Why has fog caused so much disruption to UK flights when planes are known to be able to fly in fog?

Answer 1

Because of these silly little gadgets that most airlines have decided to remove from the aircraft due to the cost of maintaining them. They basically allow an aircraft to fly blind but were removed from most top airline companies as the expense to keep them running is higher than the losses incurred cancelling flights for a few days. The electronic devices (I've forgotten what they're called) need regular accurate calibration. Without these things, planes can still fly, but the guidance system is more visual and fog does tend to restrict visibility somewhat!

Answer 2

Yes they can take off and land in fog but once on the ground visibility is so low that the aircraft cannot taxi to the dispersal points as fast. This means that the number of landings per hour have to be reduced by half and there you can see how a build up will occur. Normally the landings occur every 75 seconds with around 45 every hour. That means that 22 flight will be delayed. The take offs are also slow as the aircraft cannot get to the taxi to take off point as quickly due to the poor visibility. Add to that the delays in luggage handling and the chaos is assured. Glad I am not there but feel very sorry for those people trying to get home for Christmas. Some will just not make it. You have a happy Christmas and spare a thought not only for those travellers but for all people that are having a rough time for what ever the reason.

Answer 3

doggies is thoroughly incorrect. it is not something in any respect to do with sat nav. in case you look at the airfield you will see an array of aerials in basic terms previous the tip of the runway. it particularly is termed the Localiser. From right here a complicated radio beam is sent out that's alligned with the centre-line of the runway and extends approximately 20 miles previous. The beam incorporates 2 overlapping lobes, each modulated with a various AF sign. The lobes overlap such that the two AF indicators are at equivalent capability precisely alongside the runway centre line. Aeroplanes carry kit that could interpret the indicators carried through this 'localiser' beam and couple as much as the autopilot. this would supply directional guidence to the airplane so as that it has horizontal, or azimuth, tips to that end it could land precisely on the runway's centre line. alongside the runway, some million/4 of it particularly is length from the threashold, or landing, end, you will see a vertical pole with aerials on it. it particularly is the 'Glidepath' aerial array. From right here a complicated radio beam (resembling the localiser) is sent up in the direction of the appraching airplane. that's angled at 3 tiers from the horizontal. kit carried on the airplane resembling that for the localiser sends administration indicators to the autopilot. to that end the airplane is guided on the suitable attitude of strategies-set right down to the runway threashold. between those 2 radio beams (together called the tool landing gadget or ILS) the airplane would be guided totally immediately right down to the floor and competently alongside the centre of the runway till it stops. Aeroplanes commonly lock directly to the ILS whilst they are between 10 and 20 miles from landing (finding on the aerodrome). There are different procedures of landing airplane which includes MLS yet those are no longer in common use.

Answer 4

Its that they cant see in the fog on the ground.

Check out this aircrash. It was in hevey fog ( better then Heathrows but still bad)

This is the worst aircrash in History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_disaster

The plane was told to stay on its positon but the piolit thorght he said take off. The plane went down the runway to take off but the 2 planes collided on the runway!

This is a good read!!!!!!

Answer 5

It isn't the air travel part that is the problem. Its the clearance on the ground between the traffic, both aircraft and airport vehicles. Low visibility on the ground means less traffic.

Answer 6

They can fly in fog, but the poor old pilots can't see a damn thing!