Anyone flying out this weekend getting worried?

EmmaEvs wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:I just can't believe the chaos caused by the Heathrow closure, yes they have had some snow but come on the worlds busiest airport closed :evil:

I agree. There's no excuse for the airports to be ill prepared. Why can't they do what they do in Wimbledon when it rains? Pull giant tarpaulins across the runways and taxi areas with tractors. Then when it stops, hook up one side of the tarpaulins to the tractors again, section by section, to pull it back off the runway etc, snow and all. The money these airports make, they've got no excuse not to invest in some plastic and a few vehicles even if they are only used a couple of times per year. Gotta be cheaper than cancelling/delaying flights too.

And before someone points out the obvious, yes I know it would be on a huge scale in order to cover the area needed. Doesn't make it impossible though.

Ms Evans have you lost the plot :shock:

How? Why wouldn't it work? Seriously...

An extract from BBC news:
Helsinki airport had 188cm (six feet) of snow last winter but the last time it was forced to close because of the weather was in 2003.
That closure lasted for half an hour.

Like all these things, it is only a question of good management.

The full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12042213

Why are so many people jumping on the media bandwagon, and asking why we are so unprepared for this?

Ok, so in European countries where they have weather like this all the time, the government invests heavily in equipment to keep roads and airports open. They are used to it, as it is part of their regular lives in many places.

Over here, its not common, although in recent years weather patterns seem to have changed and we have had some extreme cold weather in the winter.

BUT does it warrant massive spending when the nation is on the verge of bankruptcy? The government would say no, those stuck at the airports or in a layby would say yes. But who funds it? The governments abroad tax people higher, in return for higher investment in the right equipment.
Gatwick just bought 2 new snowploughs - the cost? £8 million. You don't just magic that kind of money from nowhere. Investment is required, but the argument would be is it worth it for a few days (weeks at worst) each year?

I'm still alarmed at how many motorists stil think its acceptable to go out when conditions are so bad, and do things like drive their rear wheeled BMW's and Merc's in thick snow and wonder why they can't move, or drive around in freezing fog with no lights on.
:roll:

Dave Mac wrote:An extract from BBC news:
Helsinki airport had 188cm (six feet) of snow last winter but the last time it was forced to close because of the weather was in 2003.
That closure lasted for half an hour.

Like all these things, it is only a question of good management.

The full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12042213

...and money.

steverandomno wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:An extract from BBC news:
Helsinki airport had 188cm (six feet) of snow last winter but the last time it was forced to close because of the weather was in 2003.
That closure lasted for half an hour.

Like all these things, it is only a question of good management.

The full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12042213

...and money.

BINGO

The cost of doing it.

The cost of not doing it.

It's not just about inconvenience, and it's not about jumping on a bandwagon. There are economic reasons for keeping an airport (and roads) functional. The question is can a country on the verge of bankruptcy afford to lose millions of pounds per day on road and airport closures? And as for our standing in the wider international community, if we can't be seen to manage snow in winter why should anybody take us seriously and bring their business here? It ain't just about people moaning cos they can't go on holiday.

As for 8 mill for two snowploughs. Who the hell was in charge of procurement for those? 4 million pounds for a tractor with a massive shovel on the front? Someone's having a laugh.