9JAN DL 201 JNB-ATL diverts to the Ascension Island
Jan 10, 2013, 2:42 pm
#17
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Jan 10, 2013, 2:54 pm
#18
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And now I have a new resident expert on the Ascension Islands. God bless the internet.
Jan 10, 2013, 3:01 pm
#19
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What country does it belong to? Just curious, if indeed there was some kind of possibility to get a passport stamp.
Jan 10, 2013, 3:08 pm
#20
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Visas
You must get permission to visit Ascension Island from the Administrator before travel. Entry permit applications can be downloaded from the Ascension Island Government website or obtained by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]. You must be able to produce evidence of holding comprehensive travel and medical insurance. You must also be able to produce on request evidence of a return air ticket (or other evidence of pre-paid onward travel), pre-booked accommodation and sufficient funds to cover your stay on the island.
You must get permission to visit Ascension Island from the Administrator before travel. Entry permit applications can be downloaded from the Ascension Island Government website or obtained by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]. You must be able to produce evidence of holding comprehensive travel and medical insurance. You must also be able to produce on request evidence of a return air ticket (or other evidence of pre-paid onward travel), pre-booked accommodation and sufficient funds to cover your stay on the island.
Jan 10, 2013, 3:08 pm
#21
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http://www.ascension-island.gov.ac/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_Island
Jan 10, 2013, 3:08 pm
#22
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As long as it didn't look like they would have to ditch and despite the discomforts, I would consider this unscheduled stop a wonderful little adventure. The even more unusual place down there is Tristan da Cunha, which is one of those odd places I find intriguing (it has cropped up in some books I've read); alas, it has no airport, so would not have been a possibility for an emergency landing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_Island
Jan 10, 2013, 3:14 pm
#23
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Jan 10, 2013, 3:26 pm
#24
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Jan 10, 2013, 3:29 pm
#25
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What will happen the 777 that is left at ASI?
I guess the flight that was Ferry'd from Atlanta to retrieve the pax would have contained a mechanic crew to inspect/repair the engine? Then they'll need a pilot to fly the plane back to ATL/JFK for a full maintenance inspecition/engine replacement, etc.
Probably a costly MX issue for DL. Very costly I imagine. especially since they don't seem to have many 777's just sitting around.
I guess the flight that was Ferry'd from Atlanta to retrieve the pax would have contained a mechanic crew to inspect/repair the engine? Then they'll need a pilot to fly the plane back to ATL/JFK for a full maintenance inspecition/engine replacement, etc.
Probably a costly MX issue for DL. Very costly I imagine. especially since they don't seem to have many 777's just sitting around.
Jan 10, 2013, 3:37 pm
#26
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I am pretty sure that a special arrangement has been made with CBP to have customs and immigration open at about 2:30-3am in ATL so passengers can deplane and pass through immigration, customs and security and many will connect on the 7am block onward to their final destination.
Jan 10, 2013, 3:48 pm
#27
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I am pretty sure that a special arrangement has been made with CBP to have customs and immigration open at about 2:30-3am in ATL so passengers can deplane and pass through immigration, customs and security and many will connect on the 7am block onward to their final destination.
Also, did DL send a full crew down from ATL in the middle of the night on the ferry flight or would the original crew be considered to be sufficiently rested to be able to help fly home? Do they have enough seats if extra crew were sent? (Was the flight full leaving JNB? I would assume that this route has full flights when they aren't facing weight restrictions, which they might have had as it's summer in South Africa.)
I guess I'm fascinated by the rules and strategies for handling the logistics in a case like this, which seems much more extreme than the unplanned Alaska landing. Wasn't there a similar case of an emergency landing on a Pacific island that's an ecology preserve during the last year? (Would this one have been DL too? Perhaps Easter Island or somewhere in the South Pacific?)
Jan 10, 2013, 3:54 pm
#28
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I agree with you, although I wouldn't like being told to prepare for an emergency landing, especially if ditching at sea were a possibility. It's good that ASI seems to have a long runway.
I wonder whether the time elaspsed from JNB to ASI indicates normal speed or if they were going on just one engine on the 777. I can't easily tell without checking time zones.
I wonder whether the time elaspsed from JNB to ASI indicates normal speed or if they were going on just one engine on the 777. I can't easily tell without checking time zones.
Last edited by GRALISTAIR; Jan 10, 2013 at 4:29 pm Reason: spelling
Jan 10, 2013, 4:10 pm
#29
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It was also designated as an emergency landing strip for the space shuttle: over 10,000 feet paved.
Jan 10, 2013, 6:28 pm
#30
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Latest arrival information on delta.dumb is for 2:35 am on January 10, three and a half hours before the original scheduled arrival time for the JNB-ATL nonstop. Maybe the passengers would prefer to forget the twenty hours spent on Ascension Island. However, I suspect that we have another case of delta.dumb not knowing what day it really is.
