Monarch wanted a Monarch to wait.
 

A Monarch Airlines Airbus was on the ILS at Luton today when the Red Arrows were instructed to pass behind it. The indignant Red Arrows pilot pointed out to ATC that it had been pre arranged that they would fly OVER the airport at a set time as they had an appointment with the Queen. Unhappy ATC man tells Monarch pilot to break off approach. An even unhappier Monarch pilot tells ATC that “ he is a commercial flight”. ATC man tells Monarch pilot that he wasn’t going to argue about it and to break off his approach. Just another day at Luton I guess.

*fumes quietly in the corner about the Royal family*

Was it the Arrows that I saw flying South over the (northern) M25 at about 2.30 today then?

Oh c'mon - it was the UK's effort to mark the 100th anniversary of flight - not just for Her Majesty's Pleasure. It was only Monarch after all....

At least we managed to fly our effort (see, Orville and Wilber did have a challenge!)

Nice to see the Red Arrows are as arrogant and inflexible as ever!!

Who the :mad: do they think they are?

Where was the RAF C-130 carrying the team's egos and giveaways??

Unwell_Raptor

If it looked like 9 red Hawks I guess it probably was!!!!!!!!

Zlin, your obvious green eyed gealousy has been noted, don't put in an app

Flaps Uno:

Not as daft as it sounds - I was a few miles away, and I saw a tight-looking formation of black dots, which moved out of my view in not many seconds. I had no real idea of height or speed, and I couldn't even see if they were swept wing. So I thought possibly the Arrows, possibly some intrepid rich boys' warbird club.

I hope Her Maj got a better view than I did.

Gealousy?? Gealousy??, Never gealous of the flag wavers, old bean!

PS it's spelt wiv a 'J'

Came in from North to South at 1000ft over Luton at 14.29 heading for the RAF museum at Hendon I believe.

From Yesterday's NOTAMS:

NAVW: FROM 03/12/17 14:00 TO 03/12/17 14:50 H8414/03
E) AUS (MIL REF) 03-12-0020/4627/AS1
FORMATION FLYPAST BY 9XHAWK ACFT WI 2NM RAD PSN 5135N00014W
(HENDON, N LONDON). THE FORMATION WILL FLY THE FOLLOWING ROUTE:
5318N00033W T/O SCAMPTON 1359
5213N00016W ST NEOTS HOLD 1414
5156N00022W ENTER LUTON CTR 1427
5136N00015W LEAVE LUTON CTR 1428:30
5137N00014W ENTER LONDON CTR 1429:50
5135N00014W HENDON 1430
5135N00009W LEAVE LONDON CTR 1431:50
5318N00033W LAND SCAMPTON 1450
MAX ALTITUDE IN LUTON/LONDON CTR 1500FT. TIMINGS ARE
PLUS/MINUS 3 MINUTES. THIS FLIGHT IS AFFORDED CAT E PRIORITY.
F)SFC G)3000FT AGL

Cheers,

G

Ahh ... so that's where the 'Reds' went. There we all were at Old Warden, waiting expectantly and they never showed up!

I shouldn't think it was the 'Ex Red', who is now a Monarch training captain, who was flying that 'Bus, then ...

And who presumably didn't bother to read the Notams?

I no doubt that Monarch read the notams,. Pity the reds obviously didn't read their own as timings were plus or minus 3 minutes and to go behind the commercial jet would have only added about 15s to their flight. It would have left them having to navigate though.

:O

It's easier to move one aeroplane rather than nine. In any event, I would not have planned my flight to arrive at the same time as the Dead Sparrows.

The NOTAM clearly states that the Reds were 'CAT E priority' - end of story.

Luton's bit of airspace. Once in the London TMA under control of ATC who vector aircraft around the sky, not down to flight deck as to exact timings on approach etc. If the Arrows were planned through and all the agencies were talking to each other, a slightly different speed or heading requirement earlier on for the Monarch would have solved the problem.

The last thing on busy airways anyone needs is bikering, back chat etc . Let the guys do there jobs, all three parties, keep it safe and standard. It's easier to comply than winge. This applies to all us professionals.

:ok:

I'm surprised at some of the barbs being flung in the Red Arrows' direction. Why?

They provide a lot of pleasure for people and showcase the flying skills of the pilots in our Royal Air Force.

What am I missing here?

Out of curiosity, what does Cat E priority mean?


amofw

errrm, I guess I should know but, whats cat E priority??