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Original poster

Flightradar 24 storm watchers

999 replies

liveforsummer · 16/02/2022 15:49

So we've got Dudley today and tomorrow and Eunice on Friday so thought I'd start a thread. Dudley has barely hit here in Edinburgh and already there's a flight from LHR struggling to land.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
ButtockUp · 18/02/2022 10:38

@Mindgone

How can I watch these too please?
You need to download the Flightradar24 app.

Be warned, it's quite addictive, especially on days like today.

Hiyawotcha · 18/02/2022 10:38

What will happen to all the people on the Chicago/heathrow flight when they get to Geneva on diversion? Never happened to me so don’t know the protocol.

titchy · 18/02/2022 10:39

@Mindgone

How can I watch these too please?
Flight radar app combined with Big Jet tv on YouTube.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Flying Holidays Weather
Original poster
liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 10:39

I need more than one device, I've lost Chicago now, trying to follow too many flights 😆. Seems I was wrong about when the line turns yellow- more like 1500 than 2500 ft

OP posts:
CaveMum · 18/02/2022 10:39

Sorry forgot to tag you @Mindgone, it's the Flightradar24 app. Or you can watch Big Jet Tv on YouTube here:

Original poster
liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 10:40

Don't even dare try to watch big jet tv at the same time. More stress trying to switch between several planes on fr24, this thread and something else than my brain can take 😆

OP posts:
LittleSnakes · 18/02/2022 10:41

Bristol is just going round and round.

Hiyawotcha · 18/02/2022 10:41

I’ve got the heathrow live thing in a little box, flightrader/mumsnet on background - swapping between them.

timetochangeusername · 18/02/2022 10:42

Just come back in to this. Watching the Budapest flight trying again...

GCAcademic · 18/02/2022 10:43

How do these diversions to another country work in this era of Covid vaccination and testing requirements? All countries seem to have different requirements (and most are stricter than the UK). I wonder if the diversion to Switzerland rather than somewhere closer is due to the fact that they no longer have restrictions on entry?

ErrolTheDragon · 18/02/2022 10:43

The Paris to Bristol has climbed to 12000ft - presumably going to be told to divert somewhere else?

Original poster
liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 10:44

@Hiyawotcha

I’ve got the heathrow live thing in a little box, flightrader/mumsnet on background - swapping between them.
I'm on my phone not sure I can do that but will certainly try 😆. Bristol flight back up at 11000ft but arrivals board at Bristol saying it's expected in 10 minutes so just going around for now and not diverted
OP posts:
Maerchentante · 18/02/2022 10:44

Vienna just went over my house for the third time, engines were howling.

Pennox · 18/02/2022 10:45

so is vienna going in for his or her third and final try?

they have to divert to another airport if they dont land it third attempt?

Original poster
liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 10:45

@ErrolTheDragon

The Paris to Bristol has climbed to 12000ft - presumably going to be told to divert somewhere else?
Arrivals board at Bristol saying expected delayed landing at 10.53
OP posts:
wonderstuff · 18/02/2022 10:45

@GCAcademic

How do these diversions to another country work in this era of Covid vaccination and testing requirements? All countries seem to have different requirements (and most are stricter than the UK). I wonder if the diversion to Switzerland rather than somewhere closer is due to the fact that they no longer have restrictions on entry?
I expect they hold people airside until they can be put on another plane. Different rules also apply for people travelling through to get somewhere else.
BarbaraofSeville · 18/02/2022 10:45

@GCAcademic

How do these diversions to another country work in this era of Covid vaccination and testing requirements? All countries seem to have different requirements (and most are stricter than the UK). I wonder if the diversion to Switzerland rather than somewhere closer is due to the fact that they no longer have restrictions on entry?
I think it can be seriously inconvenient.

Flights to Gibraltar are often diverted to Malaga because the rock of Gibraltar makes for some interesting winds. I'm sure I saw some news reports last year when Gib was green and Spain was amber about all sorts of difficulties caused to the people taken to Spain unexpectedly.

Original poster
liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 10:46

@GCAcademic

How do these diversions to another country work in this era of Covid vaccination and testing requirements? All countries seem to have different requirements (and most are stricter than the UK). I wonder if the diversion to Switzerland rather than somewhere closer is due to the fact that they no longer have restrictions on entry?
I dread to think I hope they don't keep them on the plane
OP posts:
backinthebox · 18/02/2022 10:46

From the ‘pilot people’ - trust us when we say that the sort of situation we have today has been practiced again and again and again in the simulator. I am often told that ‘the computer does it all’ and ‘the autopilot flies more than the pilot does.’ The exception is in extreme conditions such as today. Autopilots have a lower crosswind limit than real human pilots do, so every landing you see on BJ TV is being done by the pilots themselves. I was told once, a long time ago, that pilots are not paid in the main for what they do, but for what they can do. Today is the day the ones out there are earning our salary for all of us. It’s been me on occasion (there was one time I could not believe I had to come into work - I didn’t just do one flight in the howling gale, I did 4 flights!) but today happily I am off, trying to get my housework done and not be distracted by the chat. I have the pilot forums on too. 🤣

Notimagain, I think it was early 2000s RW23 was decommissioned - I landed on in in 2002. Wouldn’t fancy trying it in anything bigger than the little SH jet I was in though!

@RoseAndRose they won’t close Heathrow. There are flights out there that took off on the other side of the world last night that will be aiming for it. The wind is very fluid, it has peaks and troughs. We aim to attempt an approach and abort it if the conditions are not right. As another poster said, as long as it is technically within our and the aircraft’s limits, we’ll have 2 goes. We can’t just decide not to have a go because we don’t fancy it much. Only once we’ve made 2 attempts would we head somewhere else - and frankly there isn’t much elsewhere in the U.K. atm which is any better. Heathrow also has to remain open in case of emergency traffic. It’s the UK’s largest airport, and one of Europe’s largest airports. It would not close.

notimagain · 18/02/2022 10:47

@RoseAndRose

Do you think they'll be closing LHR soon?

And if so, where will planes already in the air be directed to? I'm assuming that there's not much point in trying anywhere in red or even amber

Airports in the UK generally don’t get ever closed by the authorities for weather, certainly not for winds.

For the pilots it’s a case of flying in and seeing if the wind is within their promulgated limits…if it is they are free so have a go, always with the option of going around.

As for diversions…the Met office red/amber etc doesn’t enter into it. The crew/ground staff will have planned alternate airports planned that have more suitable weather and have the capacity/capability to handle the aircraft and crew..those airports can be anywhere within range.

Pennox · 18/02/2022 10:47

omfg vienna!

RoseAndRose · 18/02/2022 10:47

@GCAcademic

How do these diversions to another country work in this era of Covid vaccination and testing requirements? All countries seem to have different requirements (and most are stricter than the UK). I wonder if the diversion to Switzerland rather than somewhere closer is due to the fact that they no longer have restrictions on entry?
Good question!

My guess is that you'd be held in a transit area, and everyone would be fervently hoping that it wouid be possible to get you underway again before need for beds fir the night arises!

And there is a preference to return flights to point of origin if they can - better for at least some passengers to be able to just go home - and they could in those circs make a covid dispensation for those who had been in the country only hours beforehand

ButtockUp · 18/02/2022 10:47

Yay! Vienna's landed.

Thesearmsofmine · 18/02/2022 10:47

I would not have wanted to be on that Vienna flight!

notimagain · 18/02/2022 10:48

B in the B..you beat me to it..

You have control…Grin