Why wasn't Gatwick disrupted by the snow?
08 February 2012, 09:32 AM
#1
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Why wasn't Gatwick disrupted by the snow?
Heaghrow ground to a halt but Gatwick seemed ok. Is this because it didn't get as much snow or deals with it better?
I'm flying from Gatwick next week and am really worried about tge further snow coming...
I'm flying from Gatwick next week and am really worried about tge further snow coming...
08 February 2012, 09:39 AM
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i live/work near gatwick. girlfriend works at airport. we had 2 1/2" snow here, main roads were pretty clear as no hard freeze overnight. they do clear the snow off the airfield pretty sharply. better than heathrow !
08 February 2012, 09:47 AM
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Always an over reaction here in the UK
They had 17 feet (5 metres) of snow in Austria recently
and traffic was moving again within a couple of days. Kids went to school as normal etc. I know they are better equipped over there but they just get on with it.
They had 17 feet (5 metres) of snow in Austria recently and traffic was moving again within a couple of days. Kids went to school as normal etc. I know they are better equipped over there but they just get on with it.
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08 February 2012, 11:03 AM
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Heathrow hardly ground to a halt 
, (and I was one of those slaughtering BAA last winter)
They took the decision the day before to cancel a 3rd of flights, of which the majority were domestic or short haul most intercontinental flights were unaffected, it was nothing like the sham of last winter.
, (and I was one of those slaughtering BAA last winter)They took the decision the day before to cancel a 3rd of flights, of which the majority were domestic or short haul most intercontinental flights were unaffected, it was nothing like the sham of last winter.
08 February 2012, 11:37 AM
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08 February 2012, 11:41 AM
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08 February 2012, 12:20 PM
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I don't think it's anything to do with snow clearing equipment. Gatwick is not running at 100% capacity.
Just like bad weather in cars, planes can't fly as close to each other when the weather or visabilty is poor. Therefore less planes can land per minute. This has a knock on effect.
Just like bad weather in cars, planes can't fly as close to each other when the weather or visabilty is poor. Therefore less planes can land per minute. This has a knock on effect.
08 February 2012, 06:26 PM
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Yes it could just be that Gatwick is running with far more slack in the system Also as mentioned they invested heavily in snow clearing machines after 2010.
Dpb, I'll be there on Thursday as well. If all the flights are cancelled I'll see you in the bar for a beer!
Dpb, I'll be there on Thursday as well. If all the flights are cancelled I'll see you in the bar for a beer!
08 February 2012, 07:37 PM
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08 February 2012, 08:49 PM
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08 February 2012, 10:57 PM
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Davyboy is spot on.
Go to Gatwick and at some times of the day you wonder where the aircraft are. This gives them time to clear snow.
Heathrow isn't like that. Two runways, one movement every 90 secsonds on each of them.
You can't clear the airfield unless you cancel flights.
Go to Gatwick and at some times of the day you wonder where the aircraft are. This gives them time to clear snow.
Heathrow isn't like that. Two runways, one movement every 90 secsonds on each of them.
You can't clear the airfield unless you cancel flights.
08 February 2012, 10:57 PM
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Davyboy is spot on.
Go to Gatwick and at some times of the day you wonder where the aircraft are. This gives them time to clear snow.
Heathrow isn't like that. Two runways, one movement every 90 secsonds on each of them.
You can't clear the airfield unless you cancel flights.
Go to Gatwick and at some times of the day you wonder where the aircraft are. This gives them time to clear snow.
Heathrow isn't like that. Two runways, one movement every 90 secsonds on each of them.
You can't clear the airfield unless you cancel flights.
09 February 2012, 06:00 AM
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09 February 2012, 06:03 AM
#27
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Davyboy is spot on.
Go to Gatwick and at some times of the day you wonder where the aircraft are. This gives them time to clear snow.
Heathrow isn't like that. Two runways, one movement every 90 secsonds on each of them.
You can't clear the airfield unless you cancel flights.
Go to Gatwick and at some times of the day you wonder where the aircraft are. This gives them time to clear snow.
Heathrow isn't like that. Two runways, one movement every 90 secsonds on each of them.
You can't clear the airfield unless you cancel flights.
Thanks FM.
So it's actually better in some ways to be flying from Gatwick rather than Heathrow? ie Gatwick flights will be unaffected by levels of snowfall that will see Heathrow flights cancelled?
Thanks
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