LHR Eagle DC-6
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Bad news guys: apparently BAA have withdrawn the slots, citing that BAA management are concerned the DC-6 would disrupt operations. Expect a statement on the DC-6 website soon.
Quite OK to disrupt operations for several days with their disastrous opening of T5 though. What a bunch of 
From the website...such a shame 
With great regret we must announce that we are no longer able to visit Heathrow this Friday, 7 November. We realise that this will be a bitter disappointment to many people.
Operation into London Heathrow, in common with many large airports, requires the allocation of a slot for each movement. Slots for our intended operation were allocated to us last week, at which point we confirmed with our supporters that we would be making the journey. Yesterday, however, we were advised by a representative of BAA, the airport operator, that these slots were to be withdrawn because they were concerned that the operation of the DC6 at Heathrow was potentially disruptive to normal operations. In the course of several commercial charters into Heathrow in recent years, and two previous commemorative flights (including one for BAA), our experience has been that the DC6 does not cause any inconvenience. Moreover, we were able to demonstrate to the relevant ATC unit that the normal approach speeds and operating procedures of this Public Transport certified airliner were in line with current standards and would require no special treatment. We have had the great pleasure over recent years to visit each of the other capital airports in Europe. Regrettably, this busy international airport felt unable, at the eleventh hour, to agree to our visit.
Our flight this Friday was intended to commemorate the last commercial flight, exactly forty years ago, of a British Eagle aircraft on exactly the same route from Rotterdam to Heathrow. The captain of that original flight was to join us. We had hoped that this would be an uplifting event in these turbulent times, to remind people that flying can still be a fun and romantic endeavour. Unfortunately it appears that commercial priorities, or perhaps a misunderstanding of the nature of the DC6, has caused BAA to decide otherwise. We are tremendously grateful to our handling agent at Heathrow, Signature Flight Support, who generously agreed to sponsor our ground arrangements, and to members of the BAA team who arranged that our landing fees would be waived.
The aircraft will return directly from Rotterdam to Coventry within the next few days. We will publish the times accordingly. This will conclude public flying for this season as the aircraft enters scheduled maintenance on 23 November.
We look forward to an exciting new season in 2009 and to meeting more of you throughout next year.
Operation into London Heathrow, in common with many large airports, requires the allocation of a slot for each movement. Slots for our intended operation were allocated to us last week, at which point we confirmed with our supporters that we would be making the journey. Yesterday, however, we were advised by a representative of BAA, the airport operator, that these slots were to be withdrawn because they were concerned that the operation of the DC6 at Heathrow was potentially disruptive to normal operations. In the course of several commercial charters into Heathrow in recent years, and two previous commemorative flights (including one for BAA), our experience has been that the DC6 does not cause any inconvenience. Moreover, we were able to demonstrate to the relevant ATC unit that the normal approach speeds and operating procedures of this Public Transport certified airliner were in line with current standards and would require no special treatment. We have had the great pleasure over recent years to visit each of the other capital airports in Europe. Regrettably, this busy international airport felt unable, at the eleventh hour, to agree to our visit.
Our flight this Friday was intended to commemorate the last commercial flight, exactly forty years ago, of a British Eagle aircraft on exactly the same route from Rotterdam to Heathrow. The captain of that original flight was to join us. We had hoped that this would be an uplifting event in these turbulent times, to remind people that flying can still be a fun and romantic endeavour. Unfortunately it appears that commercial priorities, or perhaps a misunderstanding of the nature of the DC6, has caused BAA to decide otherwise. We are tremendously grateful to our handling agent at Heathrow, Signature Flight Support, who generously agreed to sponsor our ground arrangements, and to members of the BAA team who arranged that our landing fees would be waived.
The aircraft will return directly from Rotterdam to Coventry within the next few days. We will publish the times accordingly. This will conclude public flying for this season as the aircraft enters scheduled maintenance on 23 November.
We look forward to an exciting new season in 2009 and to meeting more of you throughout next year.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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It seems commercial priorities are the most important thing in life, to those at BAA towers at least.
Maybe it was because some decent person decided to waive the landing fees. Someone higher up was clearly worried about the effect of this on the bottom line and the adverse reaction to the share price
. Sad lot really.
Shame, would have been something to see after all these years.
Maybe it was because some decent person decided to waive the landing fees. Someone higher up was clearly worried about the effect of this on the bottom line and the adverse reaction to the share price
. Sad lot really.Shame, would have been something to see after all these years.
Join Date: Jan 2003
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The DC6 is just as capable as the KLM F50 on finals
Shame on BAA. National embarrassment just about sums it up perfectly!
It must be time for the BAA to be introduced to another delightful old lady of the skies, this time from the Bruntingthorpe historical flight. Vulcan to the Sky Trust - Avro Vulcan Bomber XH558 - Vulcan Operating Company
If the BAA shopkeepers were told that she would be dropping off a payload of 20 or so thousand pounders
, they would probably hear tills ringing and get very excited about retail margins.
If the BAA shopkeepers were told that she would be dropping off a payload of 20 or so thousand pounders
, they would probably hear tills ringing and get very excited about retail margins.
Join Date: May 2008
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I'm sure George Dubya's recent visit caused more disruption...
The person(s) for the decision not to allow this flight should wholely ASHAMED - I hope the BAA get a slating in the press!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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G-APSA flight into Heathrow
Gentlemen,
Thank you all for your comments re the above disappointment. As the Eagle group of Companies archivist you will understand how I feel at the moment. Yesterday I spent time on the phone with the person who cancelled the slots that had been granted. I am simply amazed at reasons given for such action. This event would have helped to improve the image of the BAA in the public arena, which has waned over the past years.
This well maintained and yes loved aircraft would have been on an historical flight. Many ex Eagle staff planned to be at the airport to witness the event. Eagle as you will recall was a large operator at Heathrow in the sixties and it deserved this salute on the 40th anniversary since closure.
Question, if the slots were give and landing fees waivered by the BAA, how come someone else can come along and reverse the decision? Is this good management? Obviously the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.
Nevertheless all ex Eagle staff would like to express our thanks to Air Atlantique for painting the aircraft back into British Eagle colours particularly for this 40th anniversary year. The reception throughout the year at various venues has been amazing. Innsbruck airport was particularly fantastic, re-enacting one of Eagle's old routes, with the airport General Manager welcoming us in person and inviting us back next year.
Thank you all for your comments re the above disappointment. As the Eagle group of Companies archivist you will understand how I feel at the moment. Yesterday I spent time on the phone with the person who cancelled the slots that had been granted. I am simply amazed at reasons given for such action. This event would have helped to improve the image of the BAA in the public arena, which has waned over the past years.
This well maintained and yes loved aircraft would have been on an historical flight. Many ex Eagle staff planned to be at the airport to witness the event. Eagle as you will recall was a large operator at Heathrow in the sixties and it deserved this salute on the 40th anniversary since closure.
Question, if the slots were give and landing fees waivered by the BAA, how come someone else can come along and reverse the decision? Is this good management? Obviously the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.
Nevertheless all ex Eagle staff would like to express our thanks to Air Atlantique for painting the aircraft back into British Eagle colours particularly for this 40th anniversary year. The reception throughout the year at various venues has been amazing. Innsbruck airport was particularly fantastic, re-enacting one of Eagle's old routes, with the airport General Manager welcoming us in person and inviting us back next year.
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Yesterday I spent time on the phone with the person who cancelled the slots that had been granted. I am simply amazed at reasons given for such action.
On second thoughts, name too please.
"Many ex Eagle staff planned to be at the airport to witness the event. Eagle as you will recall was a large operator at Heathrow in the sixties and it deserved this salute on the 40th anniversary since closure"Grrrrrrrrr .looks like a "pleasure trip" to LHR and back today ,shame to waste the ticket now , cant even take a thermos of tea these days.
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Well it's possible that a technical failure would have left the aircraft disabled on the runway. I'm sure the resulting delays to hundreds of aircraft and thousands of passengers would have made a few more headlines, and damaged the airports reputation far more than commemorative flight.
Didn't this aircraft display at Farnborough? An air show is the place to see this operate, NOT a busy, full to capacity airport.
Didn't this aircraft display at Farnborough? An air show is the place to see this operate, NOT a busy, full to capacity airport.
Norman D Landing, I'm not being patronising, but if you were a little older you might think differently. By the way, quite a number of modern airliners become disabled on the runway every day around the world.
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Norm'
Regarding the possibility of the '6 going u/s on one of the 27s is a possibility of course. But statisticly any aircraft could end up in that situation, it should not be a reason for stopping an aircraft from arriving.
As to confining aircraft of a certain age (who defines that?) to air-shows only, I don't buy this. Obviously the BAA didn't either as they did originally give the DC6 permission to use LHR. I suppose we could segregate aircraft by type and age... while we are at it we could stop pensioners being out in daylight hours as they tend to slow down movement in the high-streets/supermarkets/Post Office. And let's stop vintage cars from using main roads, makes sence.
This flight was going to be a one-off so the disruption, such as it might have been, would have been minimal - about the same as the occasional slow moving vehicle on the M1. They can be a bit of a pain in the b*m but life goes on!
My thought as to why the flight was canx. is that someone at the BAA suddenly reaslised that the DC6 is an old aircraft with those spinney things on the wings, and panicked.
Anyway it's happened now.
PS Wonder what would have happened if there had been an airworthy Viscount, and BA wanted to have a party and bring it into LHR? (Scrap the party, no free cash available)
Regarding the possibility of the '6 going u/s on one of the 27s is a possibility of course. But statisticly any aircraft could end up in that situation, it should not be a reason for stopping an aircraft from arriving.
As to confining aircraft of a certain age (who defines that?) to air-shows only, I don't buy this. Obviously the BAA didn't either as they did originally give the DC6 permission to use LHR. I suppose we could segregate aircraft by type and age... while we are at it we could stop pensioners being out in daylight hours as they tend to slow down movement in the high-streets/supermarkets/Post Office. And let's stop vintage cars from using main roads, makes sence.
This flight was going to be a one-off so the disruption, such as it might have been, would have been minimal - about the same as the occasional slow moving vehicle on the M1. They can be a bit of a pain in the b*m but life goes on!
My thought as to why the flight was canx. is that someone at the BAA suddenly reaslised that the DC6 is an old aircraft with those spinney things on the wings, and panicked.
Anyway it's happened now.
PS Wonder what would have happened if there had been an airworthy Viscount, and BA wanted to have a party and bring it into LHR? (Scrap the party, no free cash available)
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Avman, fair comment but my age has nothing to do with it. I spent 3 days at Farnborough, and thought the DC-6 was wonderful. But LHR isn't the right place for it.
Can someone answer this for me? Chapter2 aircraft are banned from commercially flying in Europe yes? So how is this a/c operating? Is it Chapter 3 compliant? I've looked on the net but can't find the answer.
Can someone answer this for me? Chapter2 aircraft are banned from commercially flying in Europe yes? So how is this a/c operating? Is it Chapter 3 compliant? I've looked on the net but can't find the answer.