Bucharest airports closed
 

Due to heavy snowfall,Henri Coanda (Otopeni) and Baneasa airports are closed untill 12.30 GMT.

Weather Bulletins For Otp(lrop) - Bucharest

Alternates Bud Bbu Sof Beg Vie Cnd

Note: Wind Speed In Metres/sec

Sa 031130 031130z 04005mps 6000 Sct010 Ovc025 M06/m07 Q1024
Tempo 3000 Sn 58890592 085930// -
Sa 031100 031100z 05004g09mps 340v090 1500 Sn Br Sct006
Ovc010 M06/m07 Q1024 Tempo 3000 58890592 085930//

OTP is a bit of a mess right now. Was due to leave early this morning; of course the airport was "closed" due to snow until 14h30 local; from what I understood, GND refused to start to de-ice the (overnight) a/c until approx 18h00. After approx 1h30 they gave up (in fact they tried hard but were unable to de-ice properly, after having spent some consierable amount of fluid, couple of tonnes if I remember right).

snow
 

how was cluj today

The whole country is pretty bad but worse in the South and the East. The news this morning featured lots of road closures, a near riot at OTP and apparently we got down to minus 24 somewhere here last night.

OTP seems to be a complete cluster at the moment with a complete lack of useful information being passed to passengers leading to frayed tempers. not an ideal situation for crews when flying recomences.

....and now, the latest news show that the pax of Wizz for London( Luton), and pax of Sky Europe for Viena, (these 2 flights had to be operated yesterday), are very upset and want to block the acces into Otopeni departure terminal area ....

So, back to this de-icing story, let me ask a few questions please. Several a/c are caught by snow, overnight. Eventually some ~5" of snow have accumulated on wings, part of fuselage, etc. Icicles have formed. Temperature is -7 degrees C. Now, how long would it take to remove the snow and properly de-ice and protect such an a/c at some airport you are familiar with? Where is the experience needed to make a decision whether to try operate such a flight that day? Mainly with the ground services I would guess, after all they know what their equipment can do? Who could say "we are not going to make it before XX hours"?

Thanks