Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Royal Flush]

I heard on the news yesterday that several departures form Heathrow have been cancelled because of fog.

Why can't planes take off in fog? I thought the instruments could do it without the need for anyone to see anything.

The problem is in heavy fog 'minimums' are increased meaning a lot more spacing between planes, which obviously leads to less planes in the air, at a busy airport like heathrow that means planes that miss their slot are in trouble.

[RED-DOG]

I heard on the news yesterday that several departures form Heathrow have been cancelled because of fog.

Why can't planes take off in fog? I thought the instruments could do it without the need for anyone to see anything.

The problem is in heavy fog 'minimums' are increased meaning a lot more spacing between planes, which obviously leads to less planes in the air, at a busy airport like heathrow that means planes that miss their slot are in trouble.

But that aside, would a modern airliner be able to take off and land if say, you painted the windows black?

Also, if a plane misses it's spot due to increased safety margins, who foots the resulting bill?

[RED-DOG]

Years ago, before the clean air act, we had fog more often. It was mostly composed of smoke and other pollutants and was pretty bad stuff to be breathing in.

These days it's more or less just water vapour, so I would imagine it's quite beneficial, especially for smokers. (Give your lungs a wash like)

[RED-DOG]

Do you still hold a commercial pilot's licence James? I guess they expire but would you be able to do a refresher course or would you have to start from scratch?


http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=2671.msg66679#msg66679

[Royal Flush]

Obviously some planes can't take off in the heavy fog as well, depends on the equipment in the plane.

Yeah a lot of planes these days are kitted out with Cat III ILS systems that basically allow them to land themselves, they are rated to 0m visibility. There is a funny story about how the first Cat III landing at an airport once where the plane managed to land just as it should but the pilots encountered a significant problem when they were then unable to taxi off the runway as they couldn't see the ground below!

[Royal Flush]

Do you still hold a commercial pilot's licence James? I guess they expire but would you be able to do a refresher course or would you have to start from scratch?


http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=2671.msg66679#msg66679

Yep just need to log some hours for it to be current again. I keep saying each year i am going to do more flying and never do, i will really try this year, maybe.

[Royal Flush]

Oh and someone give me the cliffs on the last 900 pages, k thanks.

[Skippy]

I heard on the news yesterday that several departures form Heathrow have been cancelled because of fog.

Why can't planes take off in fog? I thought the instruments could do it without the need for anyone to see anything.

The problem is in heavy fog 'minimums' are increased meaning a lot more spacing between planes, which obviously leads to less planes in the air, at a busy airport like heathrow that means planes that miss their slot are in trouble.

But that aside, would a modern airliner be able to take off and land if say, you painted the windows black?

Also, if a plane misses it's spot due to increased safety margins, who foots the resulting bill?

A friend of mine who now flies long haul for BA told me that when he was learning to fly, on some lessons/exams you'd take off in your little plane, they'd pull blinds down over the windows, and you'd do the entire flight until you were 300 foot off the ground coming in to land with the blinds down. Big aeroplanes can do the whole lot on autopilot.

[Royal Flush]

Should have read Cat III C, A and B are close to 0 RVR

[RED-DOG]

Oh and someone give me the cliffs on the last 900 pages, k thanks.

Waffle

Nostalgia

Show my ignorance

Sentimental bollocks

Occasional row

Fabulous contributions from concrete experts

That's about it really.

[RED-DOG]

Should have read Cat III C, A and B are close to 0 RVR

Having just read this, I think it's still preferable to have a pilot who can see where the ground is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_landing_system

[tikay]

Oh and someone give me the cliffs on the last 900 pages, k thanks.

Excellent writing, poor taste. Nags a lot. Bites sometimes.

[tikay]

Lovely photos from the Cenotaph, Tom, really lovely.

You must be incredibly proud that they were able to attend. Worked out nicely, as they say.......

[RED-DOG]

Oh and someone give me the cliffs on the last 900 pages, k thanks.

Excellent writing, poor taste. Nags a lot. Bites sometimes.

My taste in books has been poor lately, (Well perhaps not because I've chosen crap ones but refused to read em) but my taste in friends is good.

I do nag a lot, but you make it so easy.

Biting. Guilty as charged, and I hate myself for it.

[Royal Flush]

Biting. Guilty as charged, and I ate myself for it.

fyp