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TWR | 18:09 Sun 20th Jan 2013 | Motoring
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Must be the laughing stock of the world, where did the £25000000 go? they did say on SNOW clearing Machines! It that the staff with shovels.

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Agree with you 100 per cent, can't wait to hear the excuses again. Unbelievable.
Heathrow runs at 98% capacity for landings and take offs, whereas other airports generally operate at below 50%. International air safety rules require that the spacing between aircraft is increased while the present weather conditions persist. That's no problem for airports where there are already several minutes between each flight movement, but totally impossible for an airport which needs to have movements at a rate of greater than one per minute if it is to maintain a full service. (Further, some flights get delayed or cancelled simply because of delays at the airports where the aircraft have come from).

Even if Heathrow had heated runways, with not a fleck of snow on the ground, it would be impossible for it to operate at its normal capacity while aircraft separations are increased in the air.
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More than likely say that the weather forecast was wrong, what a cock up, I hope the people that got stranded sue them, it's what they deserve.
I expect the directors took a big bonus out of it, after all they haven't had to close down for a year.
It's visibility that is the problem not just the snow on the ground/aircraft.

As Chris has said there is there little slack at LHR and to increase the time between flights reduces the number of take offs they can handle.

Cancellation of domestic flights and short haul routes where alternative travel methods exist i.e. rail and ferry are SOP.
think poor visibility had something to do with it as well as snow, nowt you can do about that. Been snowing in London continuously since 7 this morning. Better to be safe than sorry. Buenchico is spot on.
Buencho, taking what you say into account why did they waste all that money?
Thetaliesin:
The money was spent to lessen the impact of poor weather conditions (so that only factors outside of the control of Heathrow Airport can delay flights). It was always recognised that nature tends to win against man!
http://youtu.be/lUds1pWKMjs

Although they have spent £36 million, including on some better snow machines, it may not be enough ! Always an unfair comparison, but the city of Toronto alone budgets $82 million dollars a year for its winter measures. All right, we don't get that weather, but it's no excuse for having half-measures for what we do get
who said it was wasted.......as stated visibility is the main issue and runways have to be shut to clear the snow.
You also have to take into consideration having crews with adequate hours to fulfill their shift when delays occur.
it annoys me when people like TWR moan about a situation without understanding all the issues involved.

So easy to sit at a keyboard and critize.

Read Buenchicos answer for a good explanation.

or maybe you wont, you will just ignore it and keep on moaning.
There is rarely a simple answer to these types of problem. They are invariably multi-faceted and consequently complex to resolve.

Armchair warriors do seem to have the perfect solution though.......
TWR, you are obviously a man of great and wide ranging experience, so tell us, how they could best solve the problem?
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You seem to be very Intelligent in these matters Baldric, I will leave it to you vast experience in life & life's problems, so be my guest.

VHG, Terminal 5, If you remember, snow a few years ago, If you remember, Passengers sleeping on the floor, If you can remember, latest snow fall, If you remembers, Where were the passengers, If you remember??
Oh for goodness sake TWR, if you want a debate, do just that, debate. Don't talk in bloomin' riddles.

And BTW I think you've answered you own question...the passengers were sleeping on the floor, that's where they were....remember???
One word - 3rd runway!
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Was I taking to you Eccles?
I am not the one pouring derision upon them, you are, which led me to believe you may have come up with a solution to the the problem, but
as usual, when challenged you come up short!
..and one of those drive through de-icers like they have in Monteal

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