Question for LHR ATCO's
 

I was wondering if anybody could tell me when it became mandatory for the AFS to attend every incident on the ramp.

The reason behind the query is that earlier tonight we heard a Midland a/c advising ground that as they a broken towbar they were unable to continue with the push. Ground then gave them notice that the AFS were on the way and that they have to attend every incident on the ramp.(The BD crew were quite suprised but also pleased for the notice.)

On asking around nobody in the office had heard of this (new) procedure, and we haven't seen anything from the BAA.(No suprises there then:rolleyes: :rolleyes: )

Any info would be useful

Sw

Not entirely sure what happened here, however if the aircraft suffered damage in any way then the AFS will attend, just to be on the safe side.

From what I gathered whilst doing Delivery, the crew called and said that the towbar had broken, and taken a tyre with it. That might mean possible undercarriage damage. And also, if the a/c had called up and just said they'd burst a tyre, the AFS would have been called out anyway.