Heathrow out currently due Wx
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Notts & Derbyshire border
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Heathrow out currently due Wx
Hearing unconfirmed rumours that LHR/EGLL currently out due to massive intense Thunderstorms over head, hail & torrential rain wreaking havoc. Diverts to STN heard on ATC and website sketchy as to whats going on.
Eurocontrol reporting 90 min delays all around at LHR arrs & deps.
Some nasty wx out there right now by the sounds of it.
Eurocontrol reporting 90 min delays all around at LHR arrs & deps.
Some nasty wx out there right now by the sounds of it.
There is an extremely nasty complex of storms covering the entire area from London to Bristol and north into the Upper Thames Valley. The whole lot is moving north so expect other airports like LTN, BHX and EMA to go down later.
Anyone with an interest can track proceedings here:
http://meteocentre.com/lightning/map...time=0&lang=en
and here:
http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk
Anyone with an interest can track proceedings here:
http://meteocentre.com/lightning/map...time=0&lang=en
and here:
http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk
Was flying at LHR this morning and finished just in time to miss it, how nice to read about instead of getting in stuck in it. No doubt my colleagues will have a fun and interesting afternoon, NOT.
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What a fascinating thread, 'Weather disrupts some flying',
Not Manchester
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Amazing. What on earth will happen next.
Tell you what - I'll bet someone will post complaining that this thread that they've taken the trouble to read and add to is boring.
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Dont be sarcastic Mr Mouse !
your are correct in your aspertion.
the lightening show cracks & bangs at LHR were very unusual. One colleague at Virgin reported it as being a tropical storm which hung over LHR for about an hour and the skies darkened.
It takes unsual wx like this to disrupt something like LHR for over an hour.
your are correct in your aspertion.
the lightening show cracks & bangs at LHR were very unusual. One colleague at Virgin reported it as being a tropical storm which hung over LHR for about an hour and the skies darkened.
It takes unsual wx like this to disrupt something like LHR for over an hour.
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Flew round this last night when it was in northern france/ channel islands. At FL400 some of the tops were still above us in places. The amount of lightning was amazing for northern europe. The sky was lit up from horizon to horizon.
Not surprised it is causing disruption.
Not surprised it is causing disruption.
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Some of you may laugh - another "The day after tomorrow" fiction. But we have to live with the thought that climate change with increased temperatures will increase the likelihood of such extraordinary wx phenomena.
Dani
Dani
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It bears repeating that the ATCOs at West Drayton (where Heathrow Approach / Director is done from) have no live weather information on their "tubes" at all. It's all processed out.
The fact that they can't "See" the cells makes it all the more interesting, as they have have to conjure another picture in their heads based on pilot reports.
The same is true for the whole of LTCC (London TMA and Gatwick/Stansted/Luton Approach) AND for LACC at Swanwick.
Daysleeper (above) and his colleagues were kind enough to describe what they could see on their wx Radar last night, as sitting at Swanwick I could see nought. Yes it was me that asked while the Speedbird was on tour of Dorset trying to find a way into Gatwick... from the South! (Thanks to all that helped).
It still annoys me that I use equipment that cost £Millions to make and run, and yet there is no facility for me to "ghost" in wx returns. YEARS ago I used radar that had very little processing and could see ALL the weather. Progress?
Rgds BEX
The fact that they can't "See" the cells makes it all the more interesting, as they have have to conjure another picture in their heads based on pilot reports.
The same is true for the whole of LTCC (London TMA and Gatwick/Stansted/Luton Approach) AND for LACC at Swanwick.
Daysleeper (above) and his colleagues were kind enough to describe what they could see on their wx Radar last night, as sitting at Swanwick I could see nought. Yes it was me that asked while the Speedbird was on tour of Dorset trying to find a way into Gatwick... from the South! (Thanks to all that helped).
It still annoys me that I use equipment that cost £Millions to make and run, and yet there is no facility for me to "ghost" in wx returns. YEARS ago I used radar that had very little processing and could see ALL the weather. Progress?
Rgds BEX
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Perhaps the reason why this post was started was because for those who were at LHR today, the weather was quite extraordinary.
Within seconds, visibilty dropped to about 200 metres in heavy rain with frequent lightning. Departures from 09R were halted as the wind became a tailwind and 4 wide bodies taxied along 09R towards the far end for a 27L departure. About a dozen other aircraft taxied along each side of the runway and queued up for 27L which took about 1 hour to clear (by which time I'm sure they had a tailwind again!).
Within seconds, visibilty dropped to about 200 metres in heavy rain with frequent lightning. Departures from 09R were halted as the wind became a tailwind and 4 wide bodies taxied along 09R towards the far end for a 27L departure. About a dozen other aircraft taxied along each side of the runway and queued up for 27L which took about 1 hour to clear (by which time I'm sure they had a tailwind again!).
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In my past life as an ATCO I operated a 3cm radar that was perfect at showing me where the weather was.
Downside was when it rained you couldn't see the primary radar returns!
Oh well, can't have everything.
Downside was when it rained you couldn't see the primary radar returns!
Oh well, can't have everything.
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From one who got caught in said disruption:
Thanks to ATC and the other crew who displayed great patience waiting along the taxiway for 27 Right at 3.00 am this morning, for stands to become available.
-Especially the crew who waited for 2hours 40 mins, and to "Darren" in TC's who had done a 24 hour shift by the time I left to drive home at 0400 hrs.
Hope all the WIP and new terminal is completed soon, as we are now seeing gridlock at the airport as well as on the motorways etc.
Thanks to ATC and the other crew who displayed great patience waiting along the taxiway for 27 Right at 3.00 am this morning, for stands to become available.
-Especially the crew who waited for 2hours 40 mins, and to "Darren" in TC's who had done a 24 hour shift by the time I left to drive home at 0400 hrs.
Hope all the WIP and new terminal is completed soon, as we are now seeing gridlock at the airport as well as on the motorways etc.
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I was one of the controllers who worked the nightshift last night-and I can only describe it as the nightshift from hell!! And I was in the tower drinking caffine to keep me awake, and not stuck on a plane with no gate! Think we worked out the record was about 2hrs and 50 mins for a shuttle who eventually parked in terminal 2
I'd just like to say thankyou to all the pilots I sent on tours of the airfield, trying to find bits of concrete for you to park and shutdown on. Think our jobs were made more difficult by the fact the greens weren't working in certain areas, and that some of you who were allocated gates then found them given away to other aircraft (usually who had landed after you)!!
I'm hoping tonight is going to be better..........
I'd just like to say thankyou to all the pilots I sent on tours of the airfield, trying to find bits of concrete for you to park and shutdown on. Think our jobs were made more difficult by the fact the greens weren't working in certain areas, and that some of you who were allocated gates then found them given away to other aircraft (usually who had landed after you)!!
I'm hoping tonight is going to be better..........
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ga15
Yesterday was not fun!
Ended up doing a GLA return and going out of hours for the subsequent nightstop, getting off duty at 0230Z.
First sector, push back and remote hold for about 1:30. Start up and taxi for 09R, get to N8 just as runway change to 27L decided. Taxi behind about 15 others the length of the airfield, total 1:10 taxi time before airborne.
Delayed ex GLA as missed slot, just 1 hour delay that time, followed by 25 minutes holdin at BNN. Landed 27R just before 2200Z, no stand, parked up a couple of times and shut down engines, got a stand 2:20 minutes later (T1 though, but off pier).
Yesterday was not fun!
Ended up doing a GLA return and going out of hours for the subsequent nightstop, getting off duty at 0230Z.
First sector, push back and remote hold for about 1:30. Start up and taxi for 09R, get to N8 just as runway change to 27L decided. Taxi behind about 15 others the length of the airfield, total 1:10 taxi time before airborne.
Delayed ex GLA as missed slot, just 1 hour delay that time, followed by 25 minutes holdin at BNN. Landed 27R just before 2200Z, no stand, parked up a couple of times and shut down engines, got a stand 2:20 minutes later (T1 though, but off pier).