BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Altogether strange indeed.
Everything else operating perfectly fine at BFS.
Reports circulating of some very heavy braking and unusually extensive use of reverse thrust on the jet2 landings which have flagged up problems.
Anyhow - looks like it was a fine idea to ship their passengers off to BHD.
Leeds due out at 8.30 this morning. Aircraft tech and still on the ground - so no better luck with a change of venue!
mmmm???
Everything else operating perfectly fine at BFS.
Reports circulating of some very heavy braking and unusually extensive use of reverse thrust on the jet2 landings which have flagged up problems.
Anyhow - looks like it was a fine idea to ship their passengers off to BHD.
Leeds due out at 8.30 this morning. Aircraft tech and still on the ground - so no better luck with a change of venue!
mmmm???
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I had family friends flying LS to Salzberg on the 30th March. The flight was delayed over 5 hours. I believe a replacement aircraft was brought in. When they boarded, they were told at that stage the reason for the delay was that the first aircraft had stones in the engines.
TB
TB
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So LS are sub leasing in aircraft a plenty at other airports, so if the BFS routes are cancelled due to safety concerns, they could relocate the stricken fleet to other bases?
I assume the freight flying programme is not operating between BFS and EMA each night this week too, due to their safety concerns?
Is the second runway not fully serviceable for them to use instead? It has not had maintenance done??
I assume the freight flying programme is not operating between BFS and EMA each night this week too, due to their safety concerns?
Is the second runway not fully serviceable for them to use instead? It has not had maintenance done??
Join Date: Jun 2012
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Flew into BFS last night......smooth touchdown and roll out down runway.
Suggestion of heavy braking by larry the man. If this was the case then I dread to think about the braking at BHD!!!
Suggestion of heavy braking by larry the man. If this was the case then I dread to think about the braking at BHD!!!
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Runway 25 was fully open last night. Other nights 25 was operating with reduced distances. I don't know what times the affected aircraft landed but it may explain the heavy braking and extensive reverse thrust if it was landing during the times the runway was shortened.
Last edited by ILS25; 8th Apr 2013 at 13:52.
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This whole Jet2 thing is intriguing but regardless of who is right or wrong, it is a public embarrassment for BFS. I presume BFS management were aware of LS's concerns? It would be rather strange to go public on the issue without giving BFS reasonable chance to fix it beforehand.
Supposing the issue is 'stones in the engines' and not wanting to flame an Airbus vs Boeing war......EZY & TCX use A32x at BFS which have a higher ground clearance at the engine pod. Could it be the combination of 737 engine pod being lower to the ground and possible higher than normal amount of stones around the runway/aprons/taxiways due to ongoing resurfacing has caused instances of ingested stones?
Anyway, if there are safety concerns the right thing to do is investigate. If the consequence is sending PAX to a different airport rather than cancelling their flights, so be it.
AC
Supposing the issue is 'stones in the engines' and not wanting to flame an Airbus vs Boeing war......EZY & TCX use A32x at BFS which have a higher ground clearance at the engine pod. Could it be the combination of 737 engine pod being lower to the ground and possible higher than normal amount of stones around the runway/aprons/taxiways due to ongoing resurfacing has caused instances of ingested stones?
Anyway, if there are safety concerns the right thing to do is investigate. If the consequence is sending PAX to a different airport rather than cancelling their flights, so be it.
AC
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The reduced landing distance brings the runway down close to the same length as BHD so no major improvement there.
Only the LBA flights have been changed at the moment, if it was a major concern surely J2 should have ceased/moved operations entirely and promptly. perhaps they've done the figures and confirmed they need a runway longer than BHD to operate the network?
17/35 is closed at certain times when WIP is close to the intersection, 07 is also closed at those times but 25 is open with reduced distances (1770m TORA + LDA) (2080 ASDA) see notam's.
If J2 dont like the situation they only have the option of cancelling the longer routes or refuelling en-route if they choose to operate entirely from BHD. Expensive, especially if no other operator has a problem.
Only the LBA flights have been changed at the moment, if it was a major concern surely J2 should have ceased/moved operations entirely and promptly. perhaps they've done the figures and confirmed they need a runway longer than BHD to operate the network?
17/35 is closed at certain times when WIP is close to the intersection, 07 is also closed at those times but 25 is open with reduced distances (1770m TORA + LDA) (2080 ASDA) see notam's.
If J2 dont like the situation they only have the option of cancelling the longer routes or refuelling en-route if they choose to operate entirely from BHD. Expensive, especially if no other operator has a problem.
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Tomorrow's Jet2 Belfast Int'l - Tenerife (LS381) service is been operated from City of Derry airport while domestic flights between Belfast and Leeds will continue to operate from Belfast City Airport.
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Looks like Tuesday's LS BFS/TFS is now operating from LDY according to the Jet2 website.
Also heard from the airport that the mail flights are cancelled aswell as the passenger services.
Also heard from the airport that the mail flights are cancelled aswell as the passenger services.
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If it's FOD ingestion, stones etc, the B733 nacelles are uniquely close to the ground. That's why they need to be oval and why TCX et al are not being affected.
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The aircraft in question is GGDFL B737-3 fitted with winglets.Strange how Jet2 have been operating B737 at BFS for a good number of years.Is there an underlying problem with this type of machine with winglets? As for the Royal Mail operation , this will be operated by Atlantic Airlines with 1 ATP and 1 ATR.If im not mistaken many years ago when British Midland moved to BHD the A321 suffered much damage due stones and increased reversed thrust.
Join Date: Oct 2011
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And the fact that boeing jets require more runsway than airbus. Clearly managment at Belfast don't see to fussed as if they were serous they would have Jet 2 back tomorrow. THe airport has a very bright future in there hands!
Just how does this happen when every other airport can carry out resurfacing and not cause a carrier to swtich airports over it. Expect BFS or runway contracotor will pick up the bill for reparis to the aircraft?
Just how does this happen when every other airport can carry out resurfacing and not cause a carrier to swtich airports over it. Expect BFS or runway contracotor will pick up the bill for reparis to the aircraft?
Last edited by EI-A330-300; 8th Apr 2013 at 18:14.
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Clearly managment at Belfast don't see to fussed as if they were serous they would have Jet 2 back tomorrow. THe airport has a very bright future in there hands!
Presumably the management at BFS have absolutely no idea how to run an airport, or manage a runway resurfacing! Although, contrary to the expert opinion on here, the CAA seem to think the BFS operation is fully compliant with all relevant standards. Now, who would know better?
Join Date: Oct 2011
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As you know it all would you tell us what additional measures were put in place to try and keep LS from moving?
Stones don't fly so for the airport to say it may not be runway works related is bull. The fact is it happened at BFS.
Stones don't fly so for the airport to say it may not be runway works related is bull. The fact is it happened at BFS.
Last edited by EI-A330-300; 8th Apr 2013 at 18:32.
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Calm down now...
The CAA, the regulating authority, have found no issue with the runway. No other airline has encountered any issue. And as for Jet2, only one of their aircraft has suffered an issue. So the common thread here is NOT the runway.
This would seem to be an over-reaction by Jet2...to publicly question the safety of the runway at Aldergrove is not the way to do business.
The CAA, the regulating authority, have found no issue with the runway. No other airline has encountered any issue. And as for Jet2, only one of their aircraft has suffered an issue. So the common thread here is NOT the runway.
This would seem to be an over-reaction by Jet2...to publicly question the safety of the runway at Aldergrove is not the way to do business.
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Only having issues with one aircraft and not any other seems a bit strange and premature... Regardless safety comes first... But you would have thought another airline would report issues.. Although all it takes is one stone.. Could even have been dislodged due to a previous aircraft using bravo when landing 25, as they have been doing so during works..
Time will tell
Time will tell
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Are you suggesting that this move by Jet2 is to do with business over safety.
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Not at all...simply stating that questioning the safety of an airfield which the regulating authority has stated is safe seems to be setting yourself up for a fall...
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I believe that on the first two incidents with the aircraft, there were no runway length restrictions as the resurfacing hasn't been taking place now since end of March (wind/snow/low temps etc) so how they managed to suck in stones from the debris caused by the works (that weren't ongoing at the time) is a real mystery.
Third time it landed with reduced distances runway 25 so the runway works (which are at the rwy intersection) were not a factor as the aircraft does not pass the works area.
Well they haven't been able to prove it yet, your statement is just your assumption (as I outlined above, I'm struggling to see how the works impact the situation at all?)
If some of the guys who are fixing the engines aren't entirely certain, I think it best to let the investigation run its course.
Well, there it seems there was a considerable effort made to accomodate Jet2 in their investigations, including taking them out onto the runway to see for themselves, also I saw the airport sweeping and inspecting the runway several times during the last couple of days. Then we even had to tow the aircraft to/from the runway holding points for all arriving/departing Jet2 flights (despite some of their own Engineers saying it wasn't necessary)
All in all I think the airport has tried to reassure Jet2 about the continued safety of the aerodrome. I, for one, AM cynical enough to suspect an ulterior motive.
Jet2 top brass were in meetings today so I suspect we will find out soon enough
Third time it landed with reduced distances runway 25 so the runway works (which are at the rwy intersection) were not a factor as the aircraft does not pass the works area.
Stones don't fly so for the airport to say it may not be runway works related is bull. The fact is it happened at BFS.
If some of the guys who are fixing the engines aren't entirely certain, I think it best to let the investigation run its course.
As you know it all would you tell us what additional measures were put in place to try and keep LS from moving?
All in all I think the airport has tried to reassure Jet2 about the continued safety of the aerodrome. I, for one, AM cynical enough to suspect an ulterior motive.
Jet2 top brass were in meetings today so I suspect we will find out soon enough