niger b737 divert
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Farnborough
Age: 32
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Niger aircraft (B737) landed in Farnborough around midday today (10th july) with Rushmoor Fire Brigade and the airport Fire Brigade in attendance. Good timing as an F-16 was doing a practice run before the fire brigade was called out.
Cheers
AeroMad
Cheers
AeroMad
Last edited by AeroMad; 10th Jul 2008 at 19:54.
"We're only making plans for niger, ooh ooh......"(XTC 
)
As stated by the previous poster, the Republique Du Niger 737-200 came in on a full MAYDAY to Farnborough today at 12.05pm local. It seemed as if half of the Hampshire fire brigade rushed to the airport. Apparently they wanted Lasham, but due to glider activity they were given Farnborough. Also if you declare an emergency then you can bypass the landing fees (appertaining to first post and open to correction).
The aircraft stayed for 90mins and then took off, maintained 2000ft and headed to Lasham (apparently). It was an unusual beast, the non hushkitted engines a joy to hear, especially when taxiing. It even had a 'stone guard' on the front landing gear for unpaved landing strips!
Regards
SHJ
)As stated by the previous poster, the Republique Du Niger 737-200 came in on a full MAYDAY to Farnborough today at 12.05pm local. It seemed as if half of the Hampshire fire brigade rushed to the airport. Apparently they wanted Lasham, but due to glider activity they were given Farnborough. Also if you declare an emergency then you can bypass the landing fees (appertaining to first post and open to correction).
The aircraft stayed for 90mins and then took off, maintained 2000ft and headed to Lasham (apparently). It was an unusual beast, the non hushkitted engines a joy to hear, especially when taxiing. It even had a 'stone guard' on the front landing gear for unpaved landing strips!
Regards
SHJ
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Somewhere else I read that it had declared an emergency the day before(?) but had been "refused" by Farnborough and gone to Southampton. Most mysterious!!
Here's a snap I took of it a while back at Lasham:
5U-BAG Boeing B737. Republic of Niger. Lasham Airfield 15 November 2006 :: 5UBAG.jpg :: Fotopic.Net
Here's a snap I took of it a while back at Lasham:
5U-BAG Boeing B737. Republic of Niger. Lasham Airfield 15 November 2006 :: 5UBAG.jpg :: Fotopic.Net
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Farnborough
Age: 32
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's the F/A 18 out for a practice again (I think) 
Nowhere near as loud as the F22 getting a validation yesterday.
Enough of that, Back on topic please.
Cheers
AeroMad
Nowhere near as loud as the F22 getting a validation yesterday.
Enough of that, Back on topic please.
Cheers
AeroMad
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pinched from another site.
From a spotter in Southampton
"5U-BAG B737 Niger Gov - landed over me, had to rub my eyes to make sure i wasn't seeing things, think its been at Lasham lately for maintenance so maybe out on a test flight perhaps?
From a spotter in Southampton
"5U-BAG B737 Niger Gov - landed over me, had to rub my eyes to make sure i wasn't seeing things, think its been at Lasham lately for maintenance so maybe out on a test flight perhaps?
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: down south
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
5U-BAG departed Lasham for Algiers on 14th but suffered decompresion over the Channel and diverted into Deauville. 3rd emergency landing in less than a week for this aircraft! 
There is a UK airline still running 737-200s commercially, though I don't know if it has exactly the same engine mods as the above aircraft.
However, a Government a/c is likely to get dispensation anyway under a diplomatic clearance.
However, a Government a/c is likely to get dispensation anyway under a diplomatic clearance.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The aircraft concerned is issued with a certificate of exemption from the CAA to cover positioning flights for maintenance. When the a/c is flying head of state around it is exempt from noise regs. Oh... and for the record there was no problem with the bill being paid!!!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Under a Log
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
5U BAG is one of several “old dogs” that come up from the region for maintenance. Time wise they’re getting on: in hours and cycles they are young. All are well maintained, latest avionics meeting World-Wide standards etc. Some have been re-engine to meet stage III requirements; others just pay the penalty for the noise and can’t always choose where they land, as in this case, first time round.
Regarding paying the bills and standards of maintenance, perhaps the UK Government should look to them as an example.
Regarding paying the bills and standards of maintenance, perhaps the UK Government should look to them as an example.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sandhurst, Berkshire
Age: 57
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Was told by a guy that was working security at Farnborough that he was shopping in Asda in Farnborough when get got a call to say that there was a mayday aircraft en-route, he made Asda to the main gate in 6 minutes... was told that the reason for the mayday was, when the pilot could not get permission to land, he through a wobbly, declared a low fuel mayday, and headed off to Farnborough...
