Lights? Snow? Action! (lots).
 

Why are the passenger lights dimmed during take off and landing pl?
The airport was very busy the other morning, (BGI landed same morning too), like a summers morning here, mass exodus in departures.... how many pax went through last couple of weeks for sunnier/snowier regions?
Credit crunch! Even all the Transun "Laplands" were fully booked!:rolleyes:
Great 4 CWL:D.
-5 degrees centigrade tonight, BBRRRR!

It's a safety issue. Research has shown that passengers don't like jumping from a light cabin into the dark, so in an emergency, it is better to have the lights down. It also means that passengers eyes are better adjusted to the dark.

TA

Lights...
 

OK, THX, twin-aisle, good ol christmas "wonder why they do that" scenario argument in the old christmas get-together family doo occasion thing!!!:ugh:

Not all companies dim the lights now, it makes the aircraft more visible in the dark.

Disruption at CWL this morning
 

Can anyone fill us in on the reasons for the big delays this morning.
I know it was one hell of a cold night with a heavy frost but surely the airport is equipped to deal with this?

Delays today...
 

Disruption caused by mist, vis to probably no more than 300m here at Barry so probably worse at CWL. Lifted about midday. Pretty localised too I believe :(

LVPs
 

In bad visibility such as today, with flights holding/diverting, how do other airports manage, are they better equipped electronically to deal with this?

LVPs
 

Electronics aside, pilots depend on their eyes.

Other airports have better equipment. Cardiff's Instrument Landing System is only cat1, this only allows aircraft to make an approach when the Runway Visual Range is 550m or greater. Bristol have Cat3 ILS which allows aircraft to make approaches when the IRVR is 200m.

Fog
 

Thanks for the reply.
How does the airport mearsure fog?
Could "strobe" landing lights help runway identity, as seen in some films/tv productions?

Brs minima
 

Actually I belive that you will find that the Cat IIIc minima at Brs is 75m with no D.H. or any visual reference required prior to landing. The actual visibility is measured by clever optical/electrical gear, positioned a certain height above the runway surface, and usually at three points along the runway i.e. touchdown, mid-point and stop end, giving Instant Runway Visual Range

Cheers Silvertop

Yes Silvertop that is correct RE minima, I pulled in out of backside!

It is Instrumented Runway Visual Range, there are upto 3 pairs of transmissometers sited along side the runway. They measure the "atmospheric opacity" between them and from this calculate the IRVR.

Strobe lights would probably distract the aircrew, there are already enough lights on final/ runway.

Has anyone ever met the Airport Director for CWL?? I have heard about talk on local radio, but never seen him around the terminal area or met anyone who has actuall met him....does he really exist??

Nobody ever sees him because of all the talks with airlines wanting to fly from Cardiff. Just look at any press release they are always in talks with interested airlines.:E

Director...
 

Isn't he always in talks and meetings regarding upgrading the buildings/facilities at CWL as well ? Must be one hell of a bind attending these power lunches/dinners/with architects, AM's and building companies all the time - no wonder we never see him ??? :rolleyes:

During all these talks, have there been any discussions of Cat3 ILS being installed at CWL? Or does the Airport believe that the money in which is lost by diverted a/c from CWL is not worth the investment.

Could airlines be put off coming to Cardiff as it doesn't have Cat3 when Bristol does?

Happy new year all

Cat 3 requires a considerable up garde of the ILS lighting etc. you have to weigh up the frequency of the need for Cat 3 to see if its cost effective. However MOL's mob put a minimum of Cat 2 as a requirement for planning a base and operations when looking at new routes.

More meetings for the Airport Director...............

I know these are hard times and all airports are feeling the pinch but will we ever gey anything really positive at CWL?
Even before the credit crunch last year what did we have to rejoice- with every step forward there was one back:

Flybe came in with new routes and TOM scaled down(continuing to reduce looking at thier paltry alebeit early schedules for W09/10)
Longhaul gone completely apart from a token gesture by GSM this summer and CWL is so much better placed as a long haul base as opposed to BRS.
Baby announce a new route at the expense of cancelling another.
The airline we cant mention has gone spookily quiet and appears a nonstarter although I hope I am proved wrong!

For people like me I am resigned now to going across the bridge for everything other that my seaside break!
How many are there like me I wonder - come on CWL Directors/Management - pull your finger out!

The airline we cannot mention is in the Western Mail today :-

Blogfight over air rumours - WalesOnline

Airport News
 

Oil now at less than $40 a barrel?
Aircraft going cheap?
Severn bridge gone up 2 shillings per car!
V.A.T. Now at 15%!
Thats the wonder of "Woolies"
My cats under my car, full of precious metals..
:ugh: