DUB CLOSED AGAIN

Blue Punto

DAA says on their website and RTE LIVE UPDATES that the airport will be closed for 30 min to de ice the runway

Yet the tower just told a Ryanair aircraft trying to get to stand 95 that the airport is closed for at least 4 hours due to contamination on the ramp and taxi ways






edited

they have updated their status.....closed till 1330

A320

Maybe collier should resign from his massive pay day,just like the chief of BAA forefitted his bonus for the disaster at heathrow,infact if the DAA 'board' werent on so much money they might be able to afford new equipment and staff training

Bearcat

a320 i'm no fan of the DAA but you must take into account the weather conditions are unprecedented. Spraying rwy10/28 takes 30mins min but they also have to clear the taxiways for safe operations.....this is turning into a mare as the minute they clear it more snow arrives. Also there are only so many drivers checked out to do this work and these guys are working 24/7 to get the airport opened. Totally frustrating.

SNAKEDOC

how do the airports in the states or canada manage with the weather. why does only europe get bogged down with snow and russia and the us can manage it. time we got the finger out

ITDept

As far as I know, lots of airports where snow is a common problem use 3 runways. One for take-offs, one for landings and one being cleared. Then when they get that one cleared they switch. I don't think there are enough runways in Dublin to do this though.

xflyer

I think Dublin have being doing well considering what's happened. Once the snow falls and braking action is lost they have no choice but to close. That has been painstakingly explained again and again on the RTE news. It takes four hours. Even in countries where they are used to this airports close for the same reason.

In actual fact I don't believe the efforts being made to keep the country going is appreciated. This is actually unprecedented yet for the most part people are getting around on the roads and in the air.

I am not inclined to criticise anyone involved in this rather unique event. For once we should take a little pride in our efforts. There is I notice something of a 'wartime spirit' abroad. Something this country needs.

ednwireland

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

how do the airports in the states or canada manage with the weather. why does only europe get bogged down with snow and russia and the us can manage it. time we got the finger out

an oldie but goodie


how russian airports stay open
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12065808

how helsinki stays open
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12065808

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

iPlop

Bit like this thing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAes7fFpgeY

wonderfulname

Can someone do me a favour and tell me whats being said over the radio? Also what appears to be going on here - sitting in the airport and we haven't been told a thing, the snow is so heavy you can't see past the planes outside the terminal.

ITDept

All they're saying is that flights resumed at 16:00. Lots of delays. No mention of any further closure yet.

Bearcat

http://www.liveatc.net/flisten.php?mount=eidw2

from the horses mouth re what's going on if you can understand aviation speak.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

pclancy

The reception seems really poor today for some reason

Manic Moran

That CSX Jet is just for spots like switches. Regular ploughs are now strong enough that they're able to get serious amounts of snow cleared.





But, if you just have to move a serious load of snow, call out the rotaries.





NTM

Bearcat

braking action reported poor. reports like this can thow a curve ball re depts/ landings

Bearcat

By the way if there are any DUB ATC guys lurking here.......Fellas/Ladies your doing a great job. Top drawer stuff keeping all the balls in the air.

highlydebased

According to Twitter another closure expected now...

Hannibal

Dublin airport only has TWO de-icing machines believe it or not. Theyve to do every plane, and when some planes are sitting in the queue to take off they can ice up again and have to go back to the end of the queue. And if your plane is been de-iced and the machine runs out, it has to go all the way around the other side of the terminal to fill up.
The reason Scandinavia, America, Russia etc dont shutdown is because they get a more drier cold. Helsinki airport hasnt shut down once since 2003, read it on the BBC the other day

Bearcat

Keep the info flowing folks......

Mc Love

Dotsey wrote: »

Dublin airport only has TWO de-icing machines believe it or not. Theyve to do every plane, and when some planes are sitting in the queue to take off they can ice up again and have to go back to the end of the queue.

They only had one a week or so ago I was told!!!

Some complaining already complaining about becoming iced over while waiting for snow to be cleared off runway

Mc Love

Snowing heavily again

pclancy

Runway just closed again.

Bullseye1

Does Dublin Airport have enough equipment to maintain the airport in such conditions? I know there is nothing they can do about fresh falls but how many snow plows etc do they have?

Mc Love

Closed now for another four hours

pclancy

Apparently officially closed now for the next 4 hours according to the tower. Diversions beginning.

APM

Dotsey wrote: »

Dublin airport only has TWO de-icing machines believe it or not. Theyve to do every plane, and when some planes are sitting in the queue to take off they can ice up again and have to go back to the end of the queue. And if your plane is been de-iced and the machine runs out, it has to go all the way around the other side of the terminal to fill up.
The reason Scandinavia, America, Russia etc dont shutdown is because they get a more drier cold. Helsinki airport hasnt shut down once since 2003, read it on the BBC the other day

Not true, Servisair alone have two de-icers. Aer Lingus have at least one and Ryanair have at least one. I'm sure sky handling partner also have at least one.

Mc Love

They after running out of de-icer in Shannon!

pclancy

On the subject of De-ice just overhead a ryanair flight advising he'd been told Shannon has run out of de-icer fluid and to divert to Cork instead.

pclancy

Mc Love wrote: »

They after running out of de-icer in Shannon!

Lol we're obviously doing the same thing tonight.

someday2010

pclancy wrote: »

Ryanair to las palmas departed shannon at 20.22.

Can most of the Dub flights not be diverted to shannon? and bus passengers

exaisle

There simply wouldnt be enough buses, and I suspect there would be a problem accomodating that many aircraft in SNN.

xflyer

someday2010 wrote: »

Ryanair to las palmas departed shannon at 20.22.

Can most of the Dub flights not be diverted to shannon? and bus passengers

Where would you get all the buses?

sharkman

Dotsey wrote: »

Dublin airport only has TWO de-icing machines believe it or not. Theyve to do every plane, and when some planes are sitting in the queue to take off they can ice up again and have to go back to the end of the queue. And if your plane is been de-iced and the machine runs out, it has to go all the way around the other side of the terminal to fill up.
The reason Scandinavia, America, Russia etc dont shutdown is because they get a more drier cold. Helsinki airport hasnt shut down once since 2003, read it on the BBC the other day

Untrue , Servisair have 4 rigs.

N7777G

Airport not expected to re-open until 0500 at the earliest and it's still snowing.:(

someday2010

the 05.20 jfk - dublin flight EI104 is airbourne it departed jfk at 22.40 http://www.jfkiat.com/flightinfo.html

jesmed

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

how do the airports in the states or canada manage with the weather. why does only europe get bogged down with snow and russia and the us can manage it. time we got the finger out

Remember the Die Hard movies.....snow didn't stop them !! lol.

Bearcat

Canada is really well equiped but when you get the nor easters state side airports do shut down Chicago was closed for a day last week.....granted they have a serious army of trucks and me thinks the DAA may have to bite the bullet and knuckle down to realising they (a) need more clearing units and (b) dedicated de ing areas where aircraft can taxi in/out close to the thesholds of rwy 10/28. All major airports in central euroe have this facility....UK/IRL ...no.

lord lucan

If this sort of winter is set to be the norm for the future,the DAA will have to purchase more equipment to deal with it. How they've managed to keep the airfield open at all over the last few days is beyond me.

I've been working the last 3 days at EIDW and the amount of snow that's fallen over them 3 days is unbelievable! Radar and Met Eireann reports don't give an accurate picture of how bad it's been. DUB seems to be a magnet for snow at the moment!

ATCO_eidw

lord lucan wrote: »

If this sort of winter is set to be the norm for the future,the DAA will have to purchase more equipment to deal with it. How they've managed to keep the airfield open at all over the last few days is beyond me.

I've been working the last 3 days at EIDW and the amount of snow that's fallen over them 3 days is unbelievable! Radar and Met Eireann reports don't give an accurate picture of how bad it's been. DUB seems to be a magnet for snow at the moment!

Very True....The DAA have really done the best they can with the resources they have

As someone who also works there, albeit in ATC,im surprised they have managed to keep it open so long

lord lucan

ATCO_eidw wrote: »

Very True....The DAA have really done the best they can with the resources they have

As someone who also works there, albeit in ATC,im surprised they have managed to keep it open so long

Whilst i work for the DAA i wouldn't be a flag waving PR machine for them by any means,they often do mess up and i'd criticise them for it. In the current circumstances i tip my hat to the guys working the airfield. Everytime i look out a window there's a fleet of flashing lights going up and down 28,34 and the taxiways.

I normally laugh at FRs little digs but was actually annoyed this evening at their sniping about runway clearance times. They have offices there,they knew how bad it was. They're not the only airline being inconvenienced by all this. They're just making themselves look stupid.

In fairness,most of the passengers i've talked to over the last few days know how difficult it is and understand that safety comes first despite the personal stress and inconveniece. DUB was a mess following the closure this evening. The arrivals hall was full to bursting and there were hundreds more being held on Pier D to allow the baggage hall to clear. Customs and DAA staff have to screen all passengers leaving through arrivals because many will have bought duty free items that can't be taken back out of the airport. With some transatlantics failing to get away it was causing severe congestion with hundreds having to be stopped.

Oh,and fair play to ATC for expediting departures and arrivals quickly once the airfield re-opened a couple of times today. Easy to forget the role they play in operations.

spottybananna

^^^
Well said.
Great work going on by so many people right now to get as many people as possible home for xmas. I was very disappointed with FR's critical comments yesterday.

sharkman

spottybananna wrote: »

^^^
Well said.
Great work going on by so many people right now to get as many people as possible home for xmas. I was very disappointed with FR's critical comments yesterday.

I agree , My wife is with Servisair and hats off to all the staff up there .People are putting in huge hours for very little thanks . Its an exceptional event , this is the worst weather @ the busiest time of the year and after all Safety has to be first and foremost .

Lets hope the Airport Police can avert a riot as I hear the 250 Ryanair Passengers are about to cut loose at the ticket desk.

FlutterinBantam

They joeys will shift them.

fast forward to 2011 Xmas Eve

Passenger complaints: NO information ..no-one telling us anything... we didn't even get a cup of tea.


Fast forward to 2012 Xmas Eve

Passenger complaints: NO information ..no-one telling us anything... we didn't even get a cup of tea.

Odlum's flour... never varies.

Jagera

I am due to land in Dublin tonight at 10:00pm coming from Zurich. It's snowing here, so a lot of the flights leaving here at the moment are delayed.

I assume, as we land fairly late, there's not a lot of room for delays as the airport closes soon after (exactly what time, I don't know)

I assume if the delay brings us to DUB after the closure, they will simply cancel the flight right? I haven't seen any extra flights being put on, so this means our next option will be 26 Dec, unless they put on flights on Christmas Day, which I heard somewhere they may.

Stevek101

Dublin isn't closing will be open all night tonight.

lord lucan

Stevek101 wrote: »

Dublin isn't closing will be open all night tonight.

Open tomorrow too,05.00-12.00 last i heard. Gonna be weird hearing aircraft on xmas day.

saeglopur

bw wrote: »

unless they put on flights on Christmas Day, which I heard somewhere they may.

There wont be any flights put on for Christmas Day. DAA made a comment saying they would be willing to facilitate extra flights but its just logistically impossible for the airlines to put such an operation together.

Stevek101

Last I heard from an ASU lad the plan was to go right through tonight till about 8 am tomorrow. Of course it is up to the airlines. They was talk of the last flight being a large Air France aircraft.

Run_to_da_hills

Dublin Airport, plane spotters paradise today with all the traffic.

axer

While I think the daa have done as good a job as they could given resources etc one gripe I have that maybe somebody could correct me on is Tuesday evening the airport called a suspension all the way until wednesday morning at 8am but then managed to open at 7am which meant a good few 6am (or whatever the earliest flight is) until 8am flights were canceled by airlines.

Maybe I'm missing something here but why didn't they suspend until before the first flight wednesday morning saying there will be an update then and then decide how much longer to stay closed instead of suspending for so long?