BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

On 17/06/2013 21:41, Recliner wrote:

Mizter T wrote:
Four hour long 'live' programmes (though presumably with much
pre-recorded content) about the operations of Heathrow are on BBC2 at 8pm
from Monday to Thursday this coming week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018t3xg

Hopefully should be of interest - there's certainly enough raw material
at one of the world's busiest airports.

Well, I thought it was really good. I know a lot about flying, and still
learned a lot. They also had live access to the control tower, which was
pretty impressive. And I liked the way Dallas was trying out the First
class suite on an SIA plane on live TV with the passenger possibly watching
the programme live from the departure lounge. I also think they wove the
recorded segments in with the live action very smoothly.

I only spotted one error, when Anita Rani said that the runways had to be
longer for the A380 -- that's one of the few things that didn't need
modifying, as A380s don't need longer runways than other long haul jets.

I wonder how much warning Kate Humble had that she'd be standing in for Dan
Snow? I don't think she's an aviation geek, so must have had to bone up
quite a bit.


Good to hear it was up to scratch - I'll be catching up on the
programmes later.

Wasn't there some sort of adjustment to the LHR taxiways or apron that
had to be made to (better?) accommodate the A380. That might have got
muddled up with the runway itself.

What became of Mr Snow (junior)?

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

Mizter T wrote:
On 17/06/2013 21:41, Recliner wrote:

Mizter T wrote:
Four hour long 'live' programmes (though presumably with much
pre-recorded content) about the operations of Heathrow are on BBC2 at 8pm
from Monday to Thursday this coming week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018t3xg

Hopefully should be of interest - there's certainly enough raw material
at one of the world's busiest airports.

Well, I thought it was really good. I know a lot about flying, and still
learned a lot. They also had live access to the control tower, which was
pretty impressive. And I liked the way Dallas was trying out the First
class suite on an SIA plane on live TV with the passenger possibly watching
the programme live from the departure lounge. I also think they wove the
recorded segments in with the live action very smoothly.

I only spotted one error, when Anita Rani said that the runways had to be
longer for the A380 -- that's one of the few things that didn't need
modifying, as A380s don't need longer runways than other long haul jets.

I wonder how much warning Kate Humble had that she'd be standing in for Dan
Snow? I don't think she's an aviation geek, so must have had to bone up
quite a bit.


Good to hear it was up to scratch - I'll be catching up on the programmes later.

Wasn't there some sort of adjustment to the LHR taxiways or apron that
had to be made to (better?) accommodate the A380. That might have got
muddled up with the runway itself.

What became of Mr Snow (junior)?

Yes, many changes had to be made for the A380, except to the runway length.
The plane needs a wider space around taxiways and also larger radius
corners. It also needed modified, wider spaced gates with more gangways
and lounge space. I suspect the pressure of live TV got Anita muddled.

They just said that Dan Snow couldn't be there because of a family
emergency. Kate Humble seemed to have been drafted in at very short notice,
and admitted that she doesn't normally like airports. She's certainly no
plane spotter, and she'd only just learned how to distinguish a 747 (she's
probably a lot better at wildlife than plane spotting). But she still
managed to do all the live interviews pretty well (Dan's recorded segments
still featured).

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

In message

, at 15:41:04 on Mon, 17 Jun 2013, Recliner
remarked:
I wonder how much warning Kate Humble had that she'd be standing in for Dan
Snow? I don't think she's an aviation geek, so must have had to bone up
quite a bit.

About the only aviation thing she did was identify a 747, which isn't
that difficult. As for her overall tenor, "over-excited" doesn't even
begin to describe it.

I found the swapping between live and recorded segments poorly managed,
with often only a change of clothes revealing which was which.

Most surprising revelation, that BA's chief Pilot had never been up
that[1] control tower before. I'd expect that someone in his position
would make more of an effort to build bonds between the various
professions at work.

[1] He said he'd been up the one it replaces.
--
Roland Perry

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

Roland Perry wrote:
In message
, at 15:41:04 on Mon, 17 Jun 2013, Recliner remarked:
I wonder how much warning Kate Humble had that she'd be standing in for Dan
Snow? I don't think she's an aviation geek, so must have had to bone up
quite a bit.

About the only aviation thing she did was identify a 747, which isn't
that difficult. As for her overall tenor, "over-excited" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Isn't that her normal style?


I found the swapping between live and recorded segments poorly managed,
with often only a change of clothes revealing which was which.

I thought that part was fine, but found the turning round of Virgin and BA
flights slightly confusing, as the two were mixed together. It might have
been clearer if they'd just done one, and showed it in more detail. I
suppose they filmed both, and felt obliged to use both so as not to annoy
the other -- it might have taken quite a lot of negotiations to get access,
and it might have looked odd if they then didn't use the footage.


Most surprising revelation, that BA's chief Pilot had never been up
that[1] control tower before. I'd expect that someone in his position
would make more of an effort to build bonds between the various professions at work.

[1] He said he'd been up the one it replaces.

Yes, that surprised me too. I assume that few outsiders go up the tower
itself, as visitors can hardly socialise with the working controllers. One
hopes that senior pilots do meet their ATC counterparts somewhere where
they can actually discuss things (I don't suppose controllers take jump
seat rides, either). He may also have been to Swanwick, where many more
controllers work.

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

In message

, at 14:34:33 on Tue, 18 Jun 2013, Recliner
remarked:
As for her overall tenor, "over-excited" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Isn't that her normal style?

I have no idea. I've never seen her before. The closest I have, is
perhaps Anneka Rice and her helicopter race.

Most surprising revelation, that BA's chief Pilot had never been up
that[1] control tower before. I'd expect that someone in his position
would make more of an effort to build bonds between the various professions at work.

[1] He said he'd been up the one it replaces.

Yes, that surprised me too. I assume that few outsiders go up the tower
itself, as visitors can hardly socialise with the working controllers. One
hopes that senior pilots do meet their ATC counterparts somewhere where
they can actually discuss things (I don't suppose controllers take jump
seat rides, either).

They should do. Both trades should observe the people they are working
with so closely on a day to day basis, in their natural environment, as
part of their basic training.

He may also have been to Swanwick, where many more controllers work.

It's possible, but with LHR being BA's home hub, and him being one of
their most senior reps, you'd think he'd try to get around a bit more.
--
Roland Perry

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message

, at 14:34:33 on Tue, 18 Jun 2013, Recliner
remarked:
As for her overall tenor, "over-excited" doesn't even begin to describe
it.

Isn't that her normal style?

I have no idea. I've never seen her before. The closest I have, is perhaps
Anneka Rice and her helicopter race.

Most surprising revelation, that BA's chief Pilot had never been up
that[1] control tower before. I'd expect that someone in his position
would make more of an effort to build bonds between the various
professions at work.

[1] He said he'd been up the one it replaces.

Yes, that surprised me too. I assume that few outsiders go up the tower
itself, as visitors can hardly socialise with the working controllers. One
hopes that senior pilots do meet their ATC counterparts somewhere where
they can actually discuss things (I don't suppose controllers take jump
seat rides, either).

They should do. Both trades should observe the people they are working
with so closely on a day to day basis, in their natural environment, as
part of their basic training.

He may also have been to Swanwick, where many more controllers work.

It's possible, but with LHR being BA's home hub, and him being one of
their most senior reps, you'd think he'd try to get around a bit more.
--
Roland Perry

Actually I think you'll find the controllers can request familiarisation
flights in jump seats. As one might expect it was much easier prior to
9/11 but it is still available. Swanwick will organise visits, but only
for professionals. Bear in mind he only answered what he was asked so you
have no real idea of where he may have visited over the years.

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

In message , at 23:04:09 on
Tue, 18 Jun 2013, Graham Harrison
remarked:
Bear in mind he only answered what he was asked so you have no real
idea of where he may have visited over the years.

So perhaps he chats with the air traffic controllers in the canteen? But
we are pretty sure he's never been up the tower before.
--
Roland Perry

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 23:04:09 on Tue,
18 Jun 2013, Graham Harrison remarked:
Bear in mind he only answered what he was asked so you have no real
idea of where he may have visited over the years.

So perhaps he chats with the air traffic controllers in the canteen? But
we are pretty sure he's never been up the tower before.

Not been up the new tower, yes. But he may have had regular meetings in the
offices below.

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

On Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:10:11 +0100
Roland Perry wrote:
Most surprising revelation, that BA's chief Pilot had never been up
that[1] control tower before. I'd expect that someone in his position
would make more of an effort to build bonds between the various
professions at work.

How often do train drivers go and visit the signalmen at work?

--
Spud

BBC2 "Airport Live" from Heathrow
 

On Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:54 +0100
Roland Perry wrote:
In message

, at 14:34:33 on Tue, 18 Jun 2013, Recliner
remarked:
As for her overall tenor, "over-excited" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Isn't that her normal style?

I have no idea. I've never seen her before. The closest I have, is

How can you have never seen her before? She's been virtually ubiquitous on
the BBC for about 5 years.

They should do. Both trades should observe the people they are working
with so closely on a day to day basis, in their natural environment, as
part of their basic training.

But they don't work with them closely - they may exchange a few sentences
at most during a departure and thats it. The people the pilots work most
closely with are the rest of the crew.

--
Spud