MANCHESTER - 7

[lexxity]

Very constructive posting there Mouser.

Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to post why and what happened. Luckily I was off yesterday, thank heavens, but I live right under the flight path and wouldn't have wanted to be operating in that. The flurries were long and persistent, not seen snow that heavy for years.

[RHINO]

Manofman

would you care to elaborate on your comment 'Manchester was in LVP's for 2 hours'?

[Ian Brooks]

Taken from another site re DUS
I was on Delta 25 from DUS to ATL and it was canceled. The pilot said DUS does not have the equipment to clean off the runways or aircraft with this much snow. Now we cannot get our luggage because the say the equipment is frozen! What a mess.

LVP is low visibility procedures

So not only MAN

Ian B

[ManofMan]

Manofman

would you care to elaborate on your comment 'Manchester was in LVP's for 2 hours'?

The met viz was less than 1500 meters for 2 hours as per my Metar posting, during that time the RVRS were less than 1500 meters for the majority of the time.

I was merely pointing out to Mouser that his comment regarding Manchester shutting after a flurry was complete tosh, but i suspect he knew that before he posted, still any chance to have a dig at Manchester, factually based or not and he is there.

[RHINO]

Manofman

for the record I can assure you there were no LVPs at MAN yesterday.

[ManofMan]

for the record I can assure you there were no LVPs at MAN yesterday.

O.K. i take that on board, i assumed (incorrectly as you advise) that with RVR's of 750 meters we would have entered into LVP's.

Why out of interest did we not go into LVP's with the viz as it was ?

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

LVP's required when vis drops below 600m and cloud base is 200 feet or less, or when the airport deems that LVP's are necessary, or when the limits are approaching! So MAN didn't need LVP's yesterday, but they did need something to help them out of the hole, unfortunately the line to God was out of order!!

I was unfortunate to be working yesterday at early o'clock to do a "quick" Geneva, when the place ground to a halt. It was a nightmare, the stands were very icy, so fuel trucks wouldn't approach, and the one's that did couldn't open the hatch in the ground to connect up due to the ice. Most aircraft had de-iced in preparation for departure , unfortunately it then snowed and the place closed, causing all those that had been de-iced to need doing again. Trying to co-ordinate this with ATC who did their level best to keep everyone informed as to when the runway would be open again was nigh on impossible, particularly with the frequency of the showers! I consider myself to be fortunate to have juggled the balls and not to have dropped one, as I got us away with 2hrs 20 mins delay.

Getting back mid/late afternoon was another shocker. London advised that MAN was closed and that we should slow down, that MAN was estimating to open at 15:00. This pushed back to 15:20, just as we joined the hold at Dayne. 15 mins later, and now with unhealthy looking fuel gauges we were still holding, with a distinct lack of info from ATC. After another 5 mins ATC kindly put us out of our misery and advised they'd report again in another 15 mins, straight to Leeds for us, Liverpool for the rest amongst us.

The taxi back over the Pennines was unbelievable, but we did eventually make it, and our day was over, my "quick" Geneva had taken us 15 hours.

What a day for my poor SFO who I was running a command assessment on.

I'd say to those that keep on knocking the place from their homes without even having looked at the place to shut up and get a grip, MAN ATC did their best, MAN Airport did their best with the equipment that they have at their disposal, and I really don't think that many places would have done very much better, and I have spent almost 2 years working for a Swedish operator in the frozen north of Scandinavia!

[conti onepass]

just reported on radio, manchester getting gatwick diversions!!! more chaos, my brothers been delayed for six hours going to dalaman.

[Suzeman]

Snow clearing

Thanks Musket and Stoneybridge - some light bedtime reading there.

Still sounds difficult out there today as it is still very icy everywhere.

Cheers
Suzeman

[Bagso]

CFMU at Eurocontrol have issued a notam suggesting Manchester closed to Divs until at least 1200 Tuesday...

Bit of a shame but various bits from the SE going to GLA BRI BHX and NCL

Fill your boots boys and girls....

[MUFC_fan]

Is Manchester not accepting diverts because it has already filled it's boots or not?

[Trash_Hauler]

I consider myself to be fortunate to have juggled the balls and not to have dropped one, as I got us away with 2hrs 20 mins delay

Come on now JFP... how about a bit of credit where it is due... "you" did not get yourself away completely on your own. It was a team effort. Were "you" the one arranging your slots, loading your baggage, fuelling your airplane, arranging de-icing, checking in the passengers etc etc etc? I am just one of lowly guys on the other end of your radio at the handling agent ops, but the guys and gals of the HA's deserve a LOT of credit as we juggled many flaming balls all day long. Nobody in my office left short of 17 hours!

[Ian Brooks]

Snowing hard again

Ian B

[ManofMan]

Is Manchester not accepting diverts because it has already filled it's boots or not

No it was due to "adverse weather"....pi$$ poor showing by Manchester AGAIN...been bucketing down now for 30 minutes or so....only a matter of time before we close again.

[Ian Brooks]

Snowing even harder than it did on Sunday and has been for 1 hour now

Ian B

[lexxity]

Snow has been coming down steadily since just before 10am, it is still coming down!

[lexoncd]

The weather that affected manchester was known to be heading our way. Despite this the airport did a good job in convincing the public it only closed for 90 minutes meaning most punters weren't aware of the chaos and ongoing delays.

Two runways....what a joke when you can't even keep one open...

[Skipness One Echo]

Two runways....what a joke when you can't even keep one open...

I agree but bear in mind that the chaos ensued due to a lack of clear taxiways, stands and effective deicing procedures.

Still I bet the shops were still open....

[TheMaskedDispatcher]

I think that some of the focus needs to be aimed at the airlines themselves. Knowing that the infrastructure of the airport during winter is already 'less than skeleton crew' as most handling agents have laid off staff for the 'quiet' period, they still try to operate a full schedule of flights. Instead of 1 aircraft to deal with we may have 3 or 4, with the same number of people to deal with it. Couple that with the general sense of not knowing if or when other airports that you have no control over will open . .or have better weather and the reluctance of airlines to actually cancel flights and you have a recipe for a very challenging operation. 17+ hour shifts for people are not uncommon . .NO there are no extra staff . .NO there are no 'spare' staff .. .NO we cant just 'call some more people in' (nobody will pay call out and some places dont pay overtime either . .anyone want to do some voluntary/charity work in aviation? no didnt think so). Its a damn shame for the punters but its the same all over the UK and it could be worse . . could be a Train operating company. Those in the know might have noted that during icing conditions rear-steps are now verboten according to airfield ops? That was a new one on me the other night but suits me fine!! H+S has SOME uses it seems . . . and yes the shops were bustling!
*deck the walls with Advertising . .falalalala, lalalalar
'tis the time for MERCHANDISING, falalalala, lala la lar!*

T-M-Snowman

[parky747]

BA

Is it still the plan that MAN wish to have T1 for Scheduled airlines, T2 charter and T3 loco? If so does this mean that BA will be shipped to T1 to anytime soon?