Heathrow - a world class airport?

[AtW]

Hang on, I thought you'd said you were too scared to fly. Surely a frightened flier would prefer caution.

I could not buy train tickets

[TimberWolf]

Looks like Labour are making hay over this, and yet the ConLibs only been in power 5 minutes.

The ConLibs are to ask the weathermen whether this is a freak event or whether winters are going to get colder

[OwlHoot]

Indeed - Antarctica's landing strips are currently closed due to white bear problem - pilots can't see them from the top unless they look right up, so it's not safe to land

All they have to do is circle round and drop a large hunk of meat or a salmon out of the plane just off the runway, and any bears will lumber off to get it.

[TykeMerc]

All they have to do is circle round and drop a large hunk of meat or a salmon out of the plane just off the runway, and any bears will lumber off to get it.

Be quite a BIG circle as unless someones taken to breeding Polar Bears or the bears are taking holidays they live at the opposite pole to where Antarctic flights are landing.

[BoredBloke]

If we regularly got this kind of severe autumn whether, we'd be better equipped to cope with it, although I gather airports in other countries were closed too.

I don't buy that argument. This weather this week, and the weather a few weeks ago and the weather in Jan has cost the economy billions. Those billions could buy a shed load of snow ploughs and snow blowers. Why do they not simply have central pools dotted around the country where these machines can be used if needed. If they are hardly ever used it's not like wear and tear will be an issue.

[VectraMan]

I don't buy that argument. This weather this week, and the weather a few weeks ago and the weather in Jan has cost the economy billions. Those billions could buy a shed load of snow ploughs and snow blowers. Why do they not simply have central pools dotted around the country where these machines can be used if needed. If they are hardly ever used it's not like wear and tear will be an issue.

You still have to buy them, and you still have to find the people to drive them.

Are lack of snow ploughs really the problem? If it snowed like it did on Saturday, the snow ploughs are probably just stuck in the traffic along with everyone else. What we need is under road (and under runway) heating.

Yesterday I saw a guy in a Passat no less drive up a very steep hill in 3" deep snow like it wasn't there, because he had snow chains. But virtually nobody has snow chains; in fact virtually nobody has winter tyres. Perhaps it should become a legal requirement to have one or the other if you're to go out in these conditions, rather than just blaming the government for lack of snow ploughs.

[TimberWolf]

I don't buy that argument. This weather this week, and the weather a few weeks ago and the weather in Jan has cost the economy billions. Those billions could buy a shed load of snow ploughs and snow blowers. Why do they not simply have central pools dotted around the country where these machines can be used if needed. If they are hardly ever used it's not like wear and tear will be an issue.

Probably for the same reason that most of us in the UK don't own winter tyres and tyre chains and carry provisions enough to last overnight stuck on a motorway in winter, and own a spare 4x4. I expect airports and airlines have lost money too, which isn't in their interest either. Prior to a few years ago this was okay, but obviously now, in hindsight, a rethink may be required.

[SupremeSpod]

Indeed - Antarctica's landing strips are currently closed due to white bear problem - pilots can't see them from the top unless they look right up, so it's not safe to land

There aren't any bears in Antarctica, the penguins have eaten them.

[TimberWolf]

UK SNOW CHAOS: Heathrow Airport boss admits they were not prepared and says he is 'truly sorry' for disruption | Mail Online
The Heathrow chief today gave a grovelling apology for ruining the Christmas plans of thousands of Britons, but the airport remains crippled as it battles to deal with the Big Freeze.

Can we really blame him given that weathermen were (allegedly) saying (banging on and on and on) that we were going to have a warm winter(s)?

[doodab]

It seems that Lufthansa flights twixt Heathrow and Munich are operating normally.

Unfortunately I am booked to fly with BA. I had better get home for christmas or I will be very annoyed.

It's a world class **** up, anyway. Makes the commonwealth games look like a Swiss watch.