Pod Scrape at LHR
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 8,571
Likes: 3
From: Arizona USA
Good grief...
Here we go again.
Lets see.
The airport is responsible because 23 is closed.
What claptrap.
IF the handling pilot cannot land the aeroplane with a decent crosswind component, they should be assigned to a ground job where, all things considered....they belong.
Hey, they accepted the job, passed the checks, and if they canNOT cut the mustard, they should get a don't come Monday letter.
Lets see.
The airport is responsible because 23 is closed.
What claptrap.
IF the handling pilot cannot land the aeroplane with a decent crosswind component, they should be assigned to a ground job where, all things considered....they belong.
Hey, they accepted the job, passed the checks, and if they canNOT cut the mustard, they should get a don't come Monday letter.

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 944
Likes: 17
From: North Pole
Here we go again. Judgement before the facts are known!! We all make mistakes and it is unfair to be so critical at this stage in an open forum. Try to think how you would feel if it ever happened to you! GIVE THE GUY A BREAK!!!!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: UK
411A; while you have the bones of a valid point, everyone does make mistakes and to say the pilot should be assigned to ground duties is to say that anyone who has ever had a tiny shunt in their car should have their driving license revolked. A tad stupid methinks.
The Cooler King

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 30
From: Europe
IF the handling pilot cannot land the aeroplane with a decent crosswind component, they should be assigned to a ground job where, all things considered....they belong.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Lincs,UK
411A writes
Again jumping in with both feet. Ever looked at the record of pod scrapes on the B747. Get the right configuration and wind, it happens. I feel sorry for the crew. Guess like the last time they will get the talking to, six crosswind landings in the simulator and be back out on line. Not sure I would like to share a flightdeck with someone as perfect as 411A. Could be dangerous.
What claptrap.
IF the handling pilot cannot land the aeroplane with a decent crosswind component, they should be assigned to a ground job where, all things considered....they belong.
Hey, they accepted the job, passed the checks, and if they canNOT cut the mustard, they should get a don't come Monday letter.
IF the handling pilot cannot land the aeroplane with a decent crosswind component, they should be assigned to a ground job where, all things considered....they belong.
Hey, they accepted the job, passed the checks, and if they canNOT cut the mustard, they should get a don't come Monday letter.
Combine Operations
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: U.K.
Here we go again. Judgement before the facts are known!! We all make mistakes and it is unfair to be so critical at this stage in an open forum. Try to think how you would feel if it ever happened to you! GIVE THE GUY A BREAK!!!!
411A; while you have the bones of a valid point, everyone does make mistakes and to say the pilot should be assigned to ground duties is to say that anyone who has ever had a tiny shunt in their car should have their driving license revolked. A tad stupid methinks.
'No, no!' said the Queen. 'Sentence first - verdict afterwards.' Lewis Carroll
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
In answer to a previous question, yes it was 27R, could that be why they seemed to be using 27L for the rest of the day (no change over at 3pm as normal. (May have been other reasons?)
As to which airline involved, I think nothing is gained by naming it.
Regardless of pilot skills, the fact is that if 23 was still available then the chances are this wouldn't have happened. As previously said, I'm sure the BAA wont pick up the repair bill, but I'm sure closing the runway has saved a few pounds...
As to which airline involved, I think nothing is gained by naming it.
Regardless of pilot skills, the fact is that if 23 was still available then the chances are this wouldn't have happened. As previously said, I'm sure the BAA wont pick up the repair bill, but I'm sure closing the runway has saved a few pounds...

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 762
Likes: 198
From: London
When the wind is strong from the south west it is standard practise to use 27L for landing due to turbulence from hangers on approach to 27R. this incident had no bearing on de-alternation.
The problem is that a strong SW wind gives a stronger headwind component. The landing rate suffers as a result, so delays go up.
Then we use the departure runway to land an extra 6 per hour (TEAM). I believe the aircraft yesterday was allocated the departure runway (27R).
Maybe if there wasn't so much pressure put on the landing rate by airline management we wouldn't be exposed to these risks.
The problem is that a strong SW wind gives a stronger headwind component. The landing rate suffers as a result, so delays go up.
Then we use the departure runway to land an extra 6 per hour (TEAM). I believe the aircraft yesterday was allocated the departure runway (27R).
Maybe if there wasn't so much pressure put on the landing rate by airline management we wouldn't be exposed to these risks.

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 9
From: Australia
411A is saying nothing that the silent majority of Pprune readers reading this thread don't already think. Too often, cocked up crosswind landings are the result of incompetent handling so why shy away from saying it? And why be so coy of naming the airline concerned? Political correctness gone mad again?

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: The Land Downunder
Hey these things happen, it was at times a pretty awful day weather wise yesterday. We are all just a tiny slip up away from similar things happening. I don't feel that it is very useful to be critical of the pilots before all of the facts are known. Just hope I am lucky enough that I avoid this sort of incident in my future!!!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Stockport
I`m not aircrew but we all know what a cross wind can do if it is gusty and not only with planes
I was on a double desk bus going up the M4 to Heathrow a few years ago and it was caught by a cross wind and blown right across three lanes and the driver only just managed to catch it before it hit the central reserve
I was on the top deck at front and it scared the living daylights out of me
G-I-B
I was on a double desk bus going up the M4 to Heathrow a few years ago and it was caught by a cross wind and blown right across three lanes and the driver only just managed to catch it before it hit the central reserve
I was on the top deck at front and it scared the living daylights out of me
G-I-B
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Europe-the sunshine side
met conditions at the time-wind aprox 200deg with 25-36 kt ,more or less. Our flight,landing some time later on 27L had encounter strong windshear bellow 100' .I only imagine what was like landing on that conditions on 27R ,with the turbulance given by the hangars...some great show for the guys on the airport to watch..



