View Full Version : Faro airport terminal weather damage
Just got back from Faro,some 10 hrs late. A storm tore the roof off the arrivals halls at 05:00 am Monday 24/Oct. Control tower glass panes blown in. Massive disruption . We arrived at the terminal 08:50 am and departed at 20:45 pm. We were coached to Faro town at 14:00 to 16:30 for a meal at a hotel. Well done Monarch in rescuing us as no information given to us by the airport authorities.Cessna 172 CS-AYR seen blown over on the tarmac . Apparently 2 parked Ryanair B 737s were moved 100 metres by the storm of tornado proportions. There is a baggage loading trolley wedged under the rear of a parked Gulfstream looks horribly expensive to repair. Trees ripped out of the ground at Faro town and saw a closed garage with crumpled hoardings.
Good that it is not high season but expect disruption for sometime there.
BHX2FRA
25th Oct 2011, 18:56
I have to support the previous post - we arrived at Faro at 0830 yesterday for the 1015 to Birmingham. At 1130 we were advised that the flight had been delayed for 24 hours and Monarch bussed us to a local 5* hotel for an overnight stay. Left at 1030 this morning. Unfortunately today's scheduled BHX-FAO flight was a return journey for our airframe so today's passengers had a 7.5 hour delay. I also have to say the ground staff at Faro were also very good - Portway I think.
Very extensive damage to the terminal - arrivals yesterday were being bussed landside by police escort to then go through passport control and baggage reclaim.
Passengers were today only being allowed into departures [i.e. through security] when their flight was boarding. Could not get to the normal passport control area in Departures this morning - although checks were made on the diversion walkway. I have seen a news report where airport director is suggesting almost 24 weeks to complete repairs. I think they will be relieved the winter schedule starts next week.
Information was limited yesterday but until the runway had been cleared and reopened, UK airlines did not have any real idea what they could do.
The "respect" that Monarch showed to their passengers was very welcome - I dread to think what we may have had to endure with another airline - will probably convince me to fly with Monarch next time even though they may not be the cheapest.
MKY661
25th Oct 2011, 20:35
Damaged again? didnt the terminal get bad flooding a few years ago?
Some pictures here notice the unscathed Auster in the ceiling of arrivals Nutters In Portugal. • View topic - Faro Tornado October 2011 (http://www.nuttersinportugal.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=250)
The lack of information from the airport staff was due to the chaos hopefully now sorting it. They were only letting 4 arrivals per hour . Weather for this airport needs to be treated with utmost respect i.e windshear/microburst Transavia DC-10 accident 1992. Will fly Monarch always ,good service,20kgs baggage allowance and treated as a passenger,well done to them.
Flying Wild
27th Oct 2011, 21:54
A Light aircraft had it's tail ripped off.
http://i43.tinypic.com/2h7f02s.jpg
Tower had windows blown in (covered with boarding now)
http://i41.tinypic.com/33ogmdi.jpg
What do you get when you cross a baggage truck with a Gulfstream...?
http://i44.tinypic.com/ay3muo.jpg
The light aircraft is CS-AYR Cessna 172 . The Gulfstream will need some engineering. There does not appear to be any hangars at Faro so repairs are going to be difficult . Wish everybody well affected by this freak weather. What is the latest on delays there having escaped 12hours late on Monday ?
HZ123
28th Oct 2011, 16:01
Could some kind person give me the SP on this 727 aircraft at FAO.
Flew back yesterday (27 to LCY ) and did not seem to be much happening but lots of big holes in the roof.
We were only 45 minutes late but many people were 8 hours late when we left.
It is 9Q-CMC Boeing 727-30 c/n 18371/145 an ex Lufthansa/Condor machine. Owned by Belgian pilot Ronald Des Met(Air-Cess) it was used by Jean-Pierre Bemba ,President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He fled in it to Faro 11 April 2007 to flee treason charges and treatment of a broken leg. However he was arrested in Brussels 2008 and facing war crime charges.
Shame that it is abandoned and subject to the corrosive sea air will it ever fly again ?
Whats the latest on delays at Faro ??