LJLA Friday 18th January

[tonyspeke]

Planned to arrive at 0530 is Falcon 2000 N510CT.

This should be before the worse of the snow that is now forecast to be worst between 1100 and 1800. The west side of the country is due to bear the brunt of the snow.

Here is the TAF:
2013/01/17 18:15
TAF TAF EGGP 171706Z 1718/1818 14011KT 9000 FEW015 SCT020 PROB30
TEMPO 1718/1806 4000 -SN BKN007
BECMG 1806/1809 5000 -SN BR BKN007
TEMPO 1809/1812 1200 SN BKN003 PROB30
TEMPO 1811/1818 15015G25KT 0300 +SN VV///

For those who need a translation the last two lines are:
Temporarily between 18th 0900 & 18th 1200, 1200metres visability in snow, cloud broken 300 feet, probability 30%

Temporarily between 18th 1100 and 18th 1800, wind 150 at 15 knots gusting 25 knots, 300metres visability in snow, vertical visibility zero

[Deleted]

The Falcon will be on a 'quick turn' and out 0600

[tonyspeke]

Latest TAF not so bad

2013/01/18 06:15
TAF EGGP 180458Z 1806/1906 14011KT 9999 -SN FEW015 BKN030 PROB30
TEMPO 1806/1809 6000 BKN008
BECMG 1809/1812 BKN008 PROB40
TEMPO 1809/1906 14015G25KT 1200 SN BLSN BKN002

[viscount]

Despite falling, blown, snow since around 0830 this morning, with by 1230 an accumulation in the garden of little over 2 cm/1 inch, the airport appears to have remained open for scheduled flights. Constant light snow flakes are still falling although the wind still blowing teh snow flakes along.

Looking at the Arrivals & Departure boards on the Airport's website the only casualty seems to be the 13:10 departure to Jersey (although the return arrival at 15:55 is still showing as expected!). All arriving schedules seem to have landed successfully and roughly on-time.

Just hope the airport can remain open for the rest of day.

Added at 1320: Now just very light snow falling. Horizontal visibility has gone up as a result. Flights still seem to be operating as normal as recorded on the arrivals/departure website.

Added at 1920: Well now feezing outside and untreated but used surfaces deadly. Wind dropped a bit. Flights still seem to be arriving and departing to schedule, albeit with a couple of delays, especially to weather affected Belfast. Only the Jersey seemed to suffer weather cancellation, due weather at the other end.

Well done to the Airport for keeping services moving despite a reasonable snow fall and icy conditions. Maybe no inbound diversions, but even with Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham closed at times, and with Heathrow on low visibility proceedures and cancellations, the number of diverting aircraft seeking an open airport seemed small.

[ametyst]

Jersey cancellation is due to Jersey being closed due to snow

[tonyspeke]

EI-EKM as RYR452 has just taken off from Dublin.