NEWCASTLE - 8

[Jamesair]

What was the full scale emergency, yesterday?

[Heathrow Harry]

It's been dual carriageway from Tyneside south to Doncaster for years - it's just not "motorway" all the way

[Chesty Morgan]

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

Going west the dual carriageway stops at Hexham, going north at Morpeth and heading south we aren't connected to the national motorway network until south of Teesside.

Eh?! You are connected to the national motorway network......by the A1, A1M and the A69.

[SWBKCB]

I'll keep it simple - there isn't a motorway from Newcastle to another major city (and no, Durham doesn't count).

[inOban]

But only for a few more weeks. According to Wikipedia, the final section is to be completed this spring. Unless you are going to claim that 'proper' motorways must have six lanes.

[SWBKCB]

It would certainly help, as would any type of two-lane road going west or north.

[inOban]

I guess that Westminster would argue that any enhancement of the A1 North of Morpeth should be at least partly funded by Holyrood.

[jensdad]

Anyway, enough talk of boring ground transportation What was the emergency yesterday?

[EK77WNCL]

Belgian helicopter had some form of emergency and diverted to Newcastle. Another one came in on a rescue mission at about half 12

[Beatts]

https://twitter.com/NorthumbriaHeli/...65524481290240

[SWBKCB]

Gave the academy students something new to look at!

[KNIEVEL77]

It was reported that a Helicopter flying offshore abeam Newcastle had developed a MGB warning/problem and declared an emergency.
Over ten external emergency service vehicles were lined up on the Echo Apron awaiting its arrival.
As the helicopter transitioned to Foxtrot, it was followed by the Airport's own Emergency Vehicles as it landed safely.
I'm not sure the of the definition of a full scale emergency but if you are in a helicopter that devolps a MGB fault, it can be catastrophic presumably hence the number of external emergency vehicles standing by.
The airport did an excellent job keeping delays to a minimum whilst giving priority to the Helicopter.

[rpmac]

A1: Most of the A1 is dual carriageway in Scotland. It is south of Berwick (England) where the upgrade is needed.

[Jamesair]

January 17 statistics have now been published on the airport website with an increase in total movements (Jan 16 in brackets) 3412 (3352) and Pax 280,200 (239,917) a very healthy increase which should show the way to over 5m pax in 2017.

[HH6702]

Good news 21% increase

[Robert-Ryan]

Apologies if already reported but Royal Mail ceasing their Newcastle flights effective Monday 27th March.

[Beatts]

Wiki showing EasyJet Switzerland doing Geneva as well as Easyjet.

[HH6702]

What's the chance she of BA cityflyer to operate at weekend to sun routes like they do at STN last year and have added MAN and now BRS ??

Slim but you never know

[HeartyMeatballs]

I believe easySwiss have done some GVA rotations before. I think whenever there were 2 GVA flights on a Saturday, EZS operated on of them. It will likely be the case that a majority of them will be operated with NCL based aircraft.

[Beatts]

Cheers for the info. Another question, does anyone know why TOM keep positioning there AC between here and Dublin recently, noticed it a few weeks back too. Just aircraft swaps?