Dec 20, 18, 5:24 am
Last edit by: Canarsie
Travelling to of from London Gatwick 21 December 2018
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.
Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.
Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.
Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.
Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.
Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.
Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
LGW closed due to drone activity
Dec 20, 18, 5:42 am
#166
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 145
I think the residents of Hampshire and Surrey would be surprised to see a couple of SeaCepter missiles flying overhead.
Dec 20, 18, 5:42 am
#167
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,615
So for around £1,000, you can shut down an entire airport?
Golly - what an odd world we live in.
M
Golly - what an odd world we live in.
M
Dec 20, 18, 5:42 am
#168
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,545
Last edited by Hipplewm; Dec 20, 18 at 5:48 am
Dec 20, 18, 5:43 am
#169
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 524
Well not one to go on a Daily Mail style rant but these drones and their operators need licensing or even better restrict their usage outright. The selfishness of this incident - blighting others lives and being intrusive and dangerous.
Whoever is behind this operation deserves the full force of the law applied to them and we need a rapid clampdown on these devices.
Whoever is behind this operation deserves the full force of the law applied to them and we need a rapid clampdown on these devices.
I seriously doubt the people involved in this are the sort who worry about licensing. And see previous about why (the inevitable) clamping down on drone sales won't do a lot of good in relation to this.
Going out on a limb but I don't think Gatwick will re-open today.
Dec 20, 18, 5:43 am
#170
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,026
Dec 20, 18, 5:46 am
#171
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 152
I quite like the idea of owning a drone for aerial photography, and I'm perfectly on board with having to register it (and even take a test) to be allowed to use it - but that wouldn't make a difference in this case.
Initially last night, I assumed it was a couple of jokers with a new toy who decided to fly near the airport for some "viral footage" for their instagram or something- they know it's wrong but don't care, and are the type who give legitimate users a bad name... but given how long it's going on for (and it sounds like there's more than one drone), it's obviously much more intentional and organised. Drones can't fly for more than 20-30 mins, so why they can't just watch to see where they go to land I don't know - presumably someone is swapping out batteries?
Initially last night, I assumed it was a couple of jokers with a new toy who decided to fly near the airport for some "viral footage" for their instagram or something- they know it's wrong but don't care, and are the type who give legitimate users a bad name... but given how long it's going on for (and it sounds like there's more than one drone), it's obviously much more intentional and organised. Drones can't fly for more than 20-30 mins, so why they can't just watch to see where they go to land I don't know - presumably someone is swapping out batteries?
Dec 20, 18, 5:47 am
#172
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 61,089
pfff, I know it's Lady Sugg (Liz Sugg), the aviation minister, who is on this one. "Taking charge" isn't the way it works, though it may end up with COBRA if there are national security implications.
Dec 20, 18, 5:49 am
#173
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, CrabAir Blue
Posts: 122
The South Downs with their 750 odd feet elevation might get in the way of even a Sampson radar....
Dec 20, 18, 5:49 am
#174
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Somewhere around Europe...
Programs: BA Gold; MB Ti; HH Diamond; IHG Plat; RR Gold
Posts: 526
Posting this for discussion as much as anything else, the video linked below shows a drone catcher protoype by the Tokyo Metropolitan police from 2015. No need for firearms, or worrying about stray bullets... just use a net and the nefarious drone's rotors to do the work for you.
Dec 20, 18, 5:49 am
#175
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,526
Gatwick has been closed, that is what has happened. My point being that even if these sort of things were available they cannot be used simultaneously with an operating airport so was not sure what could be gained from having them available - it would not keep the airport open. Plus don't forget an airport perimeter is huge, certainly greater then a few miles for LHR and LGW so it would be a major investment and undertaking.
Dec 20, 18, 5:51 am
#176
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,526
