Dec 20, 2018, 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, 2018, 6:41 am
#196
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,667
I don't expect them to fly when it is dangerous to do so. I do expect the authorities to have a better way to respond to this.
For example, get your own drone to follow the enemy drone. Either it needs to be abandoned when it runs out of batteries, or land somewhere the owner can recover it when you can easily swoop in and arrest them.
Also, can't they use triangulation to locate whatever radio signal is being used to control the drone. Surely we have equipment that is capable of doing things like this.
For example, get your own drone to follow the enemy drone. Either it needs to be abandoned when it runs out of batteries, or land somewhere the owner can recover it when you can easily swoop in and arrest them.
Also, can't they use triangulation to locate whatever radio signal is being used to control the drone. Surely we have equipment that is capable of doing things like this.
Anyone with knowledge of airport radars know? Didn't get an answer last time so presumably no one does...
Dec 20, 2018, 6:43 am
#198
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 156
As I mentioned earlier, why can't the airport radars be used to track the position, velocity and direction of the drone(s)? With the sky clear from all other aircraft apart from 1-2 authorised helicopters surely anything else in the sky is the drone? See where it takes off from and try and swoop on the perps as someone will be preparing it / changing batteries etc?
Anyone with knowledge of airport radars know? Didn't get an answer last time so presumably no one does...
Anyone with knowledge of airport radars know? Didn't get an answer last time so presumably no one does...
Dec 20, 2018, 6:45 am
#200
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
But on the upside, I'm sure there's at least one expat stuck in the sunny Caribbean who is now delighted with their excuse not to spend Christmas in the UK with the in-laws...
Dec 20, 2018, 6:46 am
#201
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,667
When you have a potential danger situation and minimum 150 passengers at danger for each incident (even 1-2 people) it would be a brave person to apprehend 1 person and seize one drone and declare the emergency over?
Dec 20, 2018, 6:53 am
#203
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,325
Even so, what's the range on those massive fire hoses they've got? That would take care of a drone, I'd imagine.
Dec 20, 2018, 6:55 am
#204
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,576
This appears to be a coordinated attack, and Gatwick have explained on twitter that the drones being used are industrial spec, not consumer drones. The first priority is assuring passenger safety, the second will be finding where they are coming from. No one is going to go taking potshots at drones or bringing them down with nets or whatever until the attack is understood, it's a complete waste of time and effort.
If something - use of radar, netting, missiles - is obvious to someone on an internet bulletin board, it will be obvious to the team managing the problem. I honestly don't know what people expect sometimes.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:07 am
#209
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: ExecutiveClub GGL/CCR MileagePlus 1K FLyingBlue GOld
Posts: 231
Dec 20, 2018, 7:08 am
#210
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London
Programs: *A G, OW S.
Posts: 996
My SVQ-LGW is already showing as "Delayed - to be confirmed" but BA stubbornly will not let me rebook. "Sorry sir, policy, etc." Now, I understand that rules are rules and until the flight is cancelled they will not do anything, but I have a very nice alternative to offer them and it would free up 2 seats for some poor souls who are displaced from tonights flight which has now been confirmed cancelled. I am on SVQ-LGW, LHR-JFK-SFO and have an alternative of SVQ-MAD-JFK to connect to the existing JFK-SFO. All one ticket and PNR and all on JB carriers. You'd think they'd love to get us out of the way of LGW and LHR, but no. At least, not yet, not until it might be too late.