Lajes anemometer

[RoyHudd]

How is it that about 50% of North Atlantic flights use Lajes as an ERA, and yet there is no wind measurement available on the METAR?

It is a windy place, important for Nattrack ops (Air Transat know this well), and yet they apparently cannot afford a wind-measuring device. And have not for many months, according to current NOTAM.

Yet another safety and operational issue caused by penny-pinching.

Answers on a postcard please....

[CRayner]

One less round in the bar should do it.Digital Handheld Anemometer Wind Speed & Temperature Measuring Equipment HoldPeak 816B 2424086 2016 ? £9.79 (http://www.lightinthebox.com/digital-handheld-anemometer-wind-speed-temperature-measuring-equipment-holdpeak-816b_p2424086.html?currency=GBP&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&adword_mt=&adword_ct=91271930776&adword_kw=&adword_pos=1o5&adword_pl=&adword_net=g&adword_tar=&adw_src_id=4638878389_436413856_23581163416_pla-137984591296&gclid=CNC3r5WS7s4CFRMo0wodPvAPUQ)

[ATC Watcher]

Answers on a postcard please.... Lages is a military air base, operated by the Portuguese air force. They allow public transport use but they operate under different sets of standards and what can be U/S and not and for how long. .

On same subject , using airports for ETOPS diversions does not mean they have to meet all airline requirements . Basically all you need is a good runway long enough to perform a safe landing . The rest is a bonus. Narssasuaq comes to my mind.

[galaxy flyer]

I've landed there any number times and always received a wind report, sometimes even when I didn't want it.

GF

[Hotel Tango]

galaxy flyer, I think the OP was referring to the METAR.

[Willit Run]

I'm gonna be picky in an emergency?????? I think not!

[RoyHudd]

Talking about planning. Ever heard of that? Ever flown ETOPS? There are other field in the Azores, which do provide wind reports. And the winds can be close to or over limits in these islands. Anyone heard of crosswind landing limits? They can vary for each aircraft, depending upon the nature of the emergency.

The level of contributors' knowledge on this site is often very low, which means many are amateur pilots or even armchair flyers. Pity.

[BBK]

Entirely agree Roy.

Our ETPs are generally include a selection from the anemometer less Lajes, YYT, SNN, BDA, KEF etc. Why Lajes hasn't been able to give a w/v for so long is a mystery. I don't know if it's a coincidence but hasn't the RFF been downgraded there?

BBK

[sangiovese.]

Still hasn’t got any one. Weird

[brakedwell]

I remember it used to be very windy at Lajes!


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x990/eckn2124_2fe76fe98e4fc8ecbe36869cf28b1a32a6391192.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1850x999/lajes_sac_ramp__8481e3e02a9400e673f15c65158e055edb1443c4.jpg

[CW247]

1.) It might be very windy, but how often is it a cross wind?
2.) Not too familiar with NATS/ETOPS these days but is this a case of 'let's be careful what we publish. Too much information, and no one even gets to depart to cross the Atlantic!' ?

[sangiovese.]

Well the aircraft can do 35-40 across so not a problem. Just wondering why it’s so difficult if the more dubious parts of Africa can manage it

[oceancrosser]

Well if you are “el commandante”, just refuse to use Lajes and ask for Santa Maria. Simples.

[FullWings]

Well if you are “el commandante”, just refuse to use Lajes and ask for Santa Maria. Simples.
Talking to those who have used both, Santa Maria seems to be the better option in almost all respects.

[JanetFlight]

Talking to those who have used both, Santa Maria seems to be the better option in almost all respects.

In a case of a Medical Diversion i would prefer Ponta Delgada first, Lajes second and Santa Maria the third...but regarding only medical assistance on respective islands.

[Mogwi]

Lajes is OK for glide approaches!

Mog

[CHAPARRAL]

SMA is not H24: Daily 0745-2230!

[aerolearner]

Just to put a timescale here, the last available reading of wind direction and speed is from Oct 10, 2017 19:00UTC:
https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cgi-bin/request/asos.py?station=LPLA&data=drct&data=sknt&year1=2017&month1=10&day1=1&year2=2024&month2=3&day2=25&tz=Etc%2FUTC&format=onlycomma&latlon=no&elev=no&missing=M&trace=T&direct=no&report_type=1&report_type=3&report_type=4

By the way, they have historical data for LPLA since 1946, which would allow the statistical-minded :8 to calculate the probability of an out-of-limit cross wind:
https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/request/download.phtml?network=PT__ASOS

[brakedwell]

1.) It might be very windy, but how often is it a cross wind?
2.) Not too familiar with NATS/ETOPS these days but is this a case of 'let's be careful what we publish. Too much information, and no one even gets to depart to cross the Atlantic!' ?


I was ay Lajes for three months from December to February and if I remember correctly the wind was nearly alway westerrly - down the runway.

[swh]

Talking about planning. Ever heard of that? Ever flown ETOPS? There are other field in the Azores, which do provide wind reports. And the winds can be close to or over limits in these islands. Anyone heard of crosswind landing limits? They can vary for each aircraft, depending upon the nature of the emergency.

The level of contributors' knowledge on this site is often very low, which means many are amateur pilots or even armchair flyers. Pity.

if your planning the TAF should be used

[Mike_UEM]

If you seating in your ops room in LHR, FRA or even farther away, 4 hrs or more from potentially needing a diversion to Lajes, why do you need METAR?
ATC will always give you winds if and when you get there.

[safelife]

If you’ve got internet aboard, there’s a Telegram bot which will give you the wind reading for the current METAR:

@lajes_bot

[Klauss]

Hi, I don´t have Telegram - have others .
Is there a work-around ?

If you’ve got internet aboard, there’s a Telegram bot which will give you the wind reading for the current METAR:

@lajes_bot

[Flyer83PT]

Lajes weather station is provided by the USAFE that are stationed there. It follows FAA standards and gives out wind reading based on a 3 minute, or something similar, average.

To be EASA/ANAC certified it would need to give the 10 minute average of the wind.

That is why you don't get the report on METAR, but still get it when in contact with TWR.