Manchester: Weather & Technical Diversions, Delays & Cancellations

[Aviador]

Apparently Manchester is snow closed until 16:40

 

[Land23R]

Well I hope they did get more snow than where I live because I wouldn't have thought the amount of dry snow that fell warranted a 1 hour closure. But that's a layman's view.

 

[Land23R]

I just hope we open on time - blue sky now - having lost 6 of our original 7 inbounds to LPL (a flybe still hanging in at MIRSI), there are 3 more in the DAYNE hold and 2 more approaching the stack.

 

[Land23R]

We lost another Loganair from INV to LPL but we are now open. Must say it looked very impressive on FR24 the way ATC got the 2 flybe a/c from Mirsi out of the hold and then reeled off the 6 that had been in the Dayne stack in close procession.

 

[Land23R]

The PIA that diverted to BHX 5 hours ago is just on approach back into MAN. Must have been on the ground 4 hours at BHX. May have been a crew hours issue or ground handling at BHX in the icy conditions.

 

[Trav a la]

EDI now closed and EY27 deciding where to go, maybe MAN.

 

[Land23R]

UA 36 landed at EDI and EY is now descending presumably for an approach there. EDI has either been very lucky with less snow, or extremely efficient, to be closed as little as it has.

 

[Aceshigh]

The one that got away.....

Those lucky blighters at Liverpool must have been salivating yesterday as a Transaero 737 positioning Lasham to Dublin got caught with his /her pants down and having got airborne promptly discovered DUB was snoclo.

No problem having stuffed The NoDiv notam down the back of the sofa "the cry of we'll go to Manchester echoed around Scottish ATC", unfortunately however the only snow shower in Cheshire decided to lazer in on the Manchester VOR, just long enough to close things down for 30 minutes, crucially conciding with decision time !

мудак ( bugger....)

 

[Land23R]

T'was ever thus Aces. Many years ago, I remember being at MAN one cold Sunday morning as diversions started to head our way from fog bound London airports. We took a few before the fog myteriously and unexpectedly descended at the Bollin end of R24 and quickly spread over the airfield. Some quick re-routings and changes of alternate up to Prestwick.

For those of us enthusiasts who enjoyed diversion days (with apologies to the passengers affected), there were some interesting occasions, but some very frustrating ones as well. In recent times of course, MAN has been much more cautious about accepting diversions in high volumes for lack of space or handling facilities.

 

[Aviador]

(with apologies to the passengers affected)

One man's loss is another man's gain

 

[Aviador]

Manchester Evening News reports:

"Dozens of flights have been cancelled as snow and ice continues to cause disruption at Manchester Airport.

Flights to Dublin, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London Heathrow, Guernsey, Cork, Belfast City and Norwich have been cancelled.

While there will are no flights arriving at Manchester from Dublin, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London Heathrow, Guernsey and Cork."​

 

[mullion]

Probably don`t read the airports Facebook then, Oh Dear when will the MEN get their facts right

 

[Aviador]

Is the MEN anything to do with the YEP as they are shocking at reporting these days as well.

 

[Land23R]

BHX is closed at present with 3 or 4 a/c holding.
Just noticed according to FR24 that one of those is a flybe flight to Southampton diverting to BHX. While he's been doing 4 loops he could have been on the ground at MAN, or LPL if MAN is out of favour or "not available".

 

[Trav a la]

Think about poor LBA, I don't think a flight has gone in or out all day.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

In terms of airport availability, a significant number of regular flights have been cancelled due to adverse conditions at airports in Scotland, Ireland etc. So handling staff normally assigned to these flights at MAN should be available to cover alternative work if required?

 

[Land23R]

Just in case some of you think a few of us get a bit paranoid (well, frustrated) when the elements conspire against MAN and coincide with an arrivals rush, you may care to ponder this.

That very heavy snow shower meant we had, what, 8 flights divert away, including a couple of would-be diversions to MAN. When we did open, it was true there were a few a/c ready to make an approach who had held for a while.

This afternoon at BHX, the airport closed for at least a similar period of time as MAN did yesterday. At the time arrivals were stopped, there were I think 5 a/c ready to approach or joining the stack, shortly joined by 2 more.
After not much longer they were joined by a further 2. Only the LH, who was number 2 in the sequence and had been holding for the full period of closure, diverted - to MAN. The flybe diversion from Southampton who must have been dizzy with the volume of circuits completed landed at BHX. One of the later flights to join the queue was a TOM - diverting from Exeter. He managed 4 holds and got in.

Now I realise MAN's shower yesterday may have been unexpected and a/c may not have been carrying all that much extra fuel but what a contrast with BHX's experience today when I guess a/c did have plenty of spare fuel because of forecasts for the UK generally.

So, good luck to BHX, not so fortunate for MAN. Me paranoid? Never!

Edit: well blow me. The last in the queue for BHX obviously couldn't wait any longer and is on finals for MAN.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Is the MEN anything to do with the YEP as they are shocking at reporting these days as well.

The MEN is one of the Trinity Mirror Group's 240 regional titles. If it's anything like the Trinity Mirror regionals in the South West it is dreadful.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thomas Cook ACE-BHX is now on approach to MAN.

 

[Land23R]

Thanks Ray - I'd edited my post for that. That's the trouble with long posts and slow typing - things can change while you write! Ray, did your flight get away - it was you flying, wasn't it?

And we could be getting a TOM from BRS.