BBC coverage of snow issues
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BBC coverage of snow issues
IMHO, this is disgraceful journalism from the BBC. It is completely ridiculous the way the media carry out these interviews with understandably frustrated passengers without any opportunity for the airline/anyone who actually knows about operations to explain why this is happening. It is pathetic, sensationalist, alarmist tripe.
Does this woman really think she is being deliberately held against her will? Does she honestly think that the airline and the crew want to have to deal with several hundred people on board an aircraft that is going nowhere? As for her comment on "the lies about refuelling":
is all I can say. And I somehow doubt the aircraft is waiting for hours on the runway, unless that is where fuelling now takes place.
Annoyed.
Nick
Does this woman really think she is being deliberately held against her will? Does she honestly think that the airline and the crew want to have to deal with several hundred people on board an aircraft that is going nowhere? As for her comment on "the lies about refuelling":
is all I can say. And I somehow doubt the aircraft is waiting for hours on the runway, unless that is where fuelling now takes place.Annoyed.
Nick
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No aviation story I have ever read, or seen reported on TV, has ever been properly researched and delivered. They just blindly slam in with incompetent views; most of the time they don't know what they're talking about. It's been like that for 50 years to my knowledge.
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Having several years of experience with the media I can honestly say that they dont really give a t-ss about accuracy or consequences so long as they get the story that is all that really matters to them and if they can beef up a thin story then thats fine as the best story gets the most readers / viewers
It is vital that when a crisis hits a combined media team representing all the airlines and agencies get an accurate and honest statements out to them. If they receive nothing then they make it up using dubious sources or damn right lies.
Technical detail (e.g the difference between runway, taxiway, apron) is irrelevant as most readers / viewers have no idea anyway or so they think.
It is vital that when a crisis hits a combined media team representing all the airlines and agencies get an accurate and honest statements out to them. If they receive nothing then they make it up using dubious sources or damn right lies.
Technical detail (e.g the difference between runway, taxiway, apron) is irrelevant as most readers / viewers have no idea anyway or so they think.
Last edited by MAN777; 19th Dec 2010 at 18:03.
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As someone who has the pleasure of working for an airline I was stuck on the a/c for 6 hours for a flight of 1 hours duration. I am now stuck in DUS probably till Tuesday with many angry pax ! Most of what they say is well founded - Uk plc is a shambles !
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Rolling TV news must be the most pointless TV there is. The same old (often inaccurate) waffle over and over......
We have to fill in 24 hours a day and we do not have anything worth saying!!
I like it best when my eight year old son points out all the inaccuracies whenever the 'reporter' waffles over the same bit of video.
Andy S
We have to fill in 24 hours a day and we do not have anything worth saying!!
I like it best when my eight year old son points out all the inaccuracies whenever the 'reporter' waffles over the same bit of video.
Andy S
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HZ-123 Thats why we have a Frankfurt diversion already booked in at Manchester for tomorrow morning, Manchester has worked perfectly throughout the bad weather this year and accepted many diversions ( only one hiccup caused by the airline it`s self
which was overwhelmed by having a triple load
The only problem now is Freezing Fog
The secret is new equipement/new training/new operating procedure and a very hard working team
Ian B
which was overwhelmed by having a triple load
The only problem now is Freezing Fog
The secret is new equipement/new training/new operating procedure and a very hard working team
Ian B
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So are the likes of Heathrow affected more by bad weather compared to other airports around the northern hemosphere ?
I.E. can any pilots comment how our major airports rate against other major airports for similar weather.
I.E. can any pilots comment how our major airports rate against other major airports for similar weather.
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Most complaints are concerned with a lack of information from airlines, handling agents and airport management. Many of us will have encountered situations of this kind when flights are delayed or cancelled - the only contact being with poorly trained and poorly informed handling agents.
This is a direct consequence of the UK corporate fashion for 'customer service operations' whose only purpose is to keep the customer at arms' length at least possible cost. The damage to corporate reputation is therefore 'managed' - except when things go really pear-shaped. I wonder if EasyJet have learned their lesson from the fiasco of last summer, of which I have personal experience.
This is a direct consequence of the UK corporate fashion for 'customer service operations' whose only purpose is to keep the customer at arms' length at least possible cost. The damage to corporate reputation is therefore 'managed' - except when things go really pear-shaped. I wonder if EasyJet have learned their lesson from the fiasco of last summer, of which I have personal experience.
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Quote flightman
I've given up listening to TV and radio as I just get enraged at the BS that comes out.
I used to work with the BBC ( not for!) and often could not recognise the outside broadcast the I had been attending with them. Just did not seem anything like the situation I had had seen.
I've given up listening to TV and radio as I just get enraged at the BS that comes out.
I used to work with the BBC ( not for!) and often could not recognise the outside broadcast the I had been attending with them. Just did not seem anything like the situation I had had seen.
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In reply to Ian Brooks.....you can also add 'better management' and 'better funding'. 'Better organised'.
I'm not sure what annoys me most....the ineptitude of Hammond ...that man is so weak (and I'm a Coalition supporter!) and ineffectual....or the BS that comes out of the mouth of BAA's Chief Executive.
I'm not sure what annoys me most....the ineptitude of Hammond ...that man is so weak (and I'm a Coalition supporter!) and ineffectual....or the BS that comes out of the mouth of BAA's Chief Executive.
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This may not seem realistic or popular for some but is there any merit in the government taking a majority share in entities like the BAA (and other privatised national infrastructure entities) to reign in the profit at all cost mentality that prevails at the BAA? An article in yesterday's Telegraph pointed out that many large airports in the US, for example, are owned by ports authorities or similar. IMHO - and Lord Browne (once of BP) said this too - some things cannot be privatised. He cited water, power and other utilities as examples.
Just had the 'pleasure' of watching The Grauniad's Simone Caller
proving once and for all that he's a talking head on BBC and nothing more.
You'd think a travel correspondant would at least come armed with a little bit of basic knowledge, there is a thing called the interweb somewhere round here he could use. I did see he acknowledged there was still snow on the ground so perhaps he could do 'weather' as well.
Well done Simone, next weeks lesson is the yellow 'sky fire ball' and where does it go for twelve hours each day?...
Why do you need a pilot to answer that? Another major airport affected by similar weather, rapid heavy, wet, snowfall will be affected exactly the same way, see 'Paris'.
proving once and for all that he's a talking head on BBC and nothing more.You'd think a travel correspondant would at least come armed with a little bit of basic knowledge, there is a thing called the interweb somewhere round here he could use. I did see he acknowledged there was still snow on the ground so perhaps he could do 'weather' as well.
Well done Simone, next weeks lesson is the yellow 'sky fire ball' and where does it go for twelve hours each day?...
I.E. can any pilots comment how our major airports rate against other major airports for similar weather.
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Customer angle
Just two observations.
I expect news media make up the stories because the airline industry and airports appear to have no idea how to keep people informed. The reaction from these passengers is just showing how upset and angry they are. A more customer focused industry might see this as something to be concerned about and not attempt too belittle and criticise the ignorance of its customers.
For example "stuck on the runway" may be factually incorrect but we know they mean stuck on an aircraft somewhere at Heathrow for 5 hours in a blizard with no information and probably no refreshment. It's a frightening place to be.
Secondly, BAA keep putting up this young looking lad with lots of hair as their spokesperson in these chaotic times. Not sure how qualified or how much he knows, but listening to him on R5L the other day he appeared to have very little accurate information. Is it any wonder the news media bypass such people? Where are the chiefs?
I expect news media make up the stories because the airline industry and airports appear to have no idea how to keep people informed. The reaction from these passengers is just showing how upset and angry they are. A more customer focused industry might see this as something to be concerned about and not attempt too belittle and criticise the ignorance of its customers.
For example "stuck on the runway" may be factually incorrect but we know they mean stuck on an aircraft somewhere at Heathrow for 5 hours in a blizard with no information and probably no refreshment. It's a frightening place to be.
Secondly, BAA keep putting up this young looking lad with lots of hair as their spokesperson in these chaotic times. Not sure how qualified or how much he knows, but listening to him on R5L the other day he appeared to have very little accurate information. Is it any wonder the news media bypass such people? Where are the chiefs?
Tf
Then it isn't news is it ...
I can't see why being on an aeroplane for five hours is a 'frightening experience'.
Inconvenient and frustrating yes, but frightening? Some people need to get out more ...
I expect news media make up the stories
I can't see why being on an aeroplane for five hours is a 'frightening experience'.
Inconvenient and frustrating yes, but frightening? Some people need to get out more ...
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Well I suggest your reaction (JumpSetter) proves the point.
The reaction from airlines and airports appears to be "we are in control and would rather the passengers dont ask too many questions". If they do treat them in a condescending manner (in your case using silly faces). Some of you just don't get it do you?
I do actually get out quite a lot, unlike you I suspect. And yes I think being in a blizzard with no news or refreshment, wondering if you are going to take off and if you do whether it will be dangerous due to the conditions could be quite frightening for many passengers. Maybe not to someone who is in the know but to a worried passenger yes.
The reaction from airlines and airports appears to be "we are in control and would rather the passengers dont ask too many questions". If they do treat them in a condescending manner (in your case using silly faces). Some of you just don't get it do you?
I do actually get out quite a lot, unlike you I suspect. And yes I think being in a blizzard with no news or refreshment, wondering if you are going to take off and if you do whether it will be dangerous due to the conditions could be quite frightening for many passengers. Maybe not to someone who is in the know but to a worried passenger yes.
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I'd like to see more technical background in the BBC's news coverage of transport chaos - but I can see why you end up with mostly pax interviews, as the people you would most like to talk to are actually very busy trying to sort out the problem!
BTW anyone know why Heathrow's south runway is still closed?
BTW anyone know why Heathrow's south runway is still closed?
Some of you just don't get it do you?
Tf, yuh, actually plenty of us do 'get it'. What we don't get is that when some numpty be it a talking head or passenger that hasn't had food for five whole hours, (do they get up in the middle of the night to eat I wonder?) can't work out that if it's difficult and or dangerous to drive a motor vehicle in snowy and icy conditions, the same may apply to a heavier than air machine.
I still disagree re being frightened, if you're in a car in a remote location yup that can be cause for concern, (got that T-shirt a week ago btw). In an aeroplane that's at a large airport where eventually you can get people into shelter, from the shelter of the aeroplane) it just needs a bit of perspective, life could, and can be far worse.
Mjp
I agree the airport companies need to put somone up who can explain in 'Janet and John' english what's going on and why, and why times can't be set in stone.
My guess re the runway is that they have a significant compact layer of ice that has frozen to the surface. De-icer and anti Ice will have a limited effect if that's the case, and you can't use salt/saline.