anybody any idea why Palma to Leeds was sent to Birmingham early hours this morning? Thanks in advance

Weather...
 

It was <300m in fog with active thunderstorms all around the field last night.

thanks but landings were made at 12.15 /12.45/1.05/1.25


Find it strange one was diverted

...
 

Weather moves in and out. Just because one aircraft can land, doesn't mean another one can later.

This was a weather divert.

Given the weather conditions at the time: RVRs of around 350m, those landings were probably by Cat III Autoland equipped aircraft, the ones that diverted were likely not equipped or not authorised.

Or were 737-800's that are landing performance limited and were likely too heavy to land in the fog, as extra landing distance is required over a manual landing.

CAT III autolands aren't authorised at Leeds Bradford so they'll be flying to CAT I minimums

Nope. That's not correct.

[QUOTE
The companies B757's are Cat1 only at Leeds.[/QUOTE]

Not just Jet2s' 75s.
The trials for the 75 approval were pretty scary by all accounts, and wiser councils prevailed. So cat 1 only.

As L1649 and Council Van stated, Jet2's 737s are approved for such landings on 32 at LBA, I've done several.

Apologies, knew the 75s were CAT I only, didn't realise the 73s could do CAT III approaches

Just CATIIIA I believe... 737 doesn't have rollout.

Do the light twins also only have just two Autopilots?

CAT 3B is an option on the later 737NG. The modifications to the rudder servo made it possible to add the rollout feature. Yes, only two autopilots but improved monitoring with I think inputs from the standby Attitude and Heading Reference System make it workable. It's a cost option so not everyone buys it. I know it's fitted on the newer Thomson aircraft.

No real need for it to be honest. In 13 and a bit years of operating the B737 with Cat3A fitted I've never needed anything other than that. Visibility so poor is so infrequent it's an additional cost for very little gain.

I have been flying the NG for about the same time and have had exactly one diversion when 3b would have got us in. Having said that, the newer NGs are significantly improved, although an autoland go-around above alert height single engine flaps 30 (if you have the authorisation) is a pretty demanding manouevre.

Looks like the A330 being used on some of the New York winter flights. Can see it operating STN-EWR in the system at the minute.

Will be interesting to see which winter routes the A330 is used on. Can't see it sat around doing just 3 New York Shopping trips?

And at flap 40 it's even more of a handful, even when I knew it was coming in the sim.

NEW YORK
 

£148 EACH WAY.....NOT A BAD PRICE