BAA withdraws Air Atlantique DC-6 landing slot at LHR
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BAA withdraws Air Atlantique DC-6 landing slot at LHR
The BAA has withdrawn its landing slot permission for this coming Friday November 7th for Air Atlantique's DC-6 G-APSA - particularly sad considering the commemoration of the last British Eagle flight in 1968.
One really does wonder at what motivates the BAA decision-making prats ...
The AA official statement reads as follows and is remarkably conciliatory in the circumstances :-
HEATHROW REFUSES ENTRY
With great regret we must announce that we are no longer able to visit Heathrow this Friday, 7 November. We realise that this will be a bitter disappointment to many people.
Operation into London Heathrow, in common with many large airports, requires the allocation of a slot for each movement. Slots for our intended operation were allocated to us last week, at which point we confirmed with our supporters that we would be making the journey. Yesterday, however, we were advised by a representative of BAA, the airport operator, that these slots were to be withdrawn because they were concerned that the operation of the DC6 at Heathrow was potentially disruptive to normal operations. In the course of several commercial charters into Heathrow in recent years, and two previous commemorative flights (including one for BAA), our experience has been that the DC6 does not cause any inconvenience. Moreover, we were able to demonstrate to the relevant ATC unit that the normal approach speeds and operating procedures of this Public Transport certified airliner were in line with current standards and would require no special treatment. We have had the great pleasure over recent years to visit each of the other capital airports in Europe. Regrettably, this busy international airport felt unable, at the eleventh hour, to agree to our visit.
Our flight this Friday was intended to commemorate the last commercial flight, exactly forty years ago, of a British Eagle aircraft on exactly the same route from Rotterdam to Heathrow. The captain of that original flight was to join us. We had hoped that this would be an uplifting event in these turbulent times, to remind people that flying can still be a fun and romantic endeavour. Unfortunately it appears that commercial priorities, or perhaps a misunderstanding of the nature of the DC6, has caused BAA to decide otherwise. We are tremendously grateful to our handling agent at Heathrow, Signature Flight Support, who generously agreed to sponsor our ground arrangements, and to members of the BAA team who arranged that our landing fees would be waived.
The aircraft will return directly from Rotterdam to Coventry within the next few days. We will publish the times accordingly. This will conclude public flying for this season as the aircraft enters scheduled maintenance on 23 November.
We look forward to an exciting new season in 2009 and to meeting more of you throughout next year.
One really does wonder at what motivates the BAA decision-making prats ...
The AA official statement reads as follows and is remarkably conciliatory in the circumstances :-
HEATHROW REFUSES ENTRY
With great regret we must announce that we are no longer able to visit Heathrow this Friday, 7 November. We realise that this will be a bitter disappointment to many people.
Operation into London Heathrow, in common with many large airports, requires the allocation of a slot for each movement. Slots for our intended operation were allocated to us last week, at which point we confirmed with our supporters that we would be making the journey. Yesterday, however, we were advised by a representative of BAA, the airport operator, that these slots were to be withdrawn because they were concerned that the operation of the DC6 at Heathrow was potentially disruptive to normal operations. In the course of several commercial charters into Heathrow in recent years, and two previous commemorative flights (including one for BAA), our experience has been that the DC6 does not cause any inconvenience. Moreover, we were able to demonstrate to the relevant ATC unit that the normal approach speeds and operating procedures of this Public Transport certified airliner were in line with current standards and would require no special treatment. We have had the great pleasure over recent years to visit each of the other capital airports in Europe. Regrettably, this busy international airport felt unable, at the eleventh hour, to agree to our visit.
Our flight this Friday was intended to commemorate the last commercial flight, exactly forty years ago, of a British Eagle aircraft on exactly the same route from Rotterdam to Heathrow. The captain of that original flight was to join us. We had hoped that this would be an uplifting event in these turbulent times, to remind people that flying can still be a fun and romantic endeavour. Unfortunately it appears that commercial priorities, or perhaps a misunderstanding of the nature of the DC6, has caused BAA to decide otherwise. We are tremendously grateful to our handling agent at Heathrow, Signature Flight Support, who generously agreed to sponsor our ground arrangements, and to members of the BAA team who arranged that our landing fees would be waived.
The aircraft will return directly from Rotterdam to Coventry within the next few days. We will publish the times accordingly. This will conclude public flying for this season as the aircraft enters scheduled maintenance on 23 November.
We look forward to an exciting new season in 2009 and to meeting more of you throughout next year.
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Now now, remember this is the same organisation that was responsible for the stunning launch of Terminal Five earlier this year. When it comes to disappointing the general public, it has no equal.
Perhaps we need to write to the board of Ferrovial, BAA's Spanish owners, and tell them just how constant BAA incompetence and stupidity drags Ferrovial's name through the mud.
Presumably BAA thought the DC6 crew wouldn't spend enough in the shops.
Presumably BAA thought the DC6 crew wouldn't spend enough in the shops.
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People who cancel such an historic flight for 'slots' can have no sense of 'aviation' - which must make it bloody difficult for them to run an airport. Disgraceful!
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Remember that these are the same people who, presumably at great expense, put up plastic sheeting around the perimeter fences to (try and) stop people watching the last Concorde flights land... 
pathetic 
pathetic
It just goes to show how little these bureaucrats understand the historical relevence of these events.
I bet they did not consult ATC to see how little impact a DC6 would have on the operation.
I bet they did not consult ATC to see how little impact a DC6 would have on the operation.
How disgusting, and how insensitive of the need to rehabilitate aviation in this country in general, and London in particular. Any other airport operator would have capitalised on the potential publicity of this event. The "Six" epitomises the romance and optimisation of long-haul piston airliners in the 1950s, and is as quiet as an Angel's fart.
How can such ignorant non-aviation-minded people expect to persuade the neighbours and the government to permit the extra runway we so desperately need in the South-East?
How can such ignorant non-aviation-minded people expect to persuade the neighbours and the government to permit the extra runway we so desperately need in the South-East?
This is Classic Flight not Air Atlantique?
Another great PR stunt gone wrong for BAA. However would there be anybody better out there to run the airports, when you have to balance, shareholders, the Campaign Against Aviation, meddling MPs and Civil Servants and the Nimbys.
Made all the more difficult by employing a bunch of clowns to run the group. BAA - should be renames BoA - Bunch of Arses
Another great PR stunt gone wrong for BAA. However would there be anybody better out there to run the airports, when you have to balance, shareholders, the Campaign Against Aviation, meddling MPs and Civil Servants and the Nimbys.
Made all the more difficult by employing a bunch of clowns to run the group. BAA - should be renames BoA - Bunch of Arses
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Ferrovial must be just trying to remain afloat in the credit crunch climate. They borrowed £10bn to buy BAA and were struggling to repay that before the credit crunch.
Ferrovial delays £10bn BAA debt deal as profits halve - Times Online
That said I have just emailed Colin Matthews amd Mike Brown to make my views clear on BAAs decision.
Ferrovial delays £10bn BAA debt deal as profits halve - Times Online
That said I have just emailed Colin Matthews amd Mike Brown to make my views clear on BAAs decision.
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Perhaps we need to write to the board of Ferrovial, BAA's Spanish owners, and tell them just how constant BAA incompetence and stupidity drags Ferrovial's name through the mud.
The adage about a fool and his money seems particularly apt.
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Pherhap the BAA need reminding of the disruption delays and additional fuel costs incured by airlines when recently they staged two practice days ahead of George Bushes visit...........chaos it was!!
Yet another example of the incompetence we suffer in this country. The BAA is owned and run by a team of money-grabbing idiots, who have no care for 'service.' Look at the way passengers and crew alike are dealt with when passing through LHR. I give LHR a miss whenever possible.
Such a shame that a historic event like this has been scuppered by a load of fools, but then that's how the country in general is run.
Such a shame that a historic event like this has been scuppered by a load of fools, but then that's how the country in general is run.
Paxing All Over The World
I suspect that, in common with 90% of modern companies, anything that is outside 'normal' and 'standard' is automatically presumed to cost more in time and money. Therefore, it should be rejected.
In the same mode, I recall an A-list Hollywood actor pointing out that the people who run the studios don't care if they are making movies or baked beans - as long as it makes money. So BAA are not alone.
In the same mode, I recall an A-list Hollywood actor pointing out that the people who run the studios don't care if they are making movies or baked beans - as long as it makes money. So BAA are not alone.
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What do you expect from the retail focused management at BAA? They genuinely have no idea about aviation, anything outside the shop confuses them.
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It is pointless to criticise BAA for their lack of any comprehension of the aviation industry and its priorities, of which the highest is the expeditious, safe movement of passengers from A to B.
They are shopping mall operators, no more and no less. As someone has suggested, a DC6 does not feed the malls with hundreds of gullible and, let's face it, very stupid victims buying useless tat at prices inflated way above the high street prices, "duty-free" goods on which there is no duty in the first place, and "duty-free" goods at prices which necessarily include the duty due on those goods.
The historical significance of the event would have meant no more to Heathrow's owners than the fate of the Spanish Armada.
They are shopping mall operators, no more and no less. As someone has suggested, a DC6 does not feed the malls with hundreds of gullible and, let's face it, very stupid victims buying useless tat at prices inflated way above the high street prices, "duty-free" goods on which there is no duty in the first place, and "duty-free" goods at prices which necessarily include the duty due on those goods.
The historical significance of the event would have meant no more to Heathrow's owners than the fate of the Spanish Armada.
Miserable faceless idiots.
I had the misfortune to travel through that abysmal shopping mall with aeroplanes last Sunday - never again!
Here are some contact details for anyone wishing to contact them:
General enquiry tel. no. for BAA LHR is 0870 000 0123.
More info at BAA Heathrow: Welcome to Heathrow Airport | Parking | Terminal 5 under 'Contact us'.....
(They can't even get their web links sorted.......)
I had the misfortune to travel through that abysmal shopping mall with aeroplanes last Sunday - never again!
Here are some contact details for anyone wishing to contact them:
General enquiry tel. no. for BAA LHR is 0870 000 0123.
More info at BAA Heathrow: Welcome to Heathrow Airport | Parking | Terminal 5 under 'Contact us'.....
(They can't even get their web links sorted.......)
Last edited by BEagle; 5th Nov 2008 at 18:46.