobile went off. All I heard was 'there's been a crash' before I lost the signal. Because of congestion on the network with 75000 people trying to phone home it was ages before I could get a line home.
I have the pics taken by the police heli but will not be posting them.
I was at RIAT leading the hot air balloonists off the airfield when my mobile went off. All I heard was 'there's been a crash' before I lost the signal. Because of congestion on the network with 75000 people trying to phone home it was ages before I could get a line home.
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With Blue Air surviving a near-death experience, I bet the airport operator is delighted as the loads seem to be good?
When I arrived back from Kerry last week, I came through the domestic arrivals area and by-passed immigation. Is Eire now part of the UK since we lent them a few bob, or have the rules changed?
When I arrived back from Kerry last week, I came through the domestic arrivals area and by-passed immigation. Is Eire now part of the UK since we lent them a few bob, or have the rules changed?
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May pax
Source: CAA Provisional figures
May 2011 861244 +10.1% and rolling year 9101489 +3.3% ATM's 6684 +6.2%
Am I correct in think Luton did not close in May 2010 due the ash cloud?
CAA stats shows 10 inbound diversions and none out.
Quite a good figure then
Pete
May 2011 861244 +10.1% and rolling year 9101489 +3.3% ATM's 6684 +6.2%
Am I correct in think Luton did not close in May 2010 due the ash cloud?
CAA stats shows 10 inbound diversions and none out.
Quite a good figure then
Pete
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EasyJet Opening Southend Base
EasyJet to start flying from Southend airport | Business | guardian.co.uk
easyJet to launch services from London Southend Airport
Looks like, they are basing three aircraft there, so quite a reasonably sized base.
Hope no more Luton traffic is lost to Southend, as there is only so much traffic that can go around! It also leaves LTN the only EZY base within the London Area without a railway station within the airport complex, and makes it even less attractive to for inbound passengers if they have a choice!
EasyJet to start flying from Southend airport | Business | guardian.co.uk
easyJet to launch services from London Southend Airport
Looks like, they are basing three aircraft there, so quite a reasonably sized base.
Hope no more Luton traffic is lost to Southend, as there is only so much traffic that can go around! It also leaves LTN the only EZY base within the London Area without a railway station within the airport complex, and makes it even less attractive to for inbound passengers if they have a choice!
Last edited by gilesdavies; 16th Jun 2011 at 08:43.
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From the easyjet website.....
Hugh Aitken, UK commercial manager for easy Jet, commented: “The launch of our newest route out of Luton demonstrates our continued commitment to Luton and to our passengers offering both leisure and business travellers the best choice of low-fare destinations.
Let's hope that is right. Salzburg is the first new route to be be announced from Luton for several months.
easyJet also continues to offer a range of convenient routes for business passengers on this year’s schedule including four daily flights to Amsterdam and Glasgow and a daily flight to Munich.
Munich ? Ex Ltn ?
Hugh Aitken, UK commercial manager for easy Jet, commented: “The launch of our newest route out of Luton demonstrates our continued commitment to Luton and to our passengers offering both leisure and business travellers the best choice of low-fare destinations.
Let's hope that is right. Salzburg is the first new route to be be announced from Luton for several months.
easyJet also continues to offer a range of convenient routes for business passengers on this year’s schedule including four daily flights to Amsterdam and Glasgow and a daily flight to Munich.
Munich ? Ex Ltn ?