BRU. Hours to de-ice on Nov 30.

[Atlantis]

Many thanks to all the people who worked very hard last week during the severe winter conditions. Thanks to them and the fact that BRU was prepared this time was the key role that BRU was all the time an open airport.

[regi]

Many thanks to all the people who worked very hard last week during the severe winter conditions. Thanks to them and the fact that BRU was prepared this time was the key role that BRU was all the time an open airport.

I just congratulated in the "news section" Mr. Ian Cochrane of Prestwick airport who showed gratitude to his personell. Well, your nice statement deserves also a "thumbs up". It mustn't always be war on the forum

[Darjeeling]

Apron and runway de-icing has improved that's a fact. So well played Brussels Airport IDD

But airplane de-icing by Flightcare (rather Flight-nightmare) is just a nightmare. They are under equipped, and they ALWAYS have the good excuse to provide.

A third ground handler is really needed in BRU to kick the *** of the two other who are in duopoly.

[tolipanebas]

Indeed, praise is due where it is due.

BRU airport has made considerable improvement in the way they handle snowfall.
Whereas last winter they were fighting snow with nothing but an old jet engine and some chemicals, this year we saw them do what other airports do too: use industrial machines to brush the runways and taxiways clear! Seems they have finally understood they need to invest if they want to be considered a serious STAR alliance hub.

One minor remark still: they not only need to swipe taxiways free, but also clear the connections between them, otherwise it becomes a problem switching from inner to outer for instance. But other than that, good job from the airport!

Now, if only the handlers could become more professional...
Being able to de-ice only 5 aircraft an hour is poooooor performance, flightcare, on any scale!

[Crosswind]

Yes... You can add the waiting time for external power to become available (it's sometimes a real shame!), missing loaders, pushback truck availability, and so...

Flight care is definitely not a decent handler, in BRU...

[RCMike]

Please keep in mind that alhough Brussels airport did a great job on clearing its runways, taxiways from snow... it did absolutely no efforts in cleaning the approns/Parking postitions. Most of the time this led to poor performances of scissors, bagage rolls, etc... if by this you lose time on one flight, you come to late at the other flight. It's as easy as that!

And then there's also the fact that in snow-ops, aircrafts most of the time have a huge unforseen delay. Handlers plan more people during the peak hours. At 22:00 we have less people working then at 19:00. If a flight supposed to arrive at 19:00 but it does at 22:00 it creates extra work for less people... (same for departures).

A little more staff could offcourse compensate to these winter problems... but that is a another story, a story of costs!

Mike

[regi]

Please keep in mind that alhough Brussels airport did a great job on clearing its runways, taxiways from snow... it did absolutely no efforts in cleaning the approns/Parking postitions. Most of the time this led to poor performances of scissors, bagage rolls, etc... if by this you lose time on one flight, you come to late at the other flight. It's as easy as that!

And then there's also the fact that in snow-ops, aircrafts most of the time have a huge unforseen delay. Handlers plan more people during the peak hours. At 22:00 we have less people working then at 19:00. If a flight supposed to arrive at 19:00 but it does at 22:00 it creates extra work for less people... (same for departures).

A little more staff could offcourse compensate to these winter problems... but that is a another story, a story of costs!

Mike

What is the unemployment rate of young male adults in the region of Brussels?

[Crosswind]

I think the problem is not there... Flight Care doesn't want more people working on the tarmac... Simply.

[tolipanebas]

A quick fix would be to have the flightcare managers come out of their offices and help load planes, so (some of) the regular ground staff can do more de-icing duties...

The managers have no problem doing this during summer time if it is to break a strike, yet for some odd reason, you never see them on the apron when its minus 10 and snowing. I wonder why?

[teddybAIR]

Please keep in mind that alhough Brussels airport did a great job on clearing its runways, taxiways from snow... it did absolutely no efforts in cleaning the approns/Parking postitions.

Are you suggesting they clear all approns and parking positions as well? You complain on the cost orientedness of companies, but how much of the additional cost are you willing to pay as a passenger?

Also, I'm not convinced that clearing the apron/parking positions is the best trade-off between effectiveness and efficiency of resource allocation. There are probably less drastic measures with comparable results (ex: snow tires for the scissors, baggage rolls, etc. you mentionned earlier)

Best regards,
bAIR

[cnc]

there are enough blue collars but flightcare doesn't want to train people. They will do it on last possible moment and even then its mostly only a half training
I assume its no different story at aviapartner

[9vsmu]

Great to see all this critisism. It's all very easily solved when you're inside in a warm office.

I know lot's of you will no agree (and I will not comment any further), but let me assure you that bad/adverse wheather conditions such as snow/ice ALWAYS gives problems/delays/anger/frustrations,....... no matter how good you are prepared.