I SSUE23-APR/MAY 2014
Av i at i ont r ai ni ngands af et yar oundt hewor l d
BRI T I S HAI RW
& Heat hr ow T er mi na
31 Mar ch 2014 mar ked 40 year ss i nce Br i t i s h Ai r wayswasf or mal l y f ounded.Evers i nce t he Boar d was es t abl i s hed i n 1972,L ondon’ s Heat hr ow Ai r por thasal waysbeent hecar r i er ’ smai nhub.F ol l owi ngt he 14Mar ch2008openi ngofT er mi nal5,al mos tal loft heai r l i ne’ ss er vi ces ar enow oper at edf r om t hi ss t at eof t hear tf aci l i t y. CompanyBoei ng787pi l otDheer ajBhas i nt akesusonanaf t er hour st our ofBA’ si mpr es s i veoper at i on.
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ti sar ar epr i vi l egei ndeedt obeabl et ot our ar oundHeat hr ow Ai r por t .Evenhavi ngbeen a Br i t i s h Ai r wayspi l otf ors even year s ,Iam amaz edathow mucht her ei st odi s coverabout t he BA oper at i on outofT er mi nal5 when you s cr at chbel ow t he s ur f ace. I ti swhyIs t ar tt hi s ar t i cl e wi t ht hanks– t hankst ot he i ndi vi dual s whowor keds ohar dt ogetKar l Dr age,Nat as ha Ver r al l Bhas i n( f r om t he RAFand wr i t i ng f ort he
Ai rCadetmagaz i ne)andI acces st ot he‘ i ns i de’ oft he oper at i on t hat i s Br i t i s h Ai r ways and T er mi nal 5.F r om Br i t i s hAi r waysI mus tt hankPaul S mi l es ,S ue Gol dt hor pe and T ony Cane;and f r om t he Br i t i s h Ai r por t sAut hor i t y Imus tt hank RachelBet t s .S peci alt hanksal s o go t o Gl enn Pal merwho wasoures cor tar ound t he ai r f i el d f ort hedur at i onofourvi s i t .
T heBoei ng7878Dr eaml i nerj oi ned t heBr i t i s ex ampl eshavebeendel i ver edwi t haf ur t her Imus tofcour s et hankKar l–i twashi si deat hat wet akeawanderar oundHeat hr ow!ImetKar l whenI wasaJ aguarpi l oti nt heRAF ;wewor ked t oget her on maki ng t he wi t hdr awalof t he J aguarF or cef r om RAFS er vi ceani ndel i bl epar t ofhi s t or y.And a good j ob hedi d ofi tt oo.S o her e we ar e agai n –s ame ol d Kar l( he has n’ t evenaged! )andme( s omewhatol derl ooki ng) i n mynew gui s e asan Boei ng 787Dr eaml i ner pi l otwi t hBA.If l ew t heAi r busA320f orf i veand ahal fyear sandt hens pentni nemont hsont he Boei ng 777i nbet weenbuthave beenont he 787s i nceOct ober2013.
F orr eas onsofs af et yands ecur i t y,manychecks havet obedonei nor dert ogetacces st ot he ‘ ai rs i de’atL HR.Event houghI havean‘ ai rs i de’ pas s ,i tdoesnotent i t l e me t or un ar ound t he t er mi nal uncont r ol l ed.S owet ur nupatt heS t ar Cent r ei nt he ‘ Cent r alAr ea’ofHeat hr ow ( t he ar eawher eT er mi nal s1,2and3ar e)andweget s peci al pas s esi s s ued,cour t es yoft hehar dwor k oft heBAandBAApeopl ement i onedabove.
t i s hAi r waysf l eeton26J une2013wi t hs er vi cescommenci ngt oT or ont oon1S ept ember .T odat e,f our erf ouronor der .T hecar r i eral s ohasor der si npl acef or227879var i ant sand1278710s .
Ar medwi t hourpas s est henex tchal l engei st o f i nds omewher et opar k.Wegot ot hebus i nes s par ki ng ar ea atT er mi nal5s ot hatIcans how Kar land Nat as ha t he “Pods ” . T er mi nal5 i s s er vedbyt hewor l d’ sf i r s tper s onalr api dt r ans i t s ys t em –a f our per s on dr i ver l es svehi cl et hat whi s ksyou f r om carpar kt o checki n des ki n aboutf i vemi nut es .Mys onl ovest r avel l i ngi ni t becaus ei ti suni queandal s ogoesr i ghtunder t heai r cr af tast heyappr oacht ol and–s oever y t i me he vi s i t she i ns i s t sonuspar ki ng i nt he T 5 bus i nes spar k! Moment sl at er ,wef i ndour s el vesi nT er mi nal 5– t he l ar ges ts i ngl es pan bui l di ng i n Eur ope, bei ngt hes i z eof50f oot bal lpi t ches .I fi tl ooks bi gf r om t heout s i de,i ti swor t hnot i ngt hatt her e i sasmuch under gr ound ast her ei sabove gr ound. I ti scapabl e ofhandl i ng 30 mi l l i on pas s enger sayear ,and12, 000bagsperhour .I t hasover100s hops ,and hasl ounges pacef or 2, 500cus t omer s . Butt hat ’ sj us tT er mi nal5A – we have t wo s at el l i t es–5Band 5C al s o. T he checki n and s ecur i t ys ys t em i sdes i gned t o haveyou‘ ai rs i de’wi t hi nt enmi nut esofwal ki ng i nt hebui l di ng.Wear eaboutt opr ovei t !
Above - A s i ght ai r por twi l leverw empt yt er mi nal .
Ri ght - T er mi nal December 2009 Met r opol i t anPol i ce EC145 hel i copt er s check,i st he l ar ge T er mi nal 5compl ex l ar ges toft ypescur t heai r l i net hati sab t heA380r es t r i ct ed 5Band5C.
L ef t-L onghaul s er v s ceneofT er mi nal 5
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l 5A, as s een i n f r om one of t he ceAi rS uppor tUni t ’ s r sdur i ng a s ecur i t y ges tel ementoft he ex .T he747400i st he ur r ent l yoper at edby abl et ous e5A,wi t h dt ous i ng t er mi nal s
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Whet heryouar eapas s engerors t af f ,youhave t ogot hr oughex act l yt hes ames ecur i t ychecks . S ohavi ngs pentaboutt enmi nut esget t i ngf r om t he cart ot he T er mi nal ,we pr oceed on our t womi nut e wal kt o s ecur i t y. Des pi t e Kar l car r yi ng hi s us ual 150kg of camer a equi pment ( ! ) ,wewhi pt hr ought hechecksand f i nd our s el vesi nt her el ax ed at mos pher eoft he ‘ ai rs i de’wi t hi n20mi nut esofget t i ngoutoft he car . We ar e goi ng t o do t he ni ghts hi f t .T he t i me i s about7pm andt hes unwi l ls oonbes et t i ng.S o ourf i r s tj obi st ot r yandgets omephot osoft he ai r cr af tatdus k.Ir i ngGl ennwhowi l lpi ckusup and gui deusar ound t heai r f i el d.Gl enndr i ves “L eader6” – a pi ckup t r uck i n an at t r act i ve s hade ofbr i ghtyel l ow whi ch hel pst o mar s hal ai r cr af tandvehi cl esont hemanoeuvr i ngar eas oft heai r por t .Hei sahi ghl yqual i f i eddr i ver–s o much s ot hathe i sper mi t t ed t o “f r eer ange” ar oundt heai r por t–hei saut hor i s edbyAi rT r af f i c Cont r olt o dr i ve anywher e on t he ai r f i el d,wi t h t heex cept i onoft her unways ,wi t houtneedi ng t o getper mi s s i on. T hi si sbecaus e hi sex per t i s e andex per i encei ss ucht hathecanmakeal l t he s af et y deci s i ons he needs “wi t hi n hi s own cockpi t ” .L ucki l yf orhi m -and us,he l i kes aer opl aness owe’ r ei nf oragoodni ght . Whi l e we wai tf orGl ennt o ar r i ve,we wat cha s hor thault ur nr ound. Puts i mpl yi ti sa mas s i ve ver s i onofaf or mul aonepi ts t op.T heai r cr af ti s anAi r busA319.I thappenst obei nt he“Dove” pai nts cheme – a s peci alpai nts cheme t hat cel ebr at es“Gr eatBr i t ons ”andcommemor at es BA’ spar t ner s hi p wi t ht heL ondon2012Ol ympi c and Par al ympi c Games . T he aer opl ane wi l l depar ton i t snex tf l i ghtj us t40mi nut esaf t eri t ar r i ves . T heai r cr af tt ax i esi nononeengi neonl yt os ave emi s s i ons , par t of our “One Des t i nat i on” Cor por at e Res pons i bi l i t y pol i cy. T he s econd engi ne i ss t i l lwi ndi ng down when t he j et t y at t achest ol ett he pas s enger sout . DoorOne L ef topensataboutt hes amet i meast hecar go door sopenont her i ghtandt hebagscomeof f –i ti snotunus ualf ort he bagst o beatt he
“T heDove”( above)wasoneoft wos peci als A319f l eett ocel ebr at et heL ondon2012Ol ym t hi s des i gn,whi l eaf ur t herai r cr af t ,GEUP r ecogni t i onoft hef acti twasus edt odel i vert h
ls chemesBr i t i s hAi r waysappl i edt os omeofi t s mpi cGames .A t ot al ofs evenai r cr af ts por t ed PC ( bel ow) ,r ecei ved “T he F i r ef l y” l i ver yi n t heOl ympi cf l amet ot heUK.
T hef uel t r uckappear sundert hel ef twi ngast he cat er er shookupt oDoorT woRi ght .At t achi ngt o DoorOne Ri ghti st he hi ghl i f t–a mobi l e ar r i val hal lt hatwi l lt ake car e ofourPas s enger swi t h ReducedMobi l i t y. Undert he t ai loft he ai r cr af tt he wat ert r uck appear sast hegr oundel ect r i csar epl uggedi nt o t hej etundert henos e.Att hi spoi ntt heai r cr af t ’ s Aux i l i ar yPowerUni tcanbes wi t ched of f ,f ur t her s avi ng onemi s s i ons . Ast he l as tpas s engerget s of f ,t heCabi nCr ew doa s ecur i t ys weep oft he ai r cr af t ,andt hecl eaner sf ol l ow t hem up. Ont he r i ghtoft he j ett he baggage cont ai ner s f ort henex tf l i ghtar er eadyt obel oadedast he cl eaner s do t hei r own s ecur i t y check on compl et i onoft hei rt as k. T he new Cabi nCr ew getonanddot hei rowns ecur i t ycheckal s o.T he pi l ot s ar e s t ayi ng on t he ai r cr af t , goi ng i mmedi at el yi nt o anot herf l i ghti na t echni que known asa “F i x ed L i nk” . One goest o do t he “wal kr ound” – an ex t er nali ns pect i on oft he ai r cr af t ,and one pr epar est he f l i ghtdeckand t hef l i ghtmanagements ys t em,t heF MGS ,f ort he nex tf l i ght . Under t he wat chf ul eye of t he T ur nr ound Manager ,t he l oadi ng i scompl et ed. Wi t h her f our t h pai rofhands ,t he T ur nr ound Manager l i ai s eswi t ht hecabi ncr ew andt hegat es t af ft o ens ur e t hat pas s enger embar kat i on s t ar t s pr eci s el y28mi nut espr i ort odepar t ur e.S hehas beenmoni t or i ngel ect r oni cal l yt hemovementof pas s enger st hr ough checki n and s ecur i t yt o makes ur et hatever yonei si nt her i ghtpl aceat t he r i ghtt i me. Mos tpeopl e checki nonl i ne at home t hes e days , and t hey can even get el ect r oni cboar di ngpas s esont hei rs mar tphones –al loft hi smakesl i f ea l i t t l el es ss t r es s f ulatt he ai r por tandas s i s t si nt heont i medepar t ur e. One byone,t he door scl os e,t he t r ucksgo t o t hei rnex tj obs ,and att en mi nut est o go,t he pus hbackt r uckconnect sup and t hepus hback cr ew do a f i nalcheckt hatt he out s i de oft he ai r cr af ti scor r ect l y conf i gur ed f orf l i ght . Wi t h t hr eemi nut est o go t hej et t ydet achesand t he ai r cr af tpus hesbackont i me.Al lwear emi s s i ng i saNAS Acount down. . . .
Above-Gl ennPal meri ss eenmar s hal i ngaBA 767ont oi t ss t andaf t ert he f ai l ur eoft heaut omat eds ys t em.T hi si sj us toneoft hemanyt as ksGl enncan beas kedt of ul f i l i nhi shugel yvar i edr ol e. A br i ghtyel l ow pi ckup wi t ha bi g bl acknumber“6”pai nt ed ont he s i de appear swi t hbeaconsf l as hi ng. Gl enni sher e and he pi cksusup ast he “Dove”ex t endsi t sf l apsand s l at sand t ax i esaway. He ex pl ai nsal lt he s af et yas pect sofbei ngont heai r f i el dandequi psuswi t hhi vi sj acket sand hear i ng pr ot ect i on. We s pend t he nex tcoupl e ofhour si nt o dar knes s movi ngar oundt het er mi nal andt heai r f i el dasawhol e. Bel ow -T her ear ever yf ew qui etper i odsatHeat hr ow.I nt hi spi ct ur eaBA A319t ax i est os t and asanAl i t al i a ex ampl evacat est her unwayand f our ot herai r cr af tpr epar et ot ouchdown.
Above-GBZ HA,a t akes a wel ldes e concr et eout s i deT e dayofoper at i ons . ‘ Ex t endedRange’ Ai r wayspr i mar i l ye on s ome ofi t shi g wi t hi nEur ope.
Ri ght-T he l i ght si n i l l umi nat et heef f l ux A320’ snumber2e i nt o ni ghtand i tp t ar mac on Run compl et i ngt hel as t
aBoei ng767336ER, s er ved r es ton t he T er mi nal 5af t eraf ul l s .Des pi t ebei ng an ’ ver s i on, Br i t i s h empl oyst hi sai r cr af t i gher dens i t yr out es
i nt he backgr ound uxpour i ngoutoft hi s engi neasdayt ur ns pr epar est o ki s st he unway 27R af t er s ts ect oroft heday.
T 5i sbus y al lt he way i nt ot he l at e ni ght .BA andi t spar t nerai r l i ness er ve a gl obal net wor k of over 600 des t i nat i ons and BA and i t s s ubs i di ar i es oper at e 263 ai r cr af tt hatnumberhasi ncr eas ed i nr ecent t i mesasBMimi gr at ed acr os st o BA, andwecont i nuet or ecei veournew Boei ng787sandAi r bus380s-andof cour s e we have wel comed ourI AG par t nerI ber i ai nt oT 5.T het er mi nali n t ot al has76ai r cr af tpar ki ngs t ands ,of whi ch mos tconnectdi r ect l yt ot he t er mi nal vi aj et t i es .T hi smi ghts eem a l ow numberbutmos toft he ai r cr af t ar eai r bor neatanyonet i me,i tbei ng nor mal f oras hor t haul ai r cr af tl i kean A319t of l ys i xt i mesaday!
Above-T heAi r bu bi gges tai r cr af ti n f l eet f ol l owi ng t h ai r l i ne’ sf i r s tex am F i veai r cr af thave dat eandaf ut he or der .T heyar ec s er vi ces t o L o J ohannes bur g,w Was hi ngt onDul l e commencei nS ep
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busA380i snow t he i nt heBr i t i s hAi r ways t he ar r i valof t he mpl eon4J ul y2013. ebeendel i ver edt o ers evenr emai non cur r ent l yoper at i ng os Angel es and wi t hS i ngapor eand l l es s et t o ept ember .
l cons ol e,f eat ur i ng, t hi ngs ,t he t hr ot t l e Boei ng747400.
Above-Ar at herdi f f er entcockpi tt ot hatwhi chyouraut hor( r i ght )i sus edt o! T hi s ,ofcour s e,i st he mi ght yBoei ng 747400. Wi t h an act i ve f l eetof49 ai r cr af t ,Br i t i s hAi r waysi st hewor l d’ smos tpr ol i f i coper at oroft het ype.
Bel ow -Whi l et he747400cur r ent l yr emai nst hef l ags hi p ofBr i t i s hAi r ways ’ l onghaul f l eet ,t hef i r s toft hecompany’ sA380s ’f i r s tf l i ghtl ooms .
Mai n-Br i t i s hAi r wayshasa56s t r ongf l eetofBoei ng777s .Al l bart enar ef r om t he 200S er i es ,l i ket hi sone,GVI I C. Bot t om -T heel ongat edpr of i l eofoneofBA’ s18A321s ,GEUXF .
Wet aket i met ovi s i tal l ai r cr af ti nt hef l eett hatar epr es ent–t hos e under goi ngr out i nemai nt enanceont her ampar eont hegr ound f oral i t t l el ongers owear eabl et owal kar oundt heout s i deand t he i ns i de oft he 777s ,747s ,767s and t he Ai r bus es . Iam par t i cul ar l yhappyt os how Kar l andNat as hat henew F i r s tCl as sf i t i noneofourJ umbos .I thasni ces of tbl uel i ght i ngandt hebi gT V s cr eens–wel l –I ’ dl i keonel i ket hati nmyhous epl eas e!T hi sadds t ot he ot herpas s engerf aci l i t i est hatar e bei ng cont i nuous l y i mpr oved s uch asf l atbedsi ns ome ofourA321sand ai r bor ne i nt er netandmobi l et ex tmes s agi ngi nourA318s .
T hef ourt hr ot t l el ever soft he747400.
T hes of tbl uel i ght i ngofBA’ snew F i r s tCl as scabi n aboar di t s747400s .
S peaki ng ofengi neer i ng,you have gott os ee t hes e peopl eatwor k.Wi t hconf i denceandapl omb,t heywor k on t he mas s i ve Boei ng 747400 l i ke t hey ar ef eedi ng a newbor n baby,t aki ng gr eatcar e and concent r at i ng har d, but havi ng t he obvi ous compet ence of an ex per i enced par ent . Icannotr emembert he l as tt i me I as ked an engi neera t echni calques t i on aboutt hes e ex t r emel ycompl exmachi nesandt heydi dn’ tj us tans wer i t–s t r ai ghtof ft hebat !
Dur i ng ourt r i pswi t h Gl enn,we go t o pl acest hatf ew peopl e go –t he t ax i ways ,t her amp,t heengi neer i ngbas e,t hegr as sver gesoft her unway. Ever ymi nut ewel ear ns omet hi ngnew aboutt hewor l d’ sbus i es tai r por tand t hewor l d’ sbi gges tj i gs aw.How Ai rT r af f i cCont r ol ( i nmyopi ni ont hebes ti n t hewor l d)managesal l t hemovement s ,how t heai r f i el di sabl et ooper at e i n75m vi s i bi l i t yonaf oggyday,how t hef ueli sdi s t r i but ed,how t hef oodi s keptf r es h,andhow t hewi ndowsonT 5s t aycl ean!Youcannotf ai lt obe i mpr es s ed. S peaki ngofi mpr es s ed,wet akeat r i pt ot heRoyalS ui t e,ont hes out hs i de ofRunway27L .Al t houghT 5hasi t sownVI Phos t i ngf aci l i t i es ,i ti sl ovel yand s omewhatnos t al gi ct os eet hi sf aci l i t yt hati ss t i l l ver ymuchoper at i onal ;t he s t af fofcour s e hi ghl yt r ai ned and f ul l yconver s antwi t hal lt he neces s ar y pr ot ocoland et i quet t e.Nat as ha cannotr es i s thavi ng a pi ct ur et akenof hers i t t i ngont heRoyal s of a. . . . .
Above-J us tonevi e ex per i ence,andavi e
Bel ow -T hevi ew f r om
Bot t om l ef t-Onewon S ui t e. . . . ?
T op l ef t-Heat hr ow’ s Ai r f i el dOpscarpar k.
i ew oft heNor t hGal l er i esL ounge,of f er i ng a ver ycomf or t abl e vi ew acr os st heai r por t ,whi l eyouawai tyourf l i ght .
mt hebal conyacr os saver yqui etT er mi nal 5A.
nder sj us twhomi ghthaves atont heRoyal s of ai ns i det heRoyal
’ si mpr es s i veai rt r af f i ccont r olt oweratni ght ,ass eenf r om t he k.
Havi ng gone backt o Ai r f i el d Ops wi t h Gl enn,we gets ome “s t ay awake j ui ce”( cof f ee)and head back t oT 5f ora l ook r ound t he depar t ur esl evel s .I ti s2am.T her e ar e no pas s enger sher e now but t hepl acei ss t i l l anamaz i nghi veof act i vi t y. We go t o t he Nor t h Gal l er i esL ounge. T 5A al one has f i vepr emi um l oungesand wes ee t he f aci l i t i esbei ng cl eaned and r epl eni s hed. Her e t her e ar e bus i nes sf aci l i t i es ,s hower s ,f ood, dr i nk, chi l dr en’ s pl ay ar eas , news paper sand magaz i nes ,and s ome l ovel ys t af f . I t ’ sa s t r ange f eel i ng chat t i ng t ot hem becaus e when t he T er mi nali s oper at i ng we’ r e al l f ocus s ed on t he cus t omer s and we don’ tr eal l y not i ce eachot her . Now t hatt he pl ace i sf ul l of s t af f onl y and peopl e have t i me t ot al k,If eela bond wi t ht hem; a connect i on t hatwe ar e al lher e doi ng t he s ame j ob, pul l i ng i n t he s ame di r ect i on.BAcal l si t“OneT eam” . As we wal k ar ound t he vas t s hoppi ngar easand t hemul t i t ude ofs eat i ngf aci l i t i es ,If eelt hi swhen meet i ng t he s ecur i t y s t af f ,t he cl eaner s ,t he peopl er es t ocki ng t hes hops ,t hepeopl epr epar i ngt o open t he cus t omers er vi ce des ks . Qui t e a humbl i ng ex per i ence i n f act . And t he peopl e her e wor k wel l . You r ar el y s ee l ong queues anywher e i n t hi sT er mi nal ; you don’ ts eepeopl es t r uggl i ngt of i nd as eat .Whent hepas s enger sget on t he aer opl ane t hey l ook r el ax ed, whi ch i s s ome achi evementwhen you cons i der t he pr oces s est hatone mus tgo t hr ough,and t he ex per i encesof year sgonebyi not herpl aces .You s ee peopl er ecei vi ng a per s onal s er vi ce. I ’ m gl ad Is t ayed up al l ni ghtt os eet hi s .
An amaz i ng s ky wel comes t he S peedbi r d 56 backt ot he UK af t eran 11hou J ohannes bur g,t hef i r s tar r i val oft heday.
Aswel ookoutoft he t he Eas twe s ee t he l i ght en.T i mef orKar l t o ofcamer a equi pmen By coi nci dence,i t ’ s Goodpr es ent ,eveni f Wecat ch“S peedbi r d I t ’ saBoei ng747400t h f or11hour s ,comi ng f r om J ohannes bur g pas s enger son boar d t ouchdownonRunwa t ax yi ngpacewi t hs po and wheelbr akess o don’ teven have t or her al dst he s t ar tofa S oon,ai r cr af ts t ar tar mi l ei nt er val s ,l andi ng ar at eofaboutonee
urr et ur nt r i pf r om
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Above -T he mos tr ecentaddi t i on t ot he Br i t i s h Ai r waysf l eeti st he Boei ng 777300ER. T wo bi g puf f s of s moke ar e emi t t ed as GS T BF ’ s mai n under car r i aget ouchesdownonRunway27R. Bel ow -A t ypi calHeat hr ow s cenewi t has t r eam ofi nboundsf l yi ngdownt he appr oach,headedbya747400. Bot t om l ef t-A 744pr epar est ol andonRunway27L ,pas s i ngi nf r ontofwhat wi l l becomeHeat hr ow’ snew T er mi nal 2i nt hepr oces s .
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