Weather & Technical Diversions, Delays & Cancellations

[twevsmiff]

Citationjet 3 OE-GSF(Jet View 224) inbound from Amsterdam, vectors for ILS 32, 1305
Manchester Diversion

ATR.72 G-CMJL(Greenstone 1MR) inbound from Belfast City, vectors for ILS 32, 1310
Manchester Diversion

 

[LBA4EVER]

I believe most people agree with your comments about the perception of the airport and the need for better technology to handle the aircraft movements due to the location of the airfield. The infrastructure has hopefully been resolved for the coming years with the opening of the new terminal this Spring and the refurbishment of the old terminal over the next 12 months or so. I think we all know the airfield needs a number of improvements but all this comes at a cost, we are never going to be able to change the direction the wind blows but the runway needs work together with improvements to the ILS as witnessed these last few days as aircraft have been unable to do a CAT3 landing due to snow. It is also good to hear that the airport has a programme for new aircraft stands which are needed if we are to reach the 7m passengers p.a. target. Ideally when the runway is resurfaced the hump should be removed but this will never happen due to cost and would also necessitate closure of the runway for days on end. This could have been done years ago when we had few flights, impractical nowadays even in winter as our 'little airport on the hill' has a large number of winter flights comparable with similar sized airports in the UK. We all know an extra 300m extension to the runway would be more than adequate to resolve a lot of the issues and allow larger aircraft to operate, however this would cause issues with the glideslope,the ILS system currently in use, if we could just get rid of the chevon then all the issue could be resolved. As technology improve year on year perhaps we may be able to overcome these issues, however it all comes down to money.

We don't really need an extra 300metres extension to the runway and all the massive costs that come with it, most problems are based around the TDZ esp runway 32! And i will leave it at that.. haha

 

[quik123]

We don't really need an extra 300metres extension to the runway and all the massive costs that come with it, most problems are based around the TDZ esp runway 32! And i will leave it at that.. haha

And I'm wondering what improvements to the ILS could be made. Already is the current model and CAT3B.

 

[Aviador]

Now I know the runway length has been done to death but to increase the LDA to 2000m on 14 would only require around 200m and for 32 it would only require 100m.

 

[White Heather]

A couple of Aer Lingus ATR 72 diverts from MAN, ex BHD, one this afternoon and another this evening. Three diverts all day, all ATRs.

 

[Aviador]

A couple of Aer Lingus ATR 72 diverts from MAN, ex BHD, one this afternoon and another this evening. Three diverts all day, all ATRs.

Sadly many more went elsewhere without even considering LBA including easyjet and Ryanair.

 

[White Heather]

Sadly many more went elsewhere without even considering LBA including easyjet and Ryanair.

Sadly many more went elsewhere without even considering LBA including easyjet and Ryanair.

MAN is currently afflicted with freezing fog. Another Aer Lingus ATR has just made a missed approach and is heading East now. Whether that's for another attempt or to visit us remains to be seen butniurnoreviiys MAN divert is still on the ground at LBA.

Update. It landed second attempt.

 

[Finger66]

Looks like BHD-MAN has just landed at MAN

 

[Statto]

I’m a bit baffled why people are giving the reason for aircraft not diverting into LBA ‘as technical’ or related to the runway length. I mean, sure, A380s aren’t coming here for obvious reasons. But 737s, A320s etc - the aircraft that fly in and out every day, it’s bizzare. Meanwhile, the reason many airports refuse to accept diversions is because there is a lack of ground staff to cope with additional movements. LPL refused to accept the Ryanair flight from Gdansk earlier this week for example.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Now I know the runway length has been done to death but to increase the LDA to 2000m on 14 would only require around 200m and for 32 it would only require 100m.

Moving it back just 100metres on runway 32 would be enough to put the tdz onto the flat and give us 2000m LDA which is 2 problems rectified. currently its on the section of runway which is more or less the brow of the hill! After that its slight downhill which is the problem.

 

[Statto]

Moving it back just 100metres on runway 32 would be enough to put the tdz onto the flat and give us 2000m LDA which is 2 problems rectified. currently its on the section of runway which is more or less the brow of the hill! After that its slight downhill which is the problem.

How much of the £200m investment earmarked by the airport is being spent on this ?

 

[lbaspotter]

£100 million on terminal - extension /Project #REGEN
£100 million on airfield infrastructure -includes 10x new stands. Installation of ground power units on stands 7 - 15, New Radar Head & runway improvement programme including its eventual total resurfacing)

 

[Silvercity]

I’m a bit baffled why people are giving the reason for aircraft not diverting into LBA ‘as technical’ or related to the runway length. I mean, sure, A380s aren’t coming here for obvious reasons. But 737s, A320s etc - the aircraft that fly in and out every day, it’s bizzare. Meanwhile, the reason many airports refuse to accept diversions is because there is a lack of ground staff to cope with additional movements. LPL refused to accept the Ryanair flight from Gdansk earlier this week for example.

If there was delays due to snow, LPL will be more concerned on concentrating.on their own delayed departures and trying.to.catch up. There is only so much man power that can go around. Once the weather improves everything that's been held up will want to be off. It's important to look after.your own house, once that's done, diverts can be accomadated.

 

[White Heather]

If there was delays due to snow, LPL will be more concerned on concentrating.on their own delayed departures and trying.to.catch up. There is only so much man power that can go around. Once the weather improves everything that's been held up will want to be off. It's important to look after.your own house, once that's done, diverts can be accomadated.

True. Not only that, but there has to be sufficient people working to handle the diversions.

Organisations such as
Swissport may not have rostered a full workforce at an airport if on that day, there are not too many movements scheduled. They don't want employees sitting around doing nothing.

Equally, airports such as LBA don't have a permanent full presence from Border Force. Again, they will be there when needed and in the required
numbers to deal with the schedule of international flights. So on days in mid January, when there are relatively few movements, and times of the day when there are relatively few international arrivals, Border Force will roster their presence accordingly. A sudden influx of inbound diversions which are international flights will therefore at best cause significant problems and Border Force may not be in a position to deploy additional staff at short notice.

This may have something to do with the fact LBA yesterday only had 3 diverts and all were domestic flights.

 

[Finger66]

Regardless of how many diversions LBA received, we did at least receive some. Gone are the days when we might get over half a dozen BA 1-11s et al. Firstly we haven't the room, secondly fewer aircraft divert when it's foggy due to technology advances and there is staffing as has already been mentioned.
We know our away diversion rate is still relatively low, surprisingly low if you listen to what all the doom mongerers say about LBA in winter. But these last few days have indeed proven that no airport is immune - it certainly isn't just an LBA thing

 

[Statto]

£100 million on terminal - extension /Project #REGEN
£100 million on airfield infrastructure -includes 10x new stands. Installation of ground power units on stands 7 - 15, New Radar Head & runway improvement programme including its eventual total resurfacing)

Thanks. So is any of the £100m allocated to airfield infrastructure being invested in moving the touch down zone ?

 

[Bigman]

And I wonder just how many airport employees couldn't physically get to work due to being snowed in. Hardly any drivers were available for takeaway deliveries on Monday

 

[Finger66]

Shallow fog at Manchester just now apparently causing some holding but not preventing landings. Not sure how much worse it may/will get and if indeed whether LBA may benefit but oh to bring back some major diversion nights from when I was a lad. Lack of space, advanced technology and staffing may once again prevent too much coming our way

 

[Cookridge resident]

Shallow fog at Manchester just now apparently causing some holding but not preventing landings. Not sure how much worse it may/will get and if indeed whether LBA may benefit but oh to bring back some major diversion nights from when I was a lad. Lack of space, advanced technology and staffing may once again prevent too much coming our way

I remember a night back in the 80s when i worked at the airport and MAN was closed. We received loads of diversions including an El-Al flight which resulted in armed police running amok around the airport. Mad night that.

 

[White Heather]

I remember a night back in the 80s when i worked at the airport and MAN was closed. We received loads of diversions including an El-Al flight which resulted in armed police running amok around the airport. Mad night that.

LBA was the designated diversionary airport hor El Al. They came here several times including a 767. Those major diversion nights were amazing, especially the one where every airport South or West if Leeds was fogged in. Well over 50 diverts that night including the entire MAN based BA fleet. Happy days, never to be repeated.

Thanks. So is any of the £100m allocated to airfield infrastructure being invested in moving the touch down zone ?

No. Not even on the agenda.