LHR flights diverted at request of RAF

[chopper2004]

One is not sure how much to read into this , can’t imagine another drone incident.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/17/fligh...pace-12074521/

[Mil-26Man]

Originally Posted by chopper2004

One is not sure how much to read into this , can’t imagine another drone incident.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/17/fligh...pace-12074521/

From the MoD:

Twitter

[Cerney218]

Isn't Northolt helicopters only at the moment?

[R T Jones]

I happened to look at plane finder this morning and couldn't work out why there was no aircraft on approach or departure and the 4 holds were full of aircraft. Thought maybe it was a runway change but when I saw the diverts I thought perhaps not. Interesting but I'm sure we'll never find out the real reason why!

[Capt Scribble]

Has Harry legged it at short notice!

[cessnapete]

Maybe minor delays to MOD, but at a cost of many £££££ to the airlines. Mass holding, Long Haul aircraft diverted, and great disruption to passengers.

[MPN11]

Nothing to do with an Islander, I assume?

[Squiffy Pussy]

Originally Posted by MPN11

Nothing to do with an Islander, I assume?

Mods please close down this thread on security grounds.

[Davef68]

Originally Posted by MPN11

Nothing to do with an Islander, I assume?

Only if visiting from Aldergrove. The Northolt ones have gone (or have they ? :-))

[beardy]

If you want some pictures of the Islander, you can find them here:

Islander at RAF Northolt

But it's not there is it

[Fortissimo]

Originally Posted by cessnapete

Maybe minor delays to MOD, but at a cost of many £££££ to the airlines. Mass holding, Long Haul aircraft diverted, and great disruption to passengers.

But not as great a disruption as from a major security incident. This was clearly an operational sortie for which we don't need to know the details, but it would be reasonable to assume that it was being done for a good reason (the public benefit) rather than simply to annoy LHR.

[pr00ne]

The Northolt Islanders were replaced by civilian Piper Navajo‘s some years ago, as referenced here on Pprune several times.

[dmcg]

Piper Navajos replaced by Islanders.

[Buster the Bear]

Originally Posted by dmcg

Piper Navajos replaced by Islanders.

Islanders are back, albeit civilian.

[LBIA]

One of the RAF'S BAe 146's, ZE707 flew into LBA earlier this morning routing direct from RAF Northolt, Did this cause a problem on departure?

[UltraFan]

Originally Posted by Fortissimo

But not as great a disruption as from a major security incident. This was clearly an operational sortie for which we don't need to know the details, but it would be reasonable to assume that it was being done for a good reason (the public benefit) rather than simply to annoy LHR.

Must've found WMDs in Iraq. Had to dispatch Mr. Henry Mountbatten to investigate.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Cerney218

Isn't Northolt helicopters only at the moment?

Nah, runway re-opened in Nov.

[nohold]

Not that it has anything to do with the actual thread...

The Northolt runway was open for based assets from October, visitors were allowed in a little later.

[KPax]

All 3 of RAF Northolt Station Flight ac BN-2T Islander CC2s have been disposed of recently, following their replacement by civilian-contracted aircraft. The change has not been publicly announced, no doubt due to the clandestine nature of the intelligence-gathering operations of these aircraft. Their role is now being carried out by two Piper PA-31-310 Navajo Cs, G- G-SCMR and G-SCTR, operated by from the same Northolt Station Flight hangar as the Islanders by 2Excel Aviation Scimitar business unit Both aircraft are fitted with an under-nose FLIR turret, but details of their other role-specific equipment are unknown.
All on Google.

[dmcg]

Don’t believe Google. That information is out of date.