Does anyone know why LH-760/29DEC FRA-DEL diverted to MAA and not to closer LH stations such as BOM, CCU, HYD, BLR ?
Eh BLR closer to DEL than MAA? Take another look at that map
Landing a plane isnt all of it .. guess who gets to book hotels for all the pax? HYD and BLR dont have too many options near the new airports there, CCU, to put it mildly, stinks (and LH doesnt have too much of a presence there either).. so MAA it is.
Location: Somewhere near DCA. NW Platinum. AA Platinum.
Posts: 11,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by AMR747
Does anyone know why LH-760/29DEC FRA-DEL diverted to MAA and not to closer LH stations such as BOM, CCU, HYD, BLR ?
BOM might have been avoided for the same reasons people avoid the number 13? MAA and BLR are about the same distance from Delhi. Not sure why CCU was skipped. Probably because of availability of hotels.
__________________
Those who sacrifice liberty of some to purchase a little temporary safety, will have neither liberty nor safety.
Quote "Eh BLR closer to DEL than MAA? Take another look at that map
Landing a plane isnt all of it .. guess who gets to book hotels for all the pax? HYD and BLR dont have too many options near the new airports there, CCU, to put it mildly, stinks (and LH doesnt have too much of a presence there either).. so MAA it is."
DEL-MAA is 1.090 miles and DEL-BLR is 1.079 miles after having taken another look on www.convertunits.com
However, I do agree with limited hotel options near BLR/HYD airport. CCU has the Hyatt and Sheraton reasonably close to the airport
Have you been there lately? You may be in for a surprise. A much more pleasant city to visit than DEL, BOM, or BLR these days.
Interesting. I like bengali food, personally speaking (my favorite in MAA - though really far from my place - is this joint .. http://chennai.burrp.com/listing/res...na-of-calcutta) so I guess that's worth a try sooner or later.
CCU has only 3x weekly LH service and the staff was probably away at the time of the diversion problem. MAA OTOH is a daily service station and the staff would have been around after the departure when the drama unfolded. MAA is also significantly less busy than BOM at that time.
LH-760 / 30DEC is still in FRA (it is 11.30pm in FRA) so over 10 hrs late.
It departed at 23.30 and landed in the morning after the fog cleared. Good call by LH:
Code:
LUFTHANSA - LH 760
Operational Flight Information
Airport Hour FLIGHT INFORMATION
Frankfurt International (FRA), Frankfurt, Germany 22:45 NEXT INFO WILL BE AT
Frankfurt International (FRA), Frankfurt, Germany 23:20 ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE
Frankfurt International (FRA), Frankfurt, Germany 23:20 LEFT THE GATE
Frankfurt International (FRA), Frankfurt, Germany 23:32 TOOK OFF
Indira Gandhi International (DEL), Delhi, India 11:00 ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL
Indira Gandhi International (DEL), Delhi, India 10:44 AIRCRAFT LANDED
Indira Gandhi International (DEL), Delhi, India 10:54 ARRIVED
CCU has only 3x weekly LH service and the staff was probably away at the time of the diversion problem. MAA OTOH is a daily service station and the staff would have been around after the departure when the drama unfolded. MAA is also significantly less busy than BOM at that time.
Thanks - that would make sense.
OT: do you think that LH would also consider AMD as an alternate airport in case of fog in DEL even though it is not an LH online station.
AI uses CGN or NUE as alternates in case FRA is closed.
Programs: UA*G, 9wPlat, LH SEN, AA Plat, Sixt Plat, *was* SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG...
Posts: 3,755
Quote:
Originally Posted by AMR747
Thanks - that would make sense.
OT: do you think that LH would also consider AMD as an alternate airport in case of fog in DEL even though it is not an LH online station.
No, as they have no staff in AMD.
Secondly, to land a 744 at AMD will be pretty problematic logistically, although SQ flies their 772's there...
We once had a severe problem of not being able to be turned around at AMD on SQ, as their tow tug was only capable of pulling smaller aircraft. (when they were working on the runway)
A simple tow bar is a very important component of many things to consider. I remember the A380 carried around its own tow bar during the route proving flights.
Since fog does happen quite a bit in winter I'm sure LH/9W/AI etc have a standard operating procedure for DEL flights in case the probable delay is 1/2/3/x hours.
Fog must however be not such a significant occurrence in DEL as the longhaul airlines don't change their schedules significantly in winter. The risk seems to be within reasonable limits.
Programs: UA*G, 9wPlat, LH SEN, AA Plat, Sixt Plat, *was* SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG...
Posts: 3,755
Quote:
Originally Posted by oliver2002
A simple tow bar is a very important component of many things to consider.
The tow tug, actually - not the tow bar - their tug is only capable of towing smaller (read: 73x/319/320) aircraft, although I doubt they have invested in a larger one (read: Goldhofer-type (they call them "aircraft tractors"), used at FRA and some other airports) since I last flew in a year ago, when they were working on the runway and requested the aircraft not to use engine power, in order that the soil/tarmac/whatever () material they were using to renew/rebuild/extend the runway and/or aprons...
Quote:
Originally Posted by oliver2002
Fog must however be not such a significant occurrence in DEL as the longhaul airlines don't change their schedules significantly in winter. The risk seems to be within reasonable limits.
It is quite bad, actually!
SK was plagued by this a few years ago when they flew the CPH-DEL-CPH sector/s, and now they are again, I'm sure, with early daytime flights! (Intelligent airline, that! )
Well, if by chance they had a immobilized 747 on the runway, I suspect it would close down the aiport...
Considering that AMD only has a single runway, an immobilised ANYTHING on the runway would effectively shut it down!
From a diversion planning perspective, there are literally dozens of factors that come into play when making decisions to divert. These range from airport facilities to relief crew logistics to something as simple as whether you have an account with a catering company to top up bottled water on board.
Programs: UA*G, 9wPlat, LH SEN, AA Plat, Sixt Plat, *was* SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG...
Posts: 3,755
Quote:
Originally Posted by B747-437B
Considering that AMD only has a single runway, an immobilised ANYTHING on the runway would effectively shut it down!
From a diversion planning perspective, there are literally dozens of factors that come into play when making decisions to divert. These range from airport facilities to relief crew logistics to something as simple as whether you have an account with a catering company to top up bottled water on board.
Exactly - and the quality/availability of hotels in AMD is not that great! (from a Western perspective, and as compared to MAA)
) material they were using to renew/rebuild/extend the runway and/or aprons...
)
