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Post by MOVEMENTMAN on Jan 6, 2010 13:05:02 GMT
:)YES I CAN CONFIRM THAT EASYJET WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE HANDLING OF THE A319, THEY ARE NORMALLY AT THE END OF THE PECKING ORDER FOR HANDLING AT OTHER AIRPORTS.
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Post by EGMC on Jan 6, 2010 17:43:50 GMT
Easyjet A319 still on the ground this evening.
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Post by expressflight on Jan 7, 2010 10:24:10 GMT
I see the snow clearing equipment is u/s again until 10:00 tomorrow. I wonder what the problem is this time.
I notice the current braking action is Poor/Medium, so is the A319 trapped at SEN, assuming it's still there? One problem they have which is difficult to overcome is that once the runway becomes ice contaminated they cannot use de-icer fluids as the run off goes straight into the streams, there being no runway foul water drains. With sub-zero temperatures forecast for the next few days that could be a continued problem I fear.
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Post by EGMC on Jan 7, 2010 19:06:05 GMT
Easyjet A319 still at SEN his evening, weather for tonight and tomorow shows no signs of improvement.
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Post by roche on Jan 7, 2010 20:05:47 GMT
I don't understand how all the snow clearing equipment is U/S. Do they only have one snow clearing vehicle or do they all just break down at the same time? Surely they have more than just one sweeper ?
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Post by expressflight on Jan 8, 2010 8:08:10 GMT
I assume it is the Sicard brush/blower machine that was u/s again. This is SEN's only runway clearance vehicle, although they say they also have a plough which I assume is a blade mounted on a tractor or something. The NOTAM is withdrawn this morning and from the METAR it looks as if clearance may be underway. Braking action is currently Poor and I suspect it depends on what lies below the recently fallen snow as to whether that can be improved upon. The Sicard (Google it to see the sort of machine it is) is old and therefore more liable to breakdown, but I do have some sympathy with them having just the one machine at present. I do feel, though, that a 'what if .....' plan could have included a better blade type plough as backup. I suppose we have to remember that SEN is still in transition and just hope they get through this winter without too much embarrassment and learn lessons for next winter. I hope they think careful about new equipment though because snow blowers aren't always very effective against wet, small snowfalls (just the sort that SEN often gets) as they work best in deep, dry snow. This can leave a slushy residue which then freezes overnight and it difficult to shift. The old style rotary brushes mounted on agricultural tractors were extremely effective in the past and less prone to breakdown. I hope they look at those again.
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Post by jon on Jan 8, 2010 18:18:04 GMT
They were clearing snow at lunchtime and again this evening when i drove past, so machine must be fixed. a brush/blower towed by tractor. Though the blower part didn't seem to be doing much.
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Post by expressflight on Jan 10, 2010 8:24:20 GMT
....... but not for long jonw!
Snow clearing equipment now NOTAM'd u/s until 16:00 Monday. Never mind, a thaw will probably set in by the end of the month.
Stobarts still have a lot to learn about equipping and running airports it seems. It's the old adage come back to bite them 'short term economies can result in long term expense and loss of reputation'. But then, what do I know?
Edit 10:16 10 Jan. Airfield now NOTAM'd closed to fixed wing aircraft until 10:00 Monday - and an extension of that period would seem quite likely.
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Post by jon on Jan 10, 2010 16:21:54 GMT
Easyjets A319 still there too! L ooks like you are right about the thaw beating them to it.
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Post by expressflight on Jan 11, 2010 16:15:36 GMT
SEN is now back in business. Runway now METAR'd Cleared and braking action Good. What a saga.
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Post by roche on Jan 13, 2010 8:31:48 GMT
Several CJ/AF F50's and RJ85's diverted into SEN this morning. First F50's arrived just after 7:00 am
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Post by expressflight on Jan 13, 2010 11:07:00 GMT
Also a BACF RJ1H at about 09:00 I believe.
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Post by roche on Jan 14, 2010 15:48:48 GMT
Aircraft currently struggling to get into LCY, one AF/CJ already inbound to SEN.
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Post by jon on Jan 14, 2010 16:26:19 GMT
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Post by roche on Jan 14, 2010 20:40:16 GMT
Just the one AF F50 diverted into SEN this afternoon along with a couple of Biz jets. Visibility at LCY improved.
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