Whilst we all know that weather is just weather and that Lyneham enjoys its own fair share of RED days it is still a little amusant that nature and events have conspired during each of these Brize/Lyneham exercises to demonstrate the folly of a single AT MOB :D

EGVN 160950Z 00000KT 0150 FG VV/// 00/00 Q1021 NOSIG.....

How many aircraft were diverted yesterday..? Anyone know?

BZN
 

I am amazed that in future years it appears that our Transport fleet (A400M and A330 Tanker/Transport) all certified to Cat111 at manufacture, will be restricted to Cat1 operations at their main base.
This mornings BZN wx is above limits for normal ops in the airline world by the majority of airliner types in operation today. (100mts RVR No DH)

So when their airships were contemplating the future AT basing strategy, wtf did nobody say "Hang on a minute, Brize is only Cat I capable. Are there any other large airfields in the vicinity that may not suffer from the smallest of knobbly bits of terrain that our esteemed AIDU colleagues inform us restrict any higher landing capability? What's that you say? I am not understanding this 'poppycock' word...." Absolute crock. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Geneva, Zurich all renowned for their pancake-like terrain :hmm:

This should have been a fundemental capability of the AT 'superbase'. It's like designing a fighter with no gun......

Used to work at EGBB and we always knew when EGVN was fogged out.
Why is EGVA not a viable opportunity? Is it all down to cash again:*

That will be non then. No aircraft were diverted yesterday due to the poor weather. OK, How many sorties were cancelled yesterday due to the poor weather...?

Cows getting bigger

Not that I can recall. Then again, I could be suffering from some form of PTSD memory loss :ooh:.

Vec,

You may find that the lack of replies is because everybody was diverted and no-one has made it home yet to their 'puters to reply:D

Beags,

Just for info we have been able to carry out auto coupled approaches on 08 for the last 5 years at least. Kit doesn't always stay in mind you!!!!!

I can't wait to see what happens if it snows again this winter!!!!:D

Don't Tristars also do coupled approaches at Brize (but only to the bounce!).

Shackman ... only with TCEU on board and after NOT R,ing TFM!!:=

EGVN 161150Z 09001KT 0150 FG VV/// 02/01 Q1021 RED NOSIG
EGDL 161150Z 14003KT 9999 FEW011 08/05 Q1020 NOSIG

Perfect sense to move.......:uhoh:

Back to the Lew Hill issue - and I don't doubt that someone told you this was true.

The plate says (or always used to) that the ILS on 26 was suitable for auto-coupled approaches to the threshold (I'm guessing that means autoland). I certainly hope it does as I have autolanded at Brize on more than one occasion (not in the TriStar, tempting as it was). Absolutely no issues.

The crash was down to mode awareness - or lack of, not the aircraft or airfield capability.

brit bus driver, that's what a senior air trafficker told me and I assumed that it was therefore correct....:hmm:

I think the 'autocoupled approach' ban on RW08 came in after the TriStar incident. Caused by the reasons you give. But I've certainly flown auto-ILS approaches in the VC10/VC10K on RW08 for training in VMC and the aircraft was able to follow the undulating glideslope reasonably well... But, having been taught by 'JR' about such things, I always checked proper autothrottle operation on the ground first - even though a certain lazy individual had demanded that the check was taken out of the FRCs as he considered that it "Wasn't necessary". Bolleaux - of course it was!

The last plates for Brize that I have to hand (Sep 10) specify auto-coupled approaches to 08 and 26 permited to Cat 1 DH only. Whether or not Cat 3 will be available (at least on 26) will, I suppose, be adressed when a Brize based squadron (KC 30?) finally decides to use the full capability of their aircraft. Remember, the L-1011 has had full cat 3 capability since birth, but the training and admin burden coupled with a healthy dose of technophobia has meant that it's use has been forbiden. I guess its a little too late in the day to go around that particular bouy again, maybee common sense will prevail withthe arrival of all the Airbus wonder jets...

Isnt the lack of Cat II and III at BZN more to do with RF protection zones outside the wire?

What was the weather at Brize like today? Any more fog?

The last time I went through Brize a lot of CAT II holding points had appeared.

Now I (thankfully) know very little about the technical side of ILS ground installations etc, but this comment was in my mind as we landed on 09L at LHR last night. RF protections outside the wire......the M25 is at 1 mile final on 09L (well, and the 09R but we rarely land on the right) with an industrial estate at about 2 miles, Windsor at 4 miles etc etc.....another 'hering rouge'?

And to answer the other question, the fog has gone - but due back tonight - so the problem goes away again. Maybe all the hot air cleared it up....

I think what might actually be being referred to is the physical location of the localiser aerials (not sure on 26, but on 08 it's to the east of the Bampton road isnt it?). I assume this is due to runway topography.