This was going to be published yesterday – but I honestly was in superranty mood after the laughable misoperation of the ID Cards. Plus it’s given me more time to write this entry with a few more facts, so all the better really..

American Airlines Flight AA331 was a simple Washington DC (Regan National) to Jamaica Service via Miami service, served by a Boeing 737-800 (N977AN) – much like the Ryanair 737-800 that skidded off the taxiway later on.

Whilst on approach, it seems the weather was very poor, with heavy rain and thunderstorms in the region.
On landing, it appears that the aircraft aquaplaned on contact, and skidded off the end of the runway, breaking into 3 segments and coming to a rest near of the runway 15ft (thats 3 meters or so away) from the sea

The frame itself is 8 years old at the time of the incident, however, in three bits (fractured aft of the wing of the fuselage, the right hand engine has become separated from the body, and the left wing-tip has snapped clean off, along with the nose crushed and a couple of other breaks as well as the landing gear collapsing) -the frame it’s a write off.   

Thankfully, and perhaps more important is that whilst 44 people were injured – 4 seriously, there were no fatalities at all from the 154 people aboard the plane (148 passengers + 6 crew).


For those 154 people – please enjoy your Christmas Miracle.

If you’re one of the 1736 fools citizens people victims users of the UK National ID Card (Manchester Area), one of it’s esteemed promises from The Home Office was.

“The Home Office said these ID cards could be used for travel in Europe, as well as being a means of identity in opening up bank accounts and the like.”

Well. A lot of travel companies are really playing ball with this. Not.

In an investigation by the Manchester Evening News (as well as earlier reports of people being denied access to board ferries from Hull, and trying to check in for flights at Stansted for Bonn), 9 travel providers stated they could not use an ID card as the sole travel document. 8 companies later redacted the statements (bar Eurostar who are still unhappy to state if it’s a valid travel document) to state it is possible to travel on an ID card. Only 4 companies in the initial questioning phase got it “right”

However, this is good in theory, but when you’re at the border trying to leave the UK on an ID card, you’ll get odd looks and confusion as the trial hasn’t seemed to be communicated well enough to travel providers.

In particular, Air Berlin and GermanWings have refused point blank to accept this as a valid travel document as it has been not been recognised by the German Federal Authorities.

Identity and Passport Service (IPS) said “The National Identity Card is a valid document for travel and is as good as a passport in Europe.

“We expect all carriers in the UK to accept National Identity Cards for travel as a legal duty and we are confident that the vast majority of travellers will have no problems using their Identity Card as a travel document.

The fact of the matter is this however: UK borders controls, carriers and their agents -  as well as foreign governments are not recognising this card as a valid travel document. In other words, you need a passport to travel aboard  no matter what IPS say.

Credit: Manchester Evening News

Editors Note: As you might have guessed from the tone of writing – personally I do not support the NIR as well as the National ID Card -  something that was done away with in the 1950′s, with the costs of the project being funded by Passport fees and an additional fee.  The fact that there are few readers about of the device and that to detect one without an reader requires a distinct sound when twanged is quite frankly laughable. The fact it will also contain biometric details, held in a government database also freaks me slightly too.

One word: Ouch.

Picture – BBC News

It seems that everywhere is a bit of a skidpan at the moment – especially at Glasgow Prestwick Airport were a Ryanair 737 that arrived from Dublin skidded off a taxiway after landing safely.

No injuries thankfully amongst the 129 passengers and 6 crew, and were evacuated normally. Whilst the aircraft has been deemded safe to fly again, the airport remains shut until they get the aircraft off the taxiway.

Snow and ice are still playing up in the UK, so here’s a few things to be aware of:

• All London Airports, Bristol, Manchester and in fact – the majority of UK Airports are showing delays.
• Eurostar is still suspended, pending testing of the new snow defence systems installed on the trains.
• Roads are still chaotic
• Also the East Coast of the USA is suffering major snow issues with delays going into days now.
• And will someone grit my road please. It’s like walking on an icerink….

As always – check before you travel, and have a contingency plan.

It’s that time of the week again and it’s more airplane p0rn!

This week – an Aer Lingus A320 parked up at Dublin on a very cold winters morning.

Unite has signalled it wishes to reballot it’s members for another attempt at strike action.

Whilst not unexpected, personally – I would still be considering other carriers over the next few weeks. For any strike to happen there much be a consultation period, ballot and actual notice to the company.

That puts it +4 weeks away, and pushing it into February.

For that matter, if you rebooked and are thinking of switching back to BA, there is still the strong possibility that a lot of cabin crew could phone in “sick” throwing the schedulde in the air.

Lets be careful out there!

If you’re travelling today (Saturday 19th), expect

• Delays at LHR due to snow
• LGW appear to be fine
• Some Delays at LCY
• Issues with UK immigration in other countries – Strike action alas
• And major issues with Eurostar not due to strikes, but due to the cold snap.

Weather… we just can’t deal with it over here… (from a non-snowy but very cold and icey Birmingham)

I repeat in large letters

THE BRITISH AIRWAYS CREW STRIKE HAS BEEN RULED ILLEGAL AND THUS CANNOT GO AHEAD.

Unite are annoyed, and is planning on holding fresh ballots. BA on the other hand is bedding into its positition and are pressuring Unite to “understand it’s position”

More follows.

Apart from British Airways, who else is out on strike over the festive period?

Eurostar – The Anglo-French-Belgium Consortium has workers walking on 18/19 and 26/27 (unless resolved) over pay and conditions. About 70 drivers and 20 on-board staff are to walk out over pay for 48 hours. Eurostar is confident of running a service with it’s French/Belgium workers, however – expect disruption

Unite – Baggage Handlers at LHR and ABZ – Unite members working for SAS Ground Services are schedule to walk out 22 December, with further strikes from Boxing Day and 3 January for 48 hour periods.

At LHR Expect Emirates, Turkish and Thai to be affected.
At ABZ expect Air France, KLM and Wideroe/Atlantic to be affected.

Further breaking news on the BA Strike ruling by Court action will be posted here as and when it happens…

Well this annualas horiblas seems to coming to an end for the civil avation sector, but it’s taken another casualty this year, in the form of FlyGlobespan.

It seems that a funding injection failure took Globespan to the brink and pushed it over. This hasn’t been helped with rumors going around that it was heading for the wall since the middle of this year.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as the administrators (with both the airline and the tour operations company). Customers who booked through Globespan as part of a package are protected via ATOL, however those who booked direct with the airline are formally up a creak sans paddle.

Both EasyJet and Ryanair has also issued rescue fares too to assist (on overlapping routes) with Thomas Cook laying on extra flights from Glasgow, however ~4500 people have been stranded by this collaspe, with 1100 people covered by ATOL. The remaining 3400 people may qualify for reduced rescue fares issued by the CAA/ATOL.

Obviously, it’s fleet of 2 737-700s, 3 737-800 and Boeing 737-700 and 767-300ER’s are grounded, pending disposal – with its 2 orders for 787′s reverting back to ILFC (Steven Udvar-Hazy’s International Lease and Finance Company)

The emergency contact number is 0871 271 9000