SOUTHAMPTON
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Hants
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The RVR at Southampton has remained between 175m and 225m all day so far. The RVR at BOH has fluctuated much more and has been above 400m for much of the day. Even if SOU had CAT III I don't think anything much would have got in today. I don't believe the Flybe DHC8s and Eastern Saab 2000s are CAT III equipped. Certainly the last 3 FlyBe diversions all made CAT II approaches into BOH. An Eastern Saab attempted to divert to BOH but broke off the approach when the RVR dropped as only CAT 1 equipped.
Even if SOU had CAT III I don't think anything much would have got in today. I don't believe the Flybe DHC8s and Eastern Saab 2000s are CAT III equipped.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Winchester
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Diversions
It is true that the Flybe Dash 8s are not CAT III equipped, some are not CAT II which is why one of them broke off approach at BOH this morning and returned to the SAM hold for a while
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Southampton
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It seems that the airport has to close periodically for 30 minutes due to controller shortages today.This being brought on by sickness.I believe this occured recently ,is there such a small controller staff that when there is one off sick the airport operation is compromised?
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South
Age: 44
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Yes the facts currently point to it being a hard fix but at the end of the day an airport being closed for a full day because of some fog is pathetic. Fog is predicted tomorrow which means two days where time stands still and the airport just doesn't function. Yes SOU is not LHR but it is also not some dirt strip out in Timbuktu. The airport is hugely important to the local economy and if some trees need to be cut down to increase the environment in which it can operate safely then the local authority should be facilitating that. If the shed near the railway works is too tall then it shouldn't have been given permission. All buildings of any relevant height are assessed prior to permission being granted. Someone messed up there or maybe the airport didn't have the foresight to think that down the line that would be an obstacle for its growth. I suspect the latter. We are talking about people who built a car park so close to their runway that it affects their operations. I mean you seriously couldn't make it up! What's key to our business? The runway and stands where the aircraft which are the defining feature of our business depend on. No, the car park which makes us a few quid in the short term is more important. That's what grates the most for me personally, the sheer lack of ambition and short sightedness that is constantly undermining the growth of their business. I am sorry but it cannot be a coincidence that the grinning goon has been in charge throughout. Some change is much needed but the nature of a pension fund is that they want a safe investment. It doesn't matter the the returns are small as long as they are dependable. It's a shame someone did not step in when it was up for sale who would have speculated to accumulate. If someone is willing to spend 50mil at BOH then we should expect the same for SOU. Can you imagine what could be achieved at SOU with that sort of money.
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South
Age: 44
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Fog seems to have cleared up but various flights still cancelled. Can anyone explain why these flights are cancelled? Düsseldorf is cancelled for the second day in a row. Not great from BE yet again. I suspect it is to lessen the strain on their schedule momentarily. They do seem to cancel flights at the drop of a hat to suit their own needs. Disgraceful attitude towards their customers. Another reason why investment is needed in SOU, it would rid us of this tin pot airline.
They do seem to cancel flights at the drop of a hat to suit their own needs. Disgraceful attitude towards their customers. Another reason why investment is needed in SOU, it would rid us of this tin pot airline.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Given that aircraft and crew were all over the bloody place yesterday it's absolutely unsurprising that there is disruption today. BA Cityflyer are no different at LCY with many first wave departures scrapped. Before having another dig at Flybe, invest some time in understanding how airlines operate and what challenges disruption brings to the operation. You have demonstrated no knowledge so far Rivetjoint.....
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South
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Cloud1: Explain that to all the people who have had their bank holidays ruined by BE. People are paying to get from A to B, they don't give a hell about the problems you mention (which by the way are not insurmountable). My points all originate out of the same two issues, SOU needs to invest and BE needs competition. The problem is that the owners will not invest and as a result BE will continue to treat SOU and its customers with nothing but disdain. They can afford to do this with no competition. Whereas MAN and BHX they have to look after better.
Rivet - Birmingham and Manchester are both much bigger cities than Southampton which makes for a far larger demand for air travel and able to support greater competition. Please remembere that Flybe as a commercial company are not exactly making huge profits - they nearly went bankrupt a couple of years ago - better to have an airline with based aircraft serving a range of destinations than none at all.
Before people slag me off, I should point out that I used to live in Swaythling, about a 20 min walk from SOU.
Before people slag me off, I should point out that I used to live in Swaythling, about a 20 min walk from SOU.
My points all originate out of the same two issues, SOU needs to invest and BE needs competition.
Which airlines are you thinking of that would do a better job? You ignore the fact that other airlines in the same position as BE (aircraft and crew out of place) do exactly the same thing.
The only argument seems to be that BOH spent £50m so SOU should - as my mum would say "if BOH put their hand in the fire, should SOU?"
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UP North
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Cloud1: Explain that to all the people who have had their bank holidays ruined by BE. People are paying to get from A to B, they don't give a hell about the problems you mention (which by the way are not insurmountable). My points all originate out of the same two issues, SOU needs to invest and BE needs competition. The problem is that the owners will not invest and as a result BE will continue to treat SOU and its customers with nothing but disdain. They can afford to do this with no competition. Whereas MAN and BHX they have to look after better.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: UK
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The problem with Rivet Joint is he's a disgruntled ex employee who can't seem to let go of the airline that gave him a leg up in the industry. If he had half a brain he'd know that if Flybe, or any other airline for that matter were to try and fly every schedule in a day disrupted by fog then they'd be playing catch up for the next 36 hrs continuously and it would impact on the following day's schedule let alone the current day's schedule, and then you'd have to find crew who aren't out of hours to fly through the night. I'll wait with baited breath to hear of any airline with the frequency that flybe operates that does not cancel flights when weather disrupts the day. Unfortunately Rivet Joint seems to be devoid of any common sense and if there was any tiny snippet of information where he could jump on his former employee then he'd be on it like a tramp on chips.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Southampton, U.K
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Flybe S17 Update
Few changes have appeared today. Some have already been mentioned elsewhere but it looks like the rather random weekend flights could be for a positioning aircraft or possibly a tie up with cruise companies to carry passengers travelling on cruises from the port. All seem to operate from the end of May to the start of September.
Aberdeen - 2 weekly Sat/Sun
East Midlands - 1 weekly Sat
Exeter - 1 weekly Sat
No changes to any of the spain/portugal routes, but some of the other leisure destinations have seen some extra flights added.
Biarritz - 3 weekly (was 2?)
Bordeaux - 5 weekly (was 1)
Toulon - 4 weekly (was 2)
Verona - 3 weekly (was 2?)
Aberdeen - 2 weekly Sat/Sun
East Midlands - 1 weekly Sat
Exeter - 1 weekly Sat
No changes to any of the spain/portugal routes, but some of the other leisure destinations have seen some extra flights added.
Biarritz - 3 weekly (was 2?)
Bordeaux - 5 weekly (was 1)
Toulon - 4 weekly (was 2)
Verona - 3 weekly (was 2?)