Luton-9
So with the runway wet,wet,wet why is every departure requesting the runway full length with a backtrack. Even the Belfast flight requested the full length.
OMG. Runway inspections aren’t carried out continuously so in conditions such as these a professional crew would factor into their take off performance calculation the possiblity of a degradation in runway state since the last inspection. That would probably entail selecting contaminated runway state, icing conditions etc in the EFB (take off performance computer). I’d do the same for SEN in similar conditions and if the EFB result was “can’t be done” I’d head back to the crew room for a coffee!
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Easyjet do remote de-icing on the south stands 2 at a time to speed things up while other airlines use stand de-icing. Seems that 12 aircraft are waiting on stand for remote de-icing so not as quick as it could be with a 3 hour wait time
Last edited by LTNman; 27th Dec 2017 at 09:30.
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Don't the first 7 words quoted answer the question? (stopping distances etc?) Also probably carrying extra fuel for contingencies due to weather so higher take off weights.
Last edited by cj241101; 27th Dec 2017 at 10:09.
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If it's just frost then 10 minutes. Snow is a different matter - how much, wet and slushy or dry powder. Worst case scenario being wet snow then the temperature falls below freezing. Frozen slushy snow takes a lot of shifting. Then there is the problem of holdover times. If it's only frost then the de-ice is good for 5 hours. If it's still snowing then it's only good for 15 minutes, so there is a juggling act to perform. Get de-iced then ATC advise you're no.9 for departure then you've wasted your time and need another de-ice. Big airports that get more snow than Luton have de-icing gantries near the runway to avoid this problem.
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It seemed to be taking forever today and closer to 20 minutes if not longer to de-ice each aircraft rather than 6.
The south stands are used as remote de-icer stands.
The queue to park using the taxiway bravo extension. It was strange that some easyjet aircraft were queue jumping via taxiway hotel while others just sat there for an hour or more.
Even at 13:15 there was not a spare stand
One can conclude that the handling agents lack enough de-icer rigs.
The south stands are used as remote de-icer stands.
The queue to park using the taxiway bravo extension. It was strange that some easyjet aircraft were queue jumping via taxiway hotel while others just sat there for an hour or more.
Even at 13:15 there was not a spare stand
One can conclude that the handling agents lack enough de-icer rigs.
Last edited by LTNman; 27th Dec 2017 at 13:35.
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Lots of cancellations and massive delays now due to the airlines issues with de-icing or should I say a lack of de-icing. This on a day when the airport stayed open in the snow.
It was taking up to 40 minutes (plus) to de-ice each aircraft at the remote de-icing station today. Only one truck per aircraft making it ridiculously long to get out. We first called for push at 9.15 and eventually got it at 1140. Then it took two hours waiting on the 'new' B for a spot on the de-icing station before we managed to depart. Police were called to Vueling aircraft as passengers became rowdy. Surely a day that will live long in Luton Airport Management's minds. Or at least hopefully.
nb. LTNman the a/c parked on new Bravo were actually waiting to de-ice having routed parking stands - C1 - runway 26 - hold B5. thus all arrivals had to vacate at H, meaning many of the Wizzairs had to backtrack after landing in the slush and causing yet more delays.
nb. LTNman the a/c parked on new Bravo were actually waiting to de-ice having routed parking stands - C1 - runway 26 - hold B5. thus all arrivals had to vacate at H, meaning many of the Wizzairs had to backtrack after landing in the slush and causing yet more delays.
EZY at LGW today had 21 aircraft deiced during a 3 hour period at the dual drive through Sierra stands. That’s one every 8.5 minutes, well done everyone (especially DM) who worked so hard to achieve this result, and without gantries!
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No doubt as this chaos has cost the airport and the airlines money it might focus a few minds. I seem to remember years ago that Easyjet introduced remote de-icing on the south stands and the FBO’s started doing their own, as they were always at the back of the queue.
Remote de-icing can’t start now until 3 of the south stands have been vacated by departing aircraft not that it seemed to make any difference. As for the FBO’s they were not affected.
Remote de-icing can’t start now until 3 of the south stands have been vacated by departing aircraft not that it seemed to make any difference. As for the FBO’s they were not affected.
Nightstop - sounds like LTN/EZY may need a trip round the m25 to LGW to see how things should be done at a proper airport. Second time in almost as many weeks that a tiny amount of snow has rendered most of the fleet immobile.
Last edited by planedrive; 28th Dec 2017 at 15:38.
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LTN was a joke from morning through to the afternoon I’m sorry to say. Eventually the tower had to take control over order of deicing and pushback because the handlers/deicing teams and airport were in a complete mess.
Quote of the day from the LLA at one if the morning snow disruption conference calls - it’s a whiteout out there but we will not be closing the runway and we are confident there will be no diversions or cancellations today.