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Not sure of the total number of de-icing rigs available at Luton but I spotted just 3 excluding the FBO’s own equipment. 2 were on the south stands where the aircraft came to the de-icer plus I saw 1 rig floating around the aprons but as Luton is an airport with many aprons I might have missed another one or two.
Not only was there an issue with the length of time it was taking to de-ice each aircraft but there was also an issue with ground crews disappearing just at the wrong time as they seemed thin on the ground to do push backs. I raised the issue of de-icing years ago with airport management when I could see what was going to happen before the winter frosts came and again after my prediction came true. At that time, and I am talking about maybe 20 years ago when de-icing was done by Reed Aviation, I was told it has nothing to do with the airport so they were not interested. It might be different now due to stand blocking. |
Are the de-icing rigs the responsibility of the airport or the handling companies? A photo I have seen in a national newspaper shows IDS on the side of one de-icing rig. I would assume this stands for Integrated Deicing Services a Canadian company. Also it seems Stansted seems to be getting in the neck from the UK TV stations this morning unfortunately regarding so-called 'stranded' passengers.
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For a prompt de-icing, you really need a pair of de-icing rigs working a single aircraft. Often the case at those airports where icing is prevalent.
Airport took control of handling equipment a few years ago, with handling agent staff now using a common set of equipment on each stand. Seems to have worked well. De-icing will be slightly more specialised with the rigs only available for aircraft washing in the Summer months and the training of suitable staff more critical. I think a minimum of 5 rigs would be necessary for an efficient operation. One being replenished while the other 4 are working. |
From a ground handerlers perspective
On that morning IDS had 5 De Iceing rigs, 4 of them by contract were alocated to easyJet while the other one was alocated to Wizz. This is what the airlines pay for so this is what they get. If they continue to cut costs from the ground services I’m afraid this will all continue. The cost cutting even refects the fluid, IDS use Type 1 while the more expensive swissport uses Type 2, Type 1 has a much lower holdover time. Sometimes as low as 10 mins in the snow and with a congested ramp this isn’t good enough for Luton. With the pushbacks it’s hard to keep crews on aircraft for a long period of time with the hope of pushing back. ATC didn’t communicate with the ground handerlers at all that morning so we had to rely on air crews updating us. |
It sounds like some LTN heads need knocking together :ugh: EZY LGW was running deicing conferences through the Summer, which included all the participants who would be involved this Winter i.e. pilots, ATC, Ground Ops & the decing contractor. Even dummy-run deicing days in the balmy late Summer heat were included.
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Originally Posted by port_94
(Post 10003432)
The cost cutting even refects the fluid, IDS use Type 1 while the more expensive swissport uses Type 2, Type 1 has a much lower holdover time. Sometimes as low as 10 mins in the snow and with a congested ramp this isn’t good enough for Luton.
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De-icing has been hit and miss at LTN for ages....A combination of at least three different companies involved, certain staff who probably haven't dealt with a serious snow/ice event before and poor co-ordination.
The main reason the TUI departure to ACE got away on Dec 10th, was because TUI are the only airline customer using the de-icing rig of Airline Services. So, efficient de-icing was carried out with an eye on the planned runway re-opening time after snow clearance. If this hadn't happened, the crew would have gone out of hours! |
Wizz S18
The seven based Scheduled a/c are now loaded in the booking system as follows. ( w/c 2nd July) for the first wave departures
a/c 1. Kaunas Daily 06.00 a/c 2. Athens Daily 06.00 a/c 3 Larnaca Daily 06.25 a/c 4 Suceava Daily 06.50 a/c 5 Bourgas Daily 07.20 a/c 6. Reykjavik 1,3,5,7 07.10 Prishtina 2,4,6. 07.10 a/c7. Bari 1,3,5,7. 06.30 Tirana. 2,4,6. 06.00 |
Wizz S18
Im surprised Wizz hasn't decided to use some of their 5.30-6am slots they have used previous summers for those later departures after 7am, when previously night stopping at the airport...
For Wizz a 7.20am departure is pretty late for them, as they get nearly all their fleet in the air at other bases before 6.30am local times, which would be, 5.30am UK time. Many Wizz flights will be arriving from Eastern Europe into Luton, before the first departure of the 7.20am flight. |
Maybe they've started to realise not everyone wants to be at the airport from 3-3:30am, when everything's shut.
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gilesdavies
The LTN aircraft seem to be used for 2 daily returns so there is little point in starting extremely early. Unless I am missing something, there still seem to be a few empty blocks that need to be filled. There are also a few continued oddities: SOF is 1 daily on Tuesday and 3 daily every other day. |
Monarch plane
Anyone one know why Monarch plane G-OZBW in full livery still just landed at Luton. Flown in from Shannon where it appears to have been since October?
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Registered to DECAL 4 Leasing, obviously come for some work before going to a new customer.
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With the pushbacks it’s hard to keep crews on aircraft for a long period of time with the hope of pushing back. ATC didn’t communicate with the ground handerlers at all that morning so we had to rely on air crews updating us. |
Does anyone know what the TUI fleet mix will be at Luton for S18
now that it’s a 2 aircraft operation? Also, will both aircraft operate a minimum of 2 flights each day from Luton? |
Wizz S18
Giles
There will still be 13 arrivals on most days in the first wave before 08.30. Of these only three will arrive before the 07.20 departure, these being RIX , VNO and CLJ all due at 07.05. It appears it was the overnight stands that were more important to Wizz. Slots seem to be more readily available hence no reason to leave before 06.00. Re the utilisation not sure what the shortest sector is now but Wizz are obviously not worried that they are not getting three rotations per a/c per day |
Does anyone know what the TUI fleet mix will be at Luton for S18
now that it’s a 2 aircraft operation? 1 x 757 & 1 x 737-8 Also, will both aircraft operate a minimum of 2 flights each day from Luton? The 757 won't..."A" check maintenance slots are part of the program...... |
Tuzla
Doesn't seem to have been mentioned on here but Wizzair's summer seasonal route from Luton to Tuzla in Bosnia will not be returning in 2018. Not hugely surprised as fares on LTN-TZL seemed rather cheap
Apart from the small countries which do not have commercial passenger flights (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) Bosnia will be the only country in Europe without direct flights to London |
TUI
All TUI flights for summer 18.(August 18)
AM for morning flight PM for afternoon/evening flight N for flight after 9PM Monday Gran Canaria - AM Madeira - AM Dalaman - PM Ibiza - PM Tuesday Palma - AM Reus - AM Kefalonia - PM Zante - PM Palma - N Wednesday Paphos - AM Menorca - AM Rhodes - PM Thursday Faro - AM Malaga - AM Larnaca - PM Lanzarote - PM Friday Skiathos - AM Corfu - AM Tenerife - PM Naples - PM Saturday Menorca - AM Ibiza - AM Fuerteventura - PM Rhodes - PM Sunday Malaga - AM Faro - AM Lanzarote - PM Paphos - PM In addition we also have the following flights not using LTN aircraft: Tuesday - Tenerife Friday - Palma Saturday - Palma Sunday - Palma Only gap in the schedule is Wednesday evening after Paphos. This looks like only time for checks. |
TUI - There's a good chance additional night flights to places like PMI & IBZ for the peak summer school holiday period will be added to the program later
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