Fog

[Norfolkit]

Given the problems at Heathrow on Sunday, I was wondering what is it about fog that stops modern aircraft from landing or taking off. I can understand it from years ago when things were more visual but what's the problem today?

(Not involved in aviation in any way as is probably obvious)

Edited by Norfolkit on Monday 21st November 01:42

[Silent1]

Technically nothing you just press the auto land button and let it do it's thing, pilots aren't allowed to land planes in the fog they have to let the plane do it.

right let's see who is the first to start frothing at the mouth and goes mental...

[anonymous-user]

The lining up and departing bit is fairly easy. The tricky bit is all the ground taxying where it's harder to keep track of aircraft as they're lost in amongst all the ground clutter. As I underestand it that's where more of a delay gets induced.

[pacman1]

Crossflow Kid said:

The tricky bit is all the ground taxying where it's harder to keep track of aircraft as they're lost in amongst all the ground clutter.

Ask any KLM 747 pilot trying to leave Tenerife..

[Eric Mc]

Even though many airliners today have full autoland capabilities, not all airliners do. In addition, each airline will have set minimum levels of visibility for their crews, That means that even though the aircraft may be fully capable of landing in dense fog, the airline may not allow it.

Look what happened in Cork earlier this year.

[anonymous-user]

The main issue is the increase in the spacing between landing and departing traffic. These delays soon knock on and many airlines simply cancel some flights to protect their overall schedules.

Although some aircraft can indeed land with fog on the deck they will still need a minimum of 75 meters horizontal visibility to land. Take offs are manual and depending on the size of aircraft minimum visibility for take off is still 125/150 meters.

Edited by el stovey on Monday 21st November 09:31

[BigWithey]

The issue isn't totally around landing/take off, it's also about low viz on the ramp impacting on everything to do with turning an aircraft around.

[pushthebutton]

Silent1 said:

right let's see who is the first to start frothing at the mouth and goes mental...

You?

[sneijder]

Most mornings at OSL I haven't been able to see the top of the tower, the fog has been that thick. Doesn't stop them.

We aren't the biggest airport in the world mind.

[anonymous-user]

sneijder said:

Most mornings at OSL I haven't been able to see the top of the tower, the fog has been that thick. Doesn't stop them.

We aren't the biggest airport in the world mind.

That simply bears out the reduced frequency of movements being the killer. A small airport with few movements has far more flex in its schedule.