BA103 returns to LHR - 7700

[DaveReidUK]

But the one person who decides is the man at the front with 4 rings. If the airport authority so wishes it can ask ATC to transmit a message asking the captain to consider alternatives if a blocked runway may result but the captain has the final say and rightly so.

ATC are also expected to use their own judgement, at least according to the AAIB:

"The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) should review the guidance provided in the Manual of Air Traffic Services (MATS) Part 1 and Civil Aviation Publication (CAP) 475 (The Directory Of CAA Approved Organisations) and consider whether ATC unit Training for Unusual Circumstances and Emergencies (TRUCE) plans adequately prepare controllers to handle aircraft in emergency, and in particular, whether sufficient guidance is provided on the avoidance of built-up areas when vectoring aircraft in emergency. Where considered necessary, this guidance should be amended as soon as practicable." [my emphases]

(Safety Recommendation made as part of the N481EV investigation)

[BOAC]

Let's just suppose the flight was aborted because the crew did not want to sit for hours in fumes and become more Richard Westgates. Let's suppose they managed to isolate whatever caused 'the smoke' and have effectively a functioning aircraft. Whilst I am totally against the routing of aircraft with bits hanging off or on fire over London, I cannot see the problem this time based on what we know at present.

[Bengerman]

Not flying over Central London. Gatwick and Stansted have lots of grass at both ends.

And what use is grass to a modern airliner with fully functioning landing gear?

[C152_driver]

All will doubtless be revealed in the fullness of time, but it all seemed to go slightly pear-shaped rather close to Manchester. I think it's a reasonable assumption that if either flight crew had envisaged a fiery death in the near future, they'd have dumped it down there and damn the torpedoes.


Given that they didn't, let's grant them the rationality to say "It's under control, but let's not press on to Canananananada over that large stretch of water. Let's get this sorted out". No major hurry, but it would be good to get down somewhere. Being lighter would be good. Drop the gear, go to a flight level where the engines burn more fuel, and get somewhere that the paying punters can be sorted out quickly at.


Which is all rather professional. no?

[Lone_Ranger]

Test run?....

[DaveReidUK]

Well, maybe, going around as much of the built-up areas as possible and joining final for 27L from the south, say a little to the east of Richmond

Came in over the Emirates Stadium, Aldwych, Buckingham Palace, Stamford Bridge, established on the 27R (not 27L) localizer overhead Fulham Broadway.

[parabellum]

It was probably the crew meals in the forward oven that did it.

[doublesix]

For goodness sake, two pages of 'why's' and 'what if's' over an incident which nobody on here knows the true facts!! The Captain made his decision on what HE KNEW. End of. If he needed to land in Manchester he would have, and Manchester has two runways, so disruption yes but airport closure no. He obviously went to Heathrow because it was safe to do so.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

doublesix.. Well said.

[BOAC]

For goodness sake, two pages of 'why's' and 'what if's' over an incident which nobody on here knows the true facts!!

- new to PPRune, are you?

[DaveReidUK]

At Heathrow alone, a departing aircraft making an unplanned return happens roughly once a week, so just be grateful that there aren't even more of these ambulance-chasing posts.