The Fog Thread
 

It's that time of the year again, where scores of Middle East aircraft stuck out of position due to the prevailing climate at this time of the year.

Dubai, in particular, enjoyed quiet skies last night from just after midnight onwards. There could be heard the odd aircraft flying high, possibly circling or going around, but the 2am rush did not seem to happen this morning. At 0600hrs, the skies were still quiet (I live on the approach).

One wonders how the airlines cope with this massive problem? One assumes that all inbound EK aircraft (who could not make it into DXB overnight), are dotted around places like BAH, MCT, DOH, AUH, wherever. What impact does it have on the next daylight schedule? If the conditions at DXB look to be bad for the long term, do aircraft heading down from Europe get turned back or diverted to Southern European / Northern Gulf airports? I ask this question because surely there is a limit to what extra traffic DOH / AUH / MCT can handle, not to mention the fact that they themselves may be affected by the same weather?

Furthermore, how come some aircraft DID manage to arrive/depart, whilst others couldn't? (genuine question).

One is now able to recognise the sounds that various aircraft and their engines make whilst flying overhead - I couldn't see them, but could hear what sounded like A320's being able to move in and out of DXB. Didn't catch any other aircraft though.

Good luck to all of you who have to clear up the mess. I admire your abilities in coping with this regularly.

Happens a couple of times a year in DXB, and hopefully the situation will improve when CAT3 comes online(i stand to be corrected). Aircraft usually bugger off to Muscat, which is usually clear.
Now DXB roads, thats a frickin mess. Remember to be putting ones hazard lights on :ugh::ugh::ugh:

EGGW

When are the Cat III installations due to come online??

And then again, when did CATIII go off-line, as DXB certainly had 'em before....for quite a long time, actually.

Many many many moons since CatIII in DXB..... The sooner they get it the better 'cos it's a disaster on a foggy morning!!!

411A, I think you might be thinking of some other Dubai. It's news to me if it was ever operational at DXB.

Seem to remember having CAT 3 in DXB for a short period about twelve years ago?

As I understand there is a Cat 3 installation but it is limited to Cat 2 ops. The limitation is due to the building in the vicinity of the airport. Unsuprisingly builders get building permits but don't follow the regulations and build above the required height limitations.

Of course they do - this is the ME and who follows rules. That point is emphasized by the fact that, apparantly, the DXB control tower is above the height restriction as well :)

If that is not enough - the rumour is that they are building a 4000 foot 'needle' in Dubai, to be the worlds heighest structure............and it is planned to be on the one end of the new Jebel Ali airport arr/dep corridor.:}

last night 4am
 

Just got atis when working Muscat. Muscat did not tell us DXB was closed, only found out when ATIS said 350Mtr.

We dont have AFIS, so timing of the fog was a surprise.

Offered Al Ain and Fujerah, as alternates: but for commercial reasons (as todays trip was ex DXB), we were going to DXB, so asked for reroute to our base in RAK.
Not possible said Muscat: YES said I: I had already asked RAK, if they had room for a small one: So back to RAK.
Landing fine, but the car drive was hell, thank God, 5am, and no cars on the road.

As an aside the previous afternoon, departured delayed for up to one hour due to inbounds. I assume follow up from that mornings fog.

Some of the air show departures were fun:
An Eclipse in front of a 777...and a F18 requesting an earlier slot as is destination would not accept him.....when pressed he admitted it was a carrier in the Gulf...Now thats a slot buster if I ever heard of one....
Me I just drank my tea, and listened to the chatter.

Glf

Not due to building !
 

The CAT3 approaches in Dubai aren't downgraded to CAT2 ops because of the buildings in the vicinity....!

The real reason for it will never be released to the public, however it will always be conveniently blamed on interference. If released there would be countless heads shaking in disgust ! := :ugh:

Raptor,

Go on, do tell:}

You must be rather new to the area, Wiley, as CATIII at DXB was certainly available on 12L (as it was then known, dunno about now) and I have personally completed at least half a dozen there...circa 1992-94.
Quite handy when the fog rolls in....:}

Cat III was definitely aound like 411a said 'round 13-14yrs ago...disappeared when they started growing the airport..construction etc...etc...rumoured to return soon:ok:

all the flights from AUH for this morning from 0200 until this time have been cancelled.

Etihad Airways Ground Staff are the worse and no offical from Management or what so ever at the Airport and left all the Groun Staff to face it alone by them selfs.

Tell me how many EY ground staff were on duty at that time .. only 3 handling more then 30 flights.

EY get your act together...

Cheers

You wont see Hogie and his band of incompetents, they only do the good stuff (and haircut memos of course!).

They are lost in the Fog!:}

More like lost in space.. or rather lost at the pool of Emirates Palace.. yep.. company paying out very big membership for the clan :=

CAT III not available due to a large control tower sat in the way. Everything must be impressive looking and stuff the consequences to every day life.

The number of cancellations was huge. Hotels in dubai were full, PAX not happy. Perhaps when Jebel Ali opens up it will improve...

As far as Cat III is concerned, do you really want AUH to get this kind of equipment, if they take care of it as they take care of their aircrafts and their personnel......

You will end up landing in Marina Mall........

But with a nice hair cut.....and broke.....

411a and others say that DXB had a Cat III ILS some years ago "for quite a while".

Am I the only one who can't recall it? Not for the first time, I fear I must be suffering from early Alzheimer's...

Dubai may wait until GBAS (ground based augmentaion system) is available. If it is a signal interference problem, then GBAS will eliminate it.
GBAS uses GNSS signals, detects any errors then transmits a signal to the A/C GPS receivers. Accuracies are typically less than 2m.

GBAS will come in CAT I, CAT II and CAT IIIa, b, c AND d. CAT IIId will have the ability to taxi the A/C to the gate!