How Long were you delayed by the computer glitch
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How Long were you delayed by the computer glitch
With the Glitch at west drayton today I'm lucky to be able to cancel my trip to NCL. But I was just wondering how long you were delayed today
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A computer failure at a key air traffic control centre is causing flight delays.
The failure, at about 6am, was at the West Drayton centre in west London.
It resulted in flight data normally produced electronically had to be prepared by hand.
A spokesman for Heathrow airport said: "A problem with NATC computers in West Drayton meant they had to go on to some sort of manual process.
"This has had a knock-on effect and we are experiencing a handful of delays on departures of up to two hours on both long-haul and domestic flights.
"Heathrow is still open."
borrowed from Annanova.com
The failure, at about 6am, was at the West Drayton centre in west London.
It resulted in flight data normally produced electronically had to be prepared by hand.
A spokesman for Heathrow airport said: "A problem with NATC computers in West Drayton meant they had to go on to some sort of manual process.
"This has had a knock-on effect and we are experiencing a handful of delays on departures of up to two hours on both long-haul and domestic flights.
"Heathrow is still open."
borrowed from Annanova.com
Last edited by Desk Driver; 10th Apr 2002 at 07:22.
All quiet here at LGW
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Flying westbound across Europe at the crack of dawn this morning we decided that we would be in for a telling off if we arrived 40min early on a 1hr 30min sector 125kt tailwind!) so we slowed to M.69. Nearly choked on my breakfast when Maastricht asked us where we would like to consider as a diversion. Flew a hold in the middle of nowhere for 10mins and then were told that Heathrow were back to normal. Slowed in descent to 220kts as far out as we could, still arrived 15mins early. 
Good job by Capt Eric "all 4 engines have failed" Moody on Radio 5 this morning.
Attempts at sensationalist "this must be dangerous" journalism well and truly cut off in their tracks.
....."well in fact this is quite common, it just means the flow of aircraft gets slowed down and I might be a bit later than I expected on the golf course!!"
Brilliant.
Attempts at sensationalist "this must be dangerous" journalism well and truly cut off in their tracks.
....."well in fact this is quite common, it just means the flow of aircraft gets slowed down and I might be a bit later than I expected on the golf course!!"
Brilliant.
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Great flight on BA856 from Bucharest to LHR yesterday. Took off on time, landed about 25 mins early. Decent load factor, too. Excellent, even the M3 traffic was running smoothly.
Thanks, BA
Thanks, BA
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Few Cloudy,
I have no idea who it is exactly, suffice to say someone gets upset if you start cutting 50% off the scheduled time for the flight (possibly because if everyone did it it would mess up the landing slots). I know long haul pilots who have received a letter for being too early after the jet stream turned out to be a lot stronger than forecast.
I have no idea who it is exactly, suffice to say someone gets upset if you start cutting 50% off the scheduled time for the flight (possibly because if everyone did it it would mess up the landing slots). I know long haul pilots who have received a letter for being too early after the jet stream turned out to be a lot stronger than forecast.
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Surely you can't be penalised for arriving early if the wx is more than favourable? If the scheduled departure time is met and you beat the clock you won't have the fuel to hold for your scheduled arrival time.
Better to get rid of the pax and finish your day if you're on longhaul than fart about getting dizzy at FL??? even if you have to take a remote stand.
but what do I know!!?
FS
Better to get rid of the pax and finish your day if you're on longhaul than fart about getting dizzy at FL??? even if you have to take a remote stand.
but what do I know!!?
FS
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There are other issues to arriving early than just saving fuel.
I know Landing charges can differ, Gate utilization and even staff can be problems. We had a carribbean flight land 80 minutes early last year and we had no ground staff on duty at all. Luckily our ground handlers were very efficent although rather annoyed.
I know Landing charges can differ, Gate utilization and even staff can be problems. We had a carribbean flight land 80 minutes early last year and we had no ground staff on duty at all. Luckily our ground handlers were very efficent although rather annoyed.
