Programs: EK GLD, SU PRIME, SQ PPS, SPG PLAT, PC AMB PLAT, AMEX CENT
Posts: 117
Delayed Due to Fog In DEL
Have been through a hell of an experience due to fig in DEL.
Flew on SU from SVO on 29th Dec 2008 to DEL in J Class. The flight took off late from SVO by 1 hour as it was snowing and due to the lack of extra wing deicing equipment in SVO we had to stand in a queue to get the plane worked upon.
Took off finally at 15:45 instead of 14:30. Were supposed to land in DEL at 22:45 but arrived over DEL skies at around 23:55. We could not make up time on the way due to strong head winds on that day. By the time we lined up for landing the DEL airport was closed at 00:00 offically. Hovered over DEL skies for 2 more hours and finally were ordered to fly to BOM.
Landed at BOM at 03:50 Hrs. Total chaos at BOM as 6 more flights were diverted to BOM. Were not allowed to deplane till 4:45. Can you imagine the atmosphere on the plane full of drunk tourists who were flying to Goa and Manali on holiday??? It was crazy. Everyone during deplaning ran as if were being freed from prison. Have never seen anything like this before.
No lounge given to any class of passengers. Tea, coffee, water & sandwich was all that was provided for a 7 hrs stay in BOM. Many passengers simply lost temper and paid for proper food & breakfast etc from their pocket.
Took off from BOM on 11:45 and reached DEL at 13:10. Will never never fly to DEL between 20th Dec - 20 Jan ever in my life. I have learnt my lesson and you can make your choice's too before its too late.
Location: Somewhere near DCA. NW Platinum. AA Platinum.
Posts: 11,251
Quote:
Originally Posted by ELITEGOLDTRAVELLER
Have been through a hell of an experience due to fig in DEL.
Flew on SU from SVO on 29th Dec 2008 to DEL in J Class. The flight took off late from SVO by 1 hour as it was snowing and due to the lack of extra wing deicing equipment in SVO we had to stand in a queue to get the plane worked upon.
Took off finally at 15:45 instead of 14:30. Were supposed to land in DEL at 22:45 but arrived over DEL skies at around 23:55. We could not make up time on the way due to strong head winds on that day. By the time we lined up for landing the DEL airport was closed at 00:00 offically. Hovered over DEL skies for 2 more hours and finally were ordered to fly to BOM.
Landed at BOM at 03:50 Hrs. Total chaos at BOM as 6 more flights were diverted to BOM. Were not allowed to deplane till 4:45. Can you imagine the atmosphere on the plane full of drunk tourists who were flying to Goa and Manali on holiday??? It was crazy. Everyone during deplaning ran as if were being freed from prison. Have never seen anything like this before.
No lounge given to any class of passengers. Tea, coffee, water & sandwich was all that was provided for a 7 hrs stay in BOM. Many passengers simply lost temper and paid for proper food & breakfast etc from their pocket.
Took off from BOM on 11:45 and reached DEL at 13:10. Will never never fly to DEL between 20th Dec - 20 Jan ever in my life. I have learnt my lesson and you can make your choice's too before its too late.
Your experience is not unusual. Fog can occur at DEL as late as early February. Why does fog disrupt DEL? Surely DEL is not the only airport that experiences fog! What's DEL/DGCA doing wrong that the airport experiences major delays on foggy days despite claims that DEL is now CAT III equipped? Are airlines with untrained pilots clogging the airport as they are unable to make room for incoming aircraft?
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Those who sacrifice liberty of some to purchase a little temporary safety, will have neither liberty nor safety.
That article discusses some of the reasons. No comment on how accurate or inaccurate it is .. I normally take anything the ToI prints with a pinch of salt.
To be sure the article above is rather more literate than the usual ToI article...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaatri
Your experience is not unusual. Fog can occur at DEL as late as early February. Why does fog disrupt DEL? Surely DEL is not the only airport that experiences fog! What's DEL/DGCA doing wrong that the airport experiences major delays on foggy days despite claims that DEL is now CAT III equipped? Are airlines with untrained pilots clogging the airport as they are unable to make room for incoming aircraft?
Flew in last night at 3.30am with only a slight fog delay (30 mins) The Captain aborted the first landing in the last few seconds but then came around to land successfully. The fog last night was not that bad, but according to the crew there was a bigger chance of diverting to BOM then landing in DEL.
What's DEL/DGCA doing wrong that the airport experiences major delays on foggy days despite claims that DEL is now CAT III equipped?
CAT III-B requires RVR50 visibility (may vary slightly per each airline's operating manuals) and visibility often drops even below these minima. Prolonged periods of sub-CAT III-B conditions at major airports worldwide are actually very very rare, and DEL comes to mind as the only one where this is a virtually daily occurance for almost 10-15% of the year.
The resources required to certify aircraft and pilots to CAT III-B are huge. These costs are not something that can easily be justified for a single station in a larger network as long as a viable option to divert/reschedule/cancel exists.
Location: Somewhere near DCA. NW Platinum. AA Platinum.
Posts: 11,251
Quote:
Originally Posted by B747-437B
CAT III-B requires RVR50 visibility (may vary slightly per each airline's operating manuals) and visibility often drops even below these minima. Prolonged periods of sub-CAT III-B conditions at major airports worldwide are actually very very rare, and DEL comes to mind as the only one where this is a virtually daily occurance for almost 10-15% of the year.
The resources required to certify aircraft and pilots to CAT III-B are huge. These costs are not something that can easily be justified for a single station in a larger network as long as a viable option to divert/reschedule/cancel exists.
In that case, we should just accept the reality and stop complaining. I am curious about what's unique about the location that DEL faces this frequent and prolonged sub CAT IIIB situation. It's the combination of meteorological conditions such as pressure, humidity, temperature and particulate matter. Maybe reducing particulate matter in air would help. The mount of construction going on around the airport can't help either.
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Those who sacrifice liberty of some to purchase a little temporary safety, will have neither liberty nor safety.
you have to live with the fog issue. I just paid a penalty to change my flight from lax so i could land in bombay not avoid going through delhi to bombay.
"Delhi fog" is actually smog. During winter months, lot of people burn wood fires for warmth and the smoke gets mixed up with natural fog. Industrial smog also settles in low during low temperatures.
I do have to use DEL often, and when possible try to choose an afternoon to early evening arrival/departure during "fog months". That does help a lot.
Programs: AA Platinum, United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 150
Great experience to Del
Took the ORD - DEL non stop in J in January 1 and arrived on Jan 2. Flight took off on time. Arrived in Delhi 45 mts early. Landed at around 9:10 PM. Was out of the airport by 9:40 PM and at the hotel by 10:15.
Fog was not an issue that early in the evening though supposedly delays started after midnight. Hoping return in a week is as good an experience
