Airport Live
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: BHX
Airport Live
Hi all
Just thought i would give you the heads up on an interesting programme thats being shown on BBC2 starting tomorrow at 8pm called Airport Live. It goes behind the scenes at Heathrow looking at all aspects of the Airport. Its on every night until Thursday.
Forgive me if this has already been mentioned!
Just thought i would give you the heads up on an interesting programme thats being shown on BBC2 starting tomorrow at 8pm called Airport Live. It goes behind the scenes at Heathrow looking at all aspects of the Airport. Its on every night until Thursday.
Forgive me if this has already been mentioned!



Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Wildest Surrey
To illustrate how thoroughly they've researched it, one of the reporters stated in 'What's on TV' that the controllers at Heathrow must have very strong bladders to do their job ( or something similar) She obviously wasn't aware that under CAA regulations, controllers MUST have a break at least every 2 hours, and must have 30 min rest for every 2 hours of operational duty.
Anyway why is it always Heathrow they choose to do these programmes; why not an airport with busy mixed traffic like Biggin or Gloucester?
Anyway why is it always Heathrow they choose to do these programmes; why not an airport with busy mixed traffic like Biggin or Gloucester?

Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Hong Kong
Is it going to be like that airport programme which mostly consisted of utterly inane incidents such as 'Mary is late for her flight and Mike has to try to find her - but it seems she has misplaced her passport - can Mike find the passport and call the supervisor in time and will Mary need help to get to the gate given she has diabetes and has never been on holiday to Spain?'
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Berkshire, UK
Problem is that as soon as any producer thinks of anything to do with flying it has to be Heathrow. One reads in the papers of aircraft "contacting the Heathrow control tower" when it's over the Atlantic and other such nonsense.
I was involved in a similar programme from Heathrow about 30 years ago. Idiotic presenters trying to interview working controllers and producers running around saying "That's good TV", usually when someone had said something daft. During the week-long farce over 200 BBC staff entered the tower. Probably the best bit was when some of us entered the lift with one of the snotty lady presenters who objected when we pushed buttons for intermediate floors on the way down. Unbelievably she said: "Do you know who I am?" To which we replied "No". They really are a bunch of clowns and I'll bet there will be some cringing by Heathrow staff when they see the end product.
I was involved in a similar programme from Heathrow about 30 years ago. Idiotic presenters trying to interview working controllers and producers running around saying "That's good TV", usually when someone had said something daft. During the week-long farce over 200 BBC staff entered the tower. Probably the best bit was when some of us entered the lift with one of the snotty lady presenters who objected when we pushed buttons for intermediate floors on the way down. Unbelievably she said: "Do you know who I am?" To which we replied "No". They really are a bunch of clowns and I'll bet there will be some cringing by Heathrow staff when they see the end product.
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: London
Such a shame the beeb appear to have employed some 5 year old to present this - even Dallas is like a kid on Christmas day! This is such a great opportunity to show case a busy world class airport and that is being done quite well with the pre-recorded parts, some interesting items but lord help us all if Kate does the next 3 nights....perhaps iplayer and skip the live bits.
Hope all is OK with Dan Snow - his gravitas is urgently needed!!!!
Hope all is OK with Dan Snow - his gravitas is urgently needed!!!!
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Earth
why not an airport with busy mixed traffic like Biggin or Gloucester?
Every man and his dog has probably at least heard of Heathrow, if not actually passed through it on business and/or holiday.
Only the Anoraks of the aviation world and direct users of Biggin or Gloucester would know about them and where they are. Remember also that at a later date the BBC may re-broadcast the programme internationally via BBC World (or whatever they call it these days).
The BBC needs to appeal to the widest possible audience, hence the choice of Heathrow and the dumbed down nature of the programme.
Last edited by mixture; 17th June 2013 at 20:14.
Gnome de PPRuNe



Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Ms Humble does at least have some aviation blood flowing through her veins - granddaughter of Bill Humble, noted Hawker test pilot.

Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Reading, UK
Unsurprisingly its pretty cringeworthy.
TV presenters talking about 'aeroplanes' is not good.

Joined: Dec 1999
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From: EGNX
Heathrow Director - I remember the previous version you were talking about which I think was filmed in late '86. It included a reporter taking a jump seat ride on a British Midland DC9 and butting in every few seconds asking the crew what was going on, whilst they were trying to land manually in conditions of low viz. I can imagine the sorts of conversations that must have gone on once this idiot left the flight deck!
Here's what I hope is an intelligent question having seen tonights show.....
One average how many days per year do they have to swap runway ends from the 27s to the 09s or vice versa during the day? Do they ever have to swap twice? What is the record for swap arounds in one day?
Here's what I hope is an intelligent question having seen tonights show.....
One average how many days per year do they have to swap runway ends from the 27s to the 09s or vice versa during the day? Do they ever have to swap twice? What is the record for swap arounds in one day?






