BHX closed due accident

[Happy Wanderer]

Eyewitness on BBC Radio WM just said flames seen from aircraft on approach to R15 and fireball enveloped on landing.

[LYKA]

METARS

Egbb 191650z 01003kt 0100 R15/0300 R33/0300 Fg Vv/// 06/05 Q1012=
Egbb 191620z 01003kt 0100 R15/0300 R33/0275 Fg Bkn000 06/05 Q1011=
Egbb 191550z 01004kt 0250 R15/0275 R33/0325 Fg Nsc 07/05 Q1011=
Egbb 191520z 13003kt 9999 3000nw Prfg Few007 08/06 Q1011=
Egbb 191450z 15004kt 9999 Few007 09/07 Q1011=
Egbb 191420z 12004kt 090v160 9999 4500nw Few007 09/07 Q1011=
Egbb 191350z 12004kt 9999 Few007 09/07 Q1011=
Egbb 191320z 11004kt 070v140 9999 Sct007 08/07 Q1011=
Egbb 191250z Vrb03kt 9000 Sct005 08/08 Q1011=

C5376/10 NOTAMN
Q)EGTT/QFALC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00144W005
A)EGBB
B)1011191640 C)1011192100
E)AIRFIELD CLOSED

[Ductape]

When I drove past the end of 33 at approx 16:10 on way home from work, the fog was a real pea souper, yet sky above M6 was gin clear, so very patchy but very dense, temp in fog is reading 8.0c?

[Kengineer-130]

I live just outside Birmingham, I drove home today from Surrey, the weather was glorious (for winter!) all the way, clear skys and winter sun. About a mile from my house, it was like someone had hit a switch to turn the fog on, so I can see how fast the weather has rolled in.

Very sad news from BHX

[crispey]

Shawbury has been at 100m all day.Same here at 550 ASL near NUGRA.

[Airbus Girl]

Someone said STN and LTN were closed? Why? They are both Cat III so unless it is below 75m/ 0 ft they should still be open?

Before the non-IFR pilots/ non-pilots start their own rumours, can I just say that if there is a decrease in the weather below Cat I, the tower would pass the new RVRs to the crew whilst on approach. Every time it changes they are passed. If you are Cat I, doing a Cat I approach and it goes below minimums you go-around. The 1520z weather is Cat 1, with an obvious downward trend, by 1550z it is Cat III on runway 15 and Cat 2 on runway 33.

I am sure the full AAIB report will give us the facts.

[Sagey]

I was wondering the same Airbus Girl, seems that the weather is currently CAT IIIA doable where you need 200,125,75. You need 150m for takeoff. Delays yes but doubt very much they are closed. if the snow turns up next week then you will see closed

[LTNman]

Luton is open with cat 3 holding points, 450m RVR

[compton3bravo]

Luton Is Not Closed just taken an Arran diversion!!

[Ductape]

BBC news report

If correct, seems witness had ac in sight for some time?? on fire on approach? had it impacted earlier out of sight?

"Eyewitness Dennis Gough, who was playing golf by the runway at the time, said he saw the plane coming in to land.
'Leaning to one side'
"As it was coming to land it was on fire and as as it approached the runway it looked like it was leaning to one side slightly," he said.
"Then, once it hit the runway there were sort of flames alongside the runway then it broke into a big fireball."

[Sagey]

True Topslide you might get lucky and get visual before minimums. Would this aircraft have been CAT III capable?

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

seems that the weather is currently CAT IIIA doable where you need 200,125,75. You need 150m for takeoff.

If you need 150m for take off then you also need 150m for the mid-point RVR for approach if flying Cat3, not 125m as commonly mistaken.

[Crosswind Limits]

No Citation is Cat III.

[jackharr]

TAF EGBB 191059Z 1912/2012 18005KT 0300 FG VV- BECMG 1912/1915 6000 NSW SCT005 BECMG 2000/2003 2500 BR BKN005 PROB30 2003/2010 0600 FG BKN001 BECMG 2010/2012 6000 BKN010

TAF AMD EGBB 191409Z 1914/2012 18005KT 9999 FEW007 PROB40 1920/1924 4000 BR BECMG 2000/2003 2500 BR BKN005 PROB30 2003/2010 0600 FG BKN001 BECMG 2010/2012 6000 BKN010

Jack

[LessThanSte]

Presumably then he was at Hatchford Brook golf course when he spotted the aircraft. Down the far end of that course you can see aircraft from quite a way off. Impacted earlier out of sight though seems unlikely, surely it would not have made it back into the air to continue a relatively normal approach, allbeit one on fire....?

[flap15]

Ok you trolls stop quoting the weather, unless you have somthing to say of factual note that has NOT been said before keep quiet.

If you are only Cat 1 and have an emergency as a Captain you may elect to ignore minima. However you must be prepared to justify your actions to the authorities.

[Tom355uk]

Down the far end of that course you can see aircraft from quite a way off.

Not with 250m visibility you cant.......

You might see a glow in the mist then the aircraft appearing sliding along on fire, but you won't see the threshold from the golf course in such low vis.

[Airbus Girl]

Topslide, yes, we could go into the minutia of LVPs but as I mentioned, I was trying to keep it simple for non-pilots/ non-IR pilots.

As for the fire, I guess if it actually did have a serious engine fire (and I mean serious) then continuing into BHX may well have been the most sensible decision, even if it was Cat III. If my aircraft was seriously on fire and the options were follow the ILS to landing at the airport I am at (even if below limits) or fly another 15 minutes up the road and hope it hasn't gone out of limits/ we haven't burnt out by then I think I know which one I would opt for!!!

[Sir Herbert Gussett]

Can I take this time to remind people to be a bit more sensitive before posting uninformed rumours as it isn't long before something posted here is recited on Sky News as "sky sources..."

[jackharr]

Quote: "Ok you trolls stop quoting the weather"

Note: I retrieved the TAFs and made no additional comments.

Jack