Both runways at Heathrow closed
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The main reason for the cancellations seems to be the inability of staff to get to work. The roads are still lethal. The authorities are not ploughing - just gritting and turning it to slush.
the lunatic fringe
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Having landed a 747-400 into LHR this morning, and having experienced the conditions first hand, I can say that this thread has largely descended into pig ignorance and racist abuse.
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L337,
I hope you don't feel I've contributed to that.
I'm not a pilot, but work at the airport and love all things aviation.
If they need to shut the runway for safety reasons then it's 110% reasonable.
I was just interested in what would happen to the already airborne aircraft having lost the option to land at Heathrow/City/Gatwick/Luton/Stansted.
What was it like? First hand? Slippy!?
Where had you come from and how were the conditions reported before you arrived?
I'm just being nosey.
I hope you don't feel I've contributed to that.
I'm not a pilot, but work at the airport and love all things aviation.
If they need to shut the runway for safety reasons then it's 110% reasonable.
I was just interested in what would happen to the already airborne aircraft having lost the option to land at Heathrow/City/Gatwick/Luton/Stansted.
What was it like? First hand? Slippy!?
Where had you come from and how were the conditions reported before you arrived?
I'm just being nosey.
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Press release from BAA just on News 24LHR - 58 snow clearing vehicles (all of them) are out but the problem is actually storage space for all the snow they are picking up.Gatwick - operational
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I was just interested in what would happen to the already airborne aircraft having lost the option to land at Heathrow/City/Gatwick/Luton/Stansted.
The diversions are numerous and in some times quite creative.
A BA 777 diverted to BHX and then on to EMA due to the conditions.
Further BA diversions to CWL, PIK, LIS, NCL, GLA, SNN & AMS.
The problem being the departure cancellations reduces the places to park arriving aircraft. Operations control will be contacting the inbound aircraft and trying to agree the best solution if a landing at LHR is not possible.
PPRuNe Person
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Davetouring
One of the reasons I haven't posted much on here recently is because of all the explaining pilots have to do. If I'd become a dentist at least my victims wouldn't be able to ask questions!
However, you can be assured that professional pilots have several means of checking weather whilst in the air, radio being one of the methods, we have ops departments and aircraft can land at airfields in other countries enroute to LHR!
This is why BA has 747s, 777s and 767s which have just landed this morning in such places as BCN, SNN, GLA, MAN, EMA, CWL, AMS and PIK!
How would L337 answer your "how slippy was the snow" question I'm not sure - perhaps the Cyprus skipper will come on here? Braking action and contaminated runways are another huge subject in themselves. Such things are measured and the information promulgated to all.
Perhaps Dave I could suggest getting hold of an airband receiver and listening to the LHR ATIS would answer loads of your questions?
Yours patiently
overstress
(edited to say I was posting the same time as Thunderbug, sorry to duplicate info)
One of the reasons I haven't posted much on here recently is because of all the explaining pilots have to do. If I'd become a dentist at least my victims wouldn't be able to ask questions!
However, you can be assured that professional pilots have several means of checking weather whilst in the air, radio being one of the methods, we have ops departments and aircraft can land at airfields in other countries enroute to LHR!
This is why BA has 747s, 777s and 767s which have just landed this morning in such places as BCN, SNN, GLA, MAN, EMA, CWL, AMS and PIK!
How would L337 answer your "how slippy was the snow" question I'm not sure - perhaps the Cyprus skipper will come on here? Braking action and contaminated runways are another huge subject in themselves. Such things are measured and the information promulgated to all.
Perhaps Dave I could suggest getting hold of an airband receiver and listening to the LHR ATIS would answer loads of your questions?
Yours patiently
overstress
(edited to say I was posting the same time as Thunderbug, sorry to duplicate info)
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Lisbon, Cardiff, Newcastle, Lisbon, Shannon, Amsterdam, Glasgow Prestwick, Glasgow International.
As the diverts for BA? Wow. Lisbon.. Ladies and Gentleman due to severe weather conditions we are diverting to Lisbon
LOOOOL! You may now make your own way back to London. Bye!
Any Pictures of Heathrow this morning?
As the diverts for BA? Wow. Lisbon.. Ladies and Gentleman due to severe weather conditions we are diverting to Lisbon
LOOOOL! You may now make your own way back to London. Bye!Any Pictures of Heathrow this morning?
the lunatic fringe
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I was just interested in what would happen to the already airborne aircraft having lost the option to land at Heathrow/City/Gatwick/Luton/Stansted.
Today I had fuel to hold for while, and then go to Glasgow if I needed to. Glasgow fuel gives me all of the UK as an option, Amsterdam, Paris at a push, Dublin, or even Shannon. Plenty of options. It helps with longevity.
What was it like? First hand? Slippy!?
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Overstress -
A bit tetchy today are we?
Davetouring was only asking a question, on a thread which is in the spotters baclony section.
Furthermore, he states he works at the airport and is interested in aviation... where is the harm in his questions? Listening to ATIS will not give him answers if he does not understand the format etc.
As for...
, get over yourself. You didn't have to read or reply to the thread yet you chose to
A bit tetchy today are we?
Davetouring was only asking a question, on a thread which is in the spotters baclony section.
Furthermore, he states he works at the airport and is interested in aviation... where is the harm in his questions? Listening to ATIS will not give him answers if he does not understand the format etc.
As for...
One of the reasons I haven't posted much on here recently is because of all the explaining pilots have to do...
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The divertion to LIS is a 777 from Rio. I very much doubt that the pax will left to their own devices. The aircraft and crew are in LIS and I'm sure that BA want them back at LHR and they will bring back the pax too. Of note is that one of the shorthaul flights to depart today was the LHR-LIS flight. Maybe part of a recovery plan.
The snow is not over yet. The worst forecast for this afternoon.
The snow is not over yet. The worst forecast for this afternoon.
FT 021100 021059Z 0212/0318 04013KT 9999 -SN BKN025 BECMG 0213/0216 1500 SN BKN006 PROB40 TEMPO 0215/0221 0200 SN VV/// BECMG 0221/0224 19006KT -RASN BR BKN004 BECMG 0300/0303 6000 NSW SCT012 BECMG 0308/0311 9999 PROB30 TEMPO 0311/0318 5000 SHRASN BKN014 -
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overstress,
Thanks for your reply.
I've had a few lessons in a C172 so know some very very basic stuff, NOTAMS (generally pre-flight?) and obviously radio/other equipment.
I'm not totally ignorant to it, however my questions probably seemed idiotic! Of course I understand it would have been slippery, but the chance to ask someone who has landed a jumbo on the snow this morning of what it was like 1st hand was too much for me
I have a scanner too, and do have a bit of a listen when I have a chance.
. I'm studying to be a chartered accountant so quite busy studying generally (re-applying to CTC once the economic situation has settled! As I have been invited back following my unsucessful interview, passed PILAPT and Maths though! 
)
Enough waffle. Thanks for being patient.
Edit: Seen some posts since I hit reply, to be fair it was moved from rumours to here.
L337: Thanks for the replies. Intering to hear from the man behind the locked door.
Thanks for your reply.
I've had a few lessons in a C172 so know some very very basic stuff, NOTAMS (generally pre-flight?) and obviously radio/other equipment.
I'm not totally ignorant to it, however my questions probably seemed idiotic! Of course I understand it would have been slippery, but the chance to ask someone who has landed a jumbo on the snow this morning of what it was like 1st hand was too much for me
I have a scanner too, and do have a bit of a listen when I have a chance.
. I'm studying to be a chartered accountant so quite busy studying generally (re-applying to CTC once the economic situation has settled! As I have been invited back following my unsucessful interview, passed PILAPT and Maths though! )Enough waffle. Thanks for being patient.
Edit: Seen some posts since I hit reply, to be fair it was moved from rumours to here.
L337: Thanks for the replies. Intering to hear from the man behind the locked door.
Last edited by davetouring; 2nd Feb 2009 at 10:40. Reason: Adding text. Adding more text!
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No you don't, Andy Rylance.
An earthquake is a disaster that cannot be evaded.
In aviation we, at all times, have enough fuel to fly to an alternate airport, so that a hiccup does not become a disaster
An earthquake is a disaster that cannot be evaded.
In aviation we, at all times, have enough fuel to fly to an alternate airport, so that a hiccup does not become a disaster
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John R
What are you wittering on about. I was pointing out how the "standard" in the UK is to GRIT the roads during snow instead of PLOUGHING the snow and gritting behind that to ensure the roads are clear for traffic to be able to move safely (albeit slower than normal). Gritting alone is fine for ice, but on falling snow it is as much use as a chocolate teapot.
As has been pointed out in another thread, they can get plough blades that can be fitted to their existing gritting trucks when needed. That is one method that was used in the area of Jockland I come from so they didn't have to buy purpose built snowploughs at extortionate expense, which would be used once in a blue moon, but when circumstances like yesterday/today arose then the councils/Highways Agency would have the equipment to clear the roads PROPERLY. It isn't hard to figure it out, but they won't pay for it.
Lookit, everyone knows why people couldn't get to work and it has nothing to do with the pilots, crew, engineers or anyone at any airport. The problem lies squarely with ill-prepared authorities in charge of the road network. It happens every time a small amount of snow falls, and that is why I say that the fiasco on the roads is the standard in the UK nowadays.
Clearer for you now?
Oh, and I thought M. Mouse's comments were in relation to the apparent lack of equipment at Heathrow to clear the runways, and prevent the whole place being closed, in comparison with places where they have heavy snow falls almost every year as that was what was being talked about before his post. Nothing was mentioned about the roads then.
What are you wittering on about. I was pointing out how the "standard" in the UK is to GRIT the roads during snow instead of PLOUGHING the snow and gritting behind that to ensure the roads are clear for traffic to be able to move safely (albeit slower than normal). Gritting alone is fine for ice, but on falling snow it is as much use as a chocolate teapot.
As has been pointed out in another thread, they can get plough blades that can be fitted to their existing gritting trucks when needed. That is one method that was used in the area of Jockland I come from so they didn't have to buy purpose built snowploughs at extortionate expense, which would be used once in a blue moon, but when circumstances like yesterday/today arose then the councils/Highways Agency would have the equipment to clear the roads PROPERLY. It isn't hard to figure it out, but they won't pay for it.
Lookit, everyone knows why people couldn't get to work and it has nothing to do with the pilots, crew, engineers or anyone at any airport. The problem lies squarely with ill-prepared authorities in charge of the road network. It happens every time a small amount of snow falls, and that is why I say that the fiasco on the roads is the standard in the UK nowadays.
Clearer for you now?
Oh, and I thought M. Mouse's comments were in relation to the apparent lack of equipment at Heathrow to clear the runways, and prevent the whole place being closed, in comparison with places where they have heavy snow falls almost every year as that was what was being talked about before his post. Nothing was mentioned about the roads then.
