Any aircraft flying Christmas day over the UK?

[magpienja]

Hi guys and merry Christmas, Just read the post re CTRs being closed today, I am just wondering, are there any commercial aircraft flying today over the UK.

Nick.

[The Fat Controller]

Plenty of Eastbounds from the US and Canada early this morning, a good few Westbounds from about 1000.
KLM were also operating quite a few UK-AMS flights.

[Scuzi]

There are usually some but not a lot really. I'm not working today but if it's anything like last year ther'll be no more than one or two on frequency at any one time.

It's a good time to have a play around and try new things. I managed to climb a Heathrow outbound on a BPK to FL330 on first call off the deck!! :8

[Scott Diamond]

Have Emirates out of Glasgow and a couple of VFRs... controllers are having friendly chit chat to the crews over the frequency since there's only 1 aircraft on it at any one time!

[Chilli Monster]

At East Mids we had 3 departures this morning (1 Egypt, 2 Canary Islands) who'll all be returning later in the day. Although the schedules are greatly reduced it tends to still be "business as usual" at the larger airports.

[chiglet]

Managed to have a "Pan" this morning, Etihad OMDB-CYYZ div to Manch with a sick child, but we [MACC] were "ticking over"

[fisbangwollop]

A couple of light aircraft for me this morning in the Perth area, also the Glasgow Helimed went to Oban for fuel then on to Barra to pick up a patient to take back to Southern General Hospital

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Heathrow and Gatwick usually have one or two..... hundred, that is, maybe multiplied a few times! Airlines from non-Christian countries usually fly as normal so there is plenty happening.

As I write this at 18:50z, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Eva Air are all in the approach phase for Heathrow.

[vintage ATCO]

So you've got your SBS-1 running as well, HD . . . . . ;)

[KNIEVEL77]

Is the SBS-1 any good?

[galaxyc55a]

Best equipment i ever spent money on!

[vespasia]

Gatwick total for the day 115 so far, with another 2 or 3 expected before midnight.:)

[Geffen]

Heathrow was around the 520 mark at 2200

[autothrottle]

Yes, its usual to do around 600 movements on christmas day at Heathrow, in between scoffing mince pies! Remember half the world doesn't celebrate Christmas!

[Scott Diamond]

Are you controllers allowed to eat turkey etc when controlling or is it a clean mouth at all times ? :E

[fisbangwollop]

Only mince pies......the more we eat the more we talk....mince!!!

[Manchester ATC]

Dont work Xmas never have.:=

[Nipper2]

I flew on the 25th. Bloody lovely it was too. Blue from horizon to horizon.

Was able to go to few places that are normally inaccessible when all the Class D is in use....

[KNIEVEL77]

galaxyc55a,

How does it compare to the other 'radar' system currently available?

K77.

[Whiskey Kilo Wanderer]

I was flying VFR around the South East on Christmas Day. I had Gatwick Director and TWR on Box 2, in the hope of reviving the urban myth of ‘Free GA Touch & Goes on at Gatwick Christmas Day’. I then hear an out bound and decided that it was going to remain an urban myth…

Happy New Year to all those on the ‘scope end of the radio.

WKW

[Ian Brooks]

Manchester was about the same as Gatwick with quite a high percentage of long hauls operating and LH, KL, TK, SR, AF, OK, LN, OA plus a selection of the usual charter operators


Ian