Heathrow Approach - Handling the snow closure

[mrhahn]

Some audio of EGLL Approach handling some holding/diverts during today's extreme weather; nothing significant, just thought people might get a kick out of it!

Cheers.

[snipper_cr]

I heard a few people asking for 2 minute legs but then other people asking for "minute" legs. Why would they want minute legs if they knew they would be holding for a long time? I've heard here in the states 10 mile legs approved. I know at faster speeds thats only like 3 minutes, but I would imagine if you are going to be eating snickers, you'd want the longest legs possible as far as passenger comfort.

[sunburn]

Ouch, the Delta diverted to Dublin.
Now that's a diversion!

[N243NW]

I heard a few people asking for 2 minute legs but then other people asking for "minute" legs. Why would they want minute legs if they knew they would be holding for a long time? I've heard here in the states 10 mile legs approved. I know at faster speeds thats only like 3 minutes, but I would imagine if you are going to be eating snickers, you'd want the longest legs possible as far as passenger comfort.

That's a good question.  Another reason pilots ask for longer legs is in order to burn less fuel (less time is spent in a turn, which requires more lift and therefore more thrust to maintain altitude).  There may have been several reasons the pilots would ask for shorter legs, though...the need to burn more fuel, airspace concerns, or wanting to stay in the vicinity of the airport in the event that an emergency occurs or an approach clearance is suddenly issued.

[ect76]

Excellent clip, thanks!

Do you have any more?
I love hearing a bit of Heathrow!

[retro11]

if you thought dublin divertion was bad think of the poor folks on board baw boston-heathrow it diverted to keflavick iceland after holding off the west coast of ireland it has been total chaos here in the uk this week end at the end of the day nowhere could take widebody jets

[englishpilot]

if you thought dublin divertion was bad think of the poor folks on board baw boston-heathrow it diverted to keflavick iceland after holding off the west coast of ireland it has been total chaos here in the uk this week end at the end of the day nowhere could take widebody jets

That's not good.

[Casper87]

My mates sister was supposed to land at Heathrow from Almaty, but got diverted to EHAM, then went from EHAM to London City....quite a few hours later.

Heathrow's certainly getting some bad press.

Casper

[flyflyfly]

Great audio! Any more such recordings from today? Seems the situation has worsened at Heathrow.

Heathrow airport officials told passengers ... not to travel to the airport as extreme congestion meant no more passengers were being accepted into the buildings.

They added that no more than a third of all flights would operate until 0600 GMT on Wednesday...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12034317

But while EGLL (and other UK airports) receive heavy bashing for inappropriate winter services, it doesn't really seem to be a UK/aviation specific problem. Airports all over central Europe are in trouble, not to speak of train and road chaos...

[retro11]

 a follow on from the orginal heathrow atc , a small insight into the massive headache that was moving heathrow traffic that saturday to alternates, on this audio these two baw flights from the US  (baw238 bos-lhr) (baw178 jfk-lhr) reach the west coast of ireland with there final destinations unknown hotel accommation was also a problem along with parking space for widebodys. this clip might be to long for some, but it is more than a atc clip its solving problems not on your feet but in the sky.

[Casper87]

Interesting clip,

ta

[Heading090]

Very good! Thanks.

When did you record it?

[retro11]

the shannon clip was recorded at approx 18:00 utc i was listening live for hours round about that time, there is bound to be further stuff earlier than that as it was mid afternoon uk time, thank you

[Heading090]

Thanks. I guess it was on 22nd Dec. Correct?

[retro11]

saturday 18th