From the Flight Deck

Hey Doug,

A Manager for Ghana International wrote a brilliant piece on the Christmas snow storm at LHR last year. A must read for someone who appreciates what the weather can do to air travel.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1116671-tempo-15025g35kt-0100-sn-fzfg-ovc000-snoclo.html

Also, my book arrived. Thanks again.

Ryan

Hi Ryan. Thanks for the link. It was a long one, but well written.

I'm certain there will more stories coming soon from those in Britain.

Glad you received my book. Again, enjoy the read!

Doug

Hey Doug,
I'm flying to Charlottetown on boxing day, and I was wondering, what are the chances I could visit the flight deck and talk to the pilots? Do AC pilots normally let people visit, or is it rare? And do I just ask a flight attendant?

Thanks, Bryan

Bryan. You might be able to peek in and say hello during boarding, but you must ask the flight attendant first.

Also there is a small window during deplaning. Again you need permission.

Either than that, it's not going to happen.
Sorry. :(

Hi Doug,

Erik sure does get some cool images! The current batch are certainly "seasonal". Thanks for showing them.

On the "Omega Block", is that an official terminology or your own? Whatever, it is certainly bringing the cold into the UK and Europe. I spent a year in Sweden straight after leaving the RAF; lowest temps I saw at my house there was approx -30 C. It's not as cold as that in UK yet. I decided that heading North to York was too much of a risk. There are more severe weather warnings out over the next day or so - that, and the company accounts paperwork was later than I expected so didn't get signed until this afternoon.

So that's about it I guess. May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2011... and, of course, to CAT III, Giulia, Nadia, your other fans and their families also .

And just when Emirates thaought it could only get better - A380 @ Toronto - they dumped a Heathrow diversion Triple 7 off the concrete @ Birmingham... ...Ooops!!

Have a good one. / IanH

IanH. Happy Christmas and all the best for 2011 as well!

Yes, the "omega block" is an official term. Where i worked, Atmospheric Environment Canada, stipulated the phenomena should last at least 5 days. Looks like you guys made that requirement. :)

I tried your link about the B777 but "no joy." That's okay, I'll google it!

I'm out the door to take my son, nephew and 2nd year engineering daughter to the simulator building for a "spin in the sim."

I sure hope I can figure things out....no not the airplane...the simulator!

Talk to you soon!

Doug

P.S I think it was a good call staying put.

Doug, BBC have deleted the URL!!! I managed to retrieve a copy of some of the article, however, and have posted it on my own blog. Kind regards / IanH

Hello Capt. From a maintainance viewpoint, what steps are taken to get these frozen birds back to being flight ready? Thanks for the frequency of updates. Also, whatever was the outcome of the diesel fuel in the VW?

IanH. Read your post. Ouch! More salt to the wound. Doug

Shahrukh. I took a closer look at those A380 frozen birds and I couldn't see any external power or heat.
I don't know how they are dealing with the water on board.

The temperatures aren't cold enough to worry about pre-heating the engines. As long as the aircraft are deiced, it shouldn't be a major event to get them ready.

The diesel fuel went in a gasoline Honda. Hence the glitch. $440 later it's fixed. Now I've been waiting for half the money. It's been a month. :)

Doug