SOUTHEND - 3 The new beginning
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Barling Magna wrote
They were indeed interesting times, it was all a matter of timing. If the other airports got the fog first then some rare visitors could be seen.
Southend should do well from London City and plus the odd easyjet movement but I would have thought that would be it in all honesty.
Yes, I remember listening to my air band radio as the fog developed across London, but rarely at Southend, so SEN received some interesting diversions from STN, LGW, LTN and even LHR - mainly Viscounts and Britannias, but also Convairs and DC-6s among others.
I anticipate that there will be some A319s, Avro RJs and E-jets diverting into SEN this winter since Southend really is rarely affected by fog or snow. However, no doubt there will be times when the terminal is bursting at the seams due to weather or ATC delays or whatever, but SEN's staff have a reputation for calmness and politeness so I'm sure they will cope admirably.
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Well, we will see. Blue Islands are operating their JER-LCY-JER schedule via SEN at the moment because their 'new' ATR isn't cleared for LCY.
Who knows, SEN might even get some of LTN's Wizz Air diversions if STN is closed......?
Although I was too young to appreciate it, my brother used to talk about Christmas Eve 1958 when every airport except SEN was socked in. Over FIFTY airliners crowded into SEN including L749 Constellations, DC-6s, Vikings; it must have been bursting at the seams that day.....
Who knows, SEN might even get some of LTN's Wizz Air diversions if STN is closed......?
Although I was too young to appreciate it, my brother used to talk about Christmas Eve 1958 when every airport except SEN was socked in. Over FIFTY airliners crowded into SEN including L749 Constellations, DC-6s, Vikings; it must have been bursting at the seams that day.....
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Christmas Eve 1958 was thick with fog in the London and Southern areas.
A Bristol Britannia 312 operated by BOAC crashed near Dorset killing 2 of the 5 crew and all 7 passengers.
I also was very young at the time...I just googled as something in the 50's was at the back of my mind, reading your post.
1958 Bristol Britannia 312 crash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To go back on topic(ish)..How did SEN at that time play host to 50 a/c?.
A Bristol Britannia 312 operated by BOAC crashed near Dorset killing 2 of the 5 crew and all 7 passengers.
I also was very young at the time...I just googled as something in the 50's was at the back of my mind, reading your post.
On 24 December 1958, much of the south of England was covered in thick fog
making travel by any means hazardous. Many aircraft had to be diverted as visibility
was below the minimum permissible distance at most of the airports on the south
coast. To a pilot
who was less than aware of the conditions on the ground and the altitude at
which they were flying, this fog would have an appearance very similar to normal
cloud
cover
. For the pilots of G-AOVD this may have added to the illusion that
they were at a much higher altitude and that they were reading the instruments
correctly.
making travel by any means hazardous. Many aircraft had to be diverted as visibility
was below the minimum permissible distance at most of the airports on the south
coast. To a pilot
who was less than aware of the conditions on the ground and the altitude at
which they were flying, this fog would have an appearance very similar to normal
cloud
cover
. For the pilots of G-AOVD this may have added to the illusion that
they were at a much higher altitude and that they were reading the instruments
correctly.
To go back on topic(ish)..How did SEN at that time play host to 50 a/c?.
Last edited by Ernest Lanc's; 17th Sep 2012 at 16:38.
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Good question. I've had a surf through the internet and discovered this from an article by Leslie Hunt in a 1967 edition of The Essex Couyntryside magazine:
Then on the morning of Christmas Eve 1958, as fog rolled across England, both Heathrow and Gatwick airports ceased accepting incoming airliners. Until this moment Southend had not been regarded as a major diversion base by the international operators, but within a short space of time more than fifty airliners, ranging from Viscounts to DC6As and Constellation 749As, were most efficiently landed and the airport was well and truly on the world aviation map.
Then on the morning of Christmas Eve 1958, as fog rolled across England, both Heathrow and Gatwick airports ceased accepting incoming airliners. Until this moment Southend had not been regarded as a major diversion base by the international operators, but within a short space of time more than fifty airliners, ranging from Viscounts to DC6As and Constellation 749As, were most efficiently landed and the airport was well and truly on the world aviation map.
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Here's another, more detailed recollection. I hadn't realised that a Pan Am 707 had diverted into Southend as well:
On Christmas Eve 1958, the day was sunny with haze; London and Manchester and most of the south of England was in fog. At about 10am, Southend ATC was advised by Southern Air Traffic Control Centre at Heathrow to standby for possible diversions. At 10.30 am, they were advised that two Lufthansa Viscount 400s were leaving airways at Matching for diversion to Southend. Hardly had this occurred than a KLM Super Constellation, which had heard that Southend was open, also announced it was diverting. From then on, Southend was announced by London Volmet ( The Meteorological Service) as being the only airport open - Runway 06 in use.
As it was a holiday for me, I was over at the airport planning to go flying. At around mid-morning, Bernard Collins, the Airport Commandant, came across to the School and asked if we could help by being baggage-handlers, as it was obvious to him that the small number of staff would be overwhelmed by this unplanned influx of passengers. One problem, as the number of flight arrivals built up, was the lack of aircraft steps. Apart from Viscounts, most aircraft of that era did not have integral steps. Most of the arrivals in the afternoon needed our steps - DC4s, DC6s, Constellations and Vikings. Later on it was 80% Viscounts of BEA, Hunting-Clan and Eagle( from Blackbushe), and the problem over the steps eased.
As the sky darkened, one could see, circling over Southend, to the north, east, and south, the winking lights of aircraft waiting their turn to land. By now SATCC had established an airway leading to Southend; this helped speed up the landing rate and the job of the Southend controllers.
Although one might have imagined that the congestion in the passenger halls was leading to frayed nerves, it was remarkable composed. Bernard Collins made an announcement apologising for the congestion, pointing out that Southend did not normally handle this amount of traffic. In general, people were fairly good humoured as they waited their turn to be put on a stream of coaches that were ferrying them up to London. At one point, Paul Robeson, the singer, who had arrived from Paris, entertained passengers with an impromptu rendering in the Arrivals lounge (his rendering since been painted over- Sec) By 10pm, most people were away for their Christmas; most of them were only too glad to have made it into the UK at all, because of the fog.
On Christmas day, at SATCC's special request, Southend Airport remained open (although scheduled to close for the holiday) And further diversions were accepted. The final arrival was a Pan Am Boeing 707 from New York, which, because the airfield was filled with aircraft, had to be left on the main runway. Just as this aircraft had landed, the fog, which had blanketed the southern part of England, finally closed in. By this time, Southend had done its job; everyone was home for Christmas, and the Airport staff could now celebrate Christmas with the warm glow of doing an unbelievable job. The Municipal Airport had handled all Southern England's Air Traffic arrivals, as well as departures. For this service, Southend ATC won the Guild of Air Traffic Controller's Award for 1958. - John Brown.
On Christmas Eve 1958, the day was sunny with haze; London and Manchester and most of the south of England was in fog. At about 10am, Southend ATC was advised by Southern Air Traffic Control Centre at Heathrow to standby for possible diversions. At 10.30 am, they were advised that two Lufthansa Viscount 400s were leaving airways at Matching for diversion to Southend. Hardly had this occurred than a KLM Super Constellation, which had heard that Southend was open, also announced it was diverting. From then on, Southend was announced by London Volmet ( The Meteorological Service) as being the only airport open - Runway 06 in use.
As it was a holiday for me, I was over at the airport planning to go flying. At around mid-morning, Bernard Collins, the Airport Commandant, came across to the School and asked if we could help by being baggage-handlers, as it was obvious to him that the small number of staff would be overwhelmed by this unplanned influx of passengers. One problem, as the number of flight arrivals built up, was the lack of aircraft steps. Apart from Viscounts, most aircraft of that era did not have integral steps. Most of the arrivals in the afternoon needed our steps - DC4s, DC6s, Constellations and Vikings. Later on it was 80% Viscounts of BEA, Hunting-Clan and Eagle( from Blackbushe), and the problem over the steps eased.
As the sky darkened, one could see, circling over Southend, to the north, east, and south, the winking lights of aircraft waiting their turn to land. By now SATCC had established an airway leading to Southend; this helped speed up the landing rate and the job of the Southend controllers.
Although one might have imagined that the congestion in the passenger halls was leading to frayed nerves, it was remarkable composed. Bernard Collins made an announcement apologising for the congestion, pointing out that Southend did not normally handle this amount of traffic. In general, people were fairly good humoured as they waited their turn to be put on a stream of coaches that were ferrying them up to London. At one point, Paul Robeson, the singer, who had arrived from Paris, entertained passengers with an impromptu rendering in the Arrivals lounge (his rendering since been painted over- Sec) By 10pm, most people were away for their Christmas; most of them were only too glad to have made it into the UK at all, because of the fog.
On Christmas day, at SATCC's special request, Southend Airport remained open (although scheduled to close for the holiday) And further diversions were accepted. The final arrival was a Pan Am Boeing 707 from New York, which, because the airfield was filled with aircraft, had to be left on the main runway. Just as this aircraft had landed, the fog, which had blanketed the southern part of England, finally closed in. By this time, Southend had done its job; everyone was home for Christmas, and the Airport staff could now celebrate Christmas with the warm glow of doing an unbelievable job. The Municipal Airport had handled all Southern England's Air Traffic arrivals, as well as departures. For this service, Southend ATC won the Guild of Air Traffic Controller's Award for 1958. - John Brown.
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Wow what an interesting few posts. It must have been a fantastic few hours for the airport with all those classic aircraft.
Can't get excited about 319 or 320's no matter how many turn up and I don't think anyone will be writing about them in 50 years time either.
Can't get excited about 319 or 320's no matter how many turn up and I don't think anyone will be writing about them in 50 years time either.
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I was there but as far as I recollect I don't think that a PanAm 707 landed, it certainly wasn't there Christmas morning, most of the overseas visitors turned round and went back home but the BEA Viscounts stayed parked on 33 and the eastern taxiway, the problem was that there was only one tug and ground power unit until some more were brought by road from Heathrow.
I was in Belfairs woods when the first arrivals came in about 1100, we jumped on our bikes and hot footed it to the church wall where we used to meet to collect registrations!!
I was in Belfairs woods when the first arrivals came in about 1100, we jumped on our bikes and hot footed it to the church wall where we used to meet to collect registrations!!
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I must admit I don't remember seeing anything on the movement sheets about a B707 diverting in! When I left high school, I worked in the airport office for 18 months until I joined ATC in Flight Briefing. All the old movement logs were kept in storerooms over in the old wooden customs "sheds" and I spent many an hour of my free-time piling through the movements. Unless my brain is like a walnut, I dont remember the B707...oh well, I was only 9 years old that Christmas and had no interest in Aeroplanes until I was 11 (at high school).
I often wonder how we coped in ATC in those days when the weather was bad. I too helped Stevie Joel in BAF unload a Donaldson Britannia from Paris with 200 or so bags!
I often wonder how we coped in ATC in those days when the weather was bad. I too helped Stevie Joel in BAF unload a Donaldson Britannia from Paris with 200 or so bags!
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OLT Express
At last, I see that the OLTexpress.de website and reservations can be translated easily into English by clicking the tool bar at the top, a button now provided by the webmaster. I will certainly use this service from Saarbrucken to SEN, when the dates and prices suit me. I normally use LCY, but it's getting a bit expensive for short visits home to the family in Southend. I am still a bit concerned about their two early morning Saturday departures with regards to the London train timetables. Admittedly the EasyJet pax seem to handle it okay, but I guess not so many come down from London? Can't remember, but have Stobart officially announced OLT are coming or not? They badly need some publicity locally. Plenty of it here in Germany and Luxembourg, but not in the UK.
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Thanks for those interesting posts about the 'big fog'.
It was the year before my family moved to the area, and three years before I went to work at SEN.
It was the year before my family moved to the area, and three years before I went to work at SEN.
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I get criticized by smallpilot on the previous page for dare mentioning the F word (fog) and actually it has resulted in a chain of the most interesting posts I have read for a long while so I make no apology to him or anyone else.
Last edited by LTNman; 17th Sep 2012 at 18:51.
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I would say Southend Airport is an almost perfect small airport - very fast check in and the same can be said for the security check. It is now almost one week ago that I tested the airport with an early morning flight to Amsterdam. From having parked the rental car in its designated parking area to having reached the departure hall, it took only 10 minutes. No fuzz and only smiles all the way. We were pushed 5 minutes before schedule and after a few more minutes we were rolling down runway 24. Then came the more interesting part of the flight - after take off a 180 turn to the right and a low level flight with a great view over the Foulness Island out to the right. This low level flight continues for 5-6 minutes and by then we were inside the white cotton clouds.
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I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that there was definitely no Pan American Boeing 707 diversion over the best Christmas Southend ever had. Furthermore, I believe that the KLM Constellation was a 749 and not a 1049.
There was a story that the last diversion of the evening of the 24th was a Viscount 700 of BEA. It was told that it had been trying to divert everywhere and in fact went down to Jersey, which (no surprise) was fogged out and just got into Southend very low on fuel. After all the 'excitment' BEA permantly based a power truck at SEN and possibly a set of steps!
There was a story that the last diversion of the evening of the 24th was a Viscount 700 of BEA. It was told that it had been trying to divert everywhere and in fact went down to Jersey, which (no surprise) was fogged out and just got into Southend very low on fuel. After all the 'excitment' BEA permantly based a power truck at SEN and possibly a set of steps!
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According to one source on the internet, this was what followed the great fog:
As a result, British European Airways (BEA) the state airline - each autumn would station some ground-handling equipment and staff at Southend from the end of September until early March. This avoided the need to bring staff down to Southend should an aircraft divert, thereby reducing delays because of the two-hour drive from London Airport. In turn, BEA staff could handle other airlines so diverted, such as Lufthansa, KLM and Air France, who had nominated Southend as their number one diversion. It should be remembered that, at this time, Stansted was a remote, charter-only airfield, Luton was a grass airstrip and Gatwick had a poor weather record. Passengers landing at Southend could be in Central London within one hour.
As a result, British European Airways (BEA) the state airline - each autumn would station some ground-handling equipment and staff at Southend from the end of September until early March. This avoided the need to bring staff down to Southend should an aircraft divert, thereby reducing delays because of the two-hour drive from London Airport. In turn, BEA staff could handle other airlines so diverted, such as Lufthansa, KLM and Air France, who had nominated Southend as their number one diversion. It should be remembered that, at this time, Stansted was a remote, charter-only airfield, Luton was a grass airstrip and Gatwick had a poor weather record. Passengers landing at Southend could be in Central London within one hour.
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The BEA engineer had his "office" next to the tower with the equipment stored outside, his name was"Tug" Wilson, spent most of his time in the Briefing office under the tower drinking tea with us
tophat - I agree that website Flights within Europe - Flight offers - Book flights online now has an English language version, but the airline has 2 public facing websites - which site you use seems to depend on the route you want to book.
The website which allows for booking to/from Southend, OLT Express GMBH - bei OLT Express jeder Tarif kann online gebucht werden. alas does not (yet) have an English-language feature
OLT flights from Southend seem to begin 2 weeks from today
The website which allows for booking to/from Southend, OLT Express GMBH - bei OLT Express jeder Tarif kann online gebucht werden. alas does not (yet) have an English-language feature
OLT flights from Southend seem to begin 2 weeks from today
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 18th Sep 2012 at 09:50.
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SEN FBO
I've heard that the SEN FBO is now locked up and only opens if and when an aircraft turns up. I also understand that Landmark have gone and the running of the FBO is back with Stobarts.
I suspect this is because they had zero movements through the FBO over the Olympic period and hence the business and private aviation world is still blisfully unaware of the "world class FBO" that exists there.
I suspect this is because they had zero movements through the FBO over the Olympic period and hence the business and private aviation world is still blisfully unaware of the "world class FBO" that exists there.
