Harriers Final goodbye happenings (updated)

[headset 57]

Fine, no more info from me then. Figure it out for yourselves and go by NOTAMs written in the morning instead of info gained from RAF personnel in the evening.

bye then!¬...

[Paveway]

Handbags at twenty paces. Yawn.

[Petepilot]

Now I will get my head bitten off! Too big an event to leave anything to chance though. I have seen most recent NOTAM, bewlow, which states that the flypast will take place tomorrow (14th) with the 15th as reserve. This is different to earlier NOTAM which declared flypast on the 15th with 14th and 16th as reserves. Guess the weather call was made today, as stated earlier. Pete

Q) EGTT/QWVLW/IV/M/W/000/030/5250N00010W040
B) FROM: 10/12/14 12:55C) TO: 10/12/15 14:40
E) FORMATION TRANSIT BY 16 MIL FAST JET ACFT ACFT. THE FORMATION WILL
FORM UP IN VCY OF 5239N 00033E (MARHAM AD) FROM 1305 HR AND THEN
ROUTE:
5239N 00033E (MARHAM AD) 1318 HR
5221N 00006W (WYTON AD) 1322 HR
5237N 00029W (WITTERING AD) 1326 HR
5239N 00029W (STAMFORD) 1327 HR
5302N 00029W (CRANWELL AD) 1401 HR
5310N 00031W (WADDINGTON AD) 1402 HR
5318N 00033W (SCAMPTON AD) 1404 HR
5306N 00010W (CONINGSBY AD) 1411 HR
5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD) 1415 HR
5240N 00044W (OAKHAM) 1416 HR
5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD) 1420 HR
THE FORMATION WILL REMAIN IN VCY OF 5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD)
UNTIL 1430 HR PRIOR TO LANDING.
15TH IS RESERVE DAY. TIMINGS, HGT AND ROUTE ARE APRX AND MAY CHANGE
DUE TO WX OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 10-12-0055/AS 1LOWER: SFC
UPPER: 3000FT AMSL
SCHEDULE: 1255-1440

[colt99]

But that's the problem, i posted the same NOTAM as you Pete, but there are 2 people that have been invited on base on wednesday who worked with Harriers at one point, now, looking at it logically, flypast tomorrow with reserve wednesday, or flypast wednesday with reserve thursday (when the snow is due back), but as i say, people involved with the aircraft have been invited wednesday.
They have backed up their story, so should be right
I'm really not interested in people who think they are the be all and end all of the aviation world, i would just like something definate, why would the CAA be puting warnings out to pilots for tuesday if it was not going to happen, surely they get their info from the RAF?
Thanks for a civil discussion
Dave

[ridgmeister]

The 'final flight' 16 ship flypast will be on 15th December between 12:45 and 14:15 and enthusiasts are requested to view it from almost anywhere OTHER than Cottesmore, ie. Wyton, Cranwell, Waddington, Scampton or Coningsby.
If the weather doesn't permit the flypast there will still be other 'events' on-base for the invited guests.
Hope this helps and can we not fall out over this rushed-through end of Harrier - isn't it enough that we're deprived of an event for the rest of us to view the special schemes without shooting ourselves in the foot??
Fingers crossed we get something over the next 2 days!
Paul

[Mo]

Gents, do remember that the NOTAM above was created (and I quote)
CREATED: 13 DEC 10:02 2010

At that time, the NOTAM was correct and depicted the plan at the time.
However, as you all know, the plans have been extremely fluid re this event due to wx and other factors and subsequently, have changed.
The NOTAM will almost certainly stay the same now as it covers any 16 ship transit around the bases mentioned so there is no need to update it, though they may do out for completeness sake in the morning.
There is no longer a reserve day as such now i.e Thurs 16th, a decision that was reached a little earlier, so again, no need to change the NOTAM.
The contingency plan now is to launch a single/few jets on Weds if the wx does not permit a 16 ship formation.
So tomorrow, could be the last chance to see 16 Harriers in the air at once if the wx is poor on Weds.
The parade and ceremony will take place on Weds regardless of a 16 ship or not.

Now naturally, the wx could cause issues with tomorrows practice, but when I spoke to them this evening, this was the plan as they briefed late this afternoon.

Hey, it could all change again by the time they get in to brief tomorrow morning, but that's the name of the game.

So, as it stands tonight, from someone who is flying in the formation tomorrow:
Tues 14th - 16 Ship rehearsals ETD 1300L
Weds 15th - The big day.

I hope this all makes sense.
Enjoy the Harrier while we still have it.
Cheers!
Mo

[ridgmeister]

Thanks Mo,
that ties in with what I have been told.
Regards
Paul

[Mo]

Mine says 17:00hrs

John

No worries John, some sites list the date/time as the `correct at' time rather than the time it was actually created.

For example, I've just downloaded the NOTAM at 2333hrs and is says correct at 23:33 but the actual NOTAM reads:
H5396/10 - FORMATION TRANSIT BY 16 MIL FAST JET ACFT ACFT. THE FORMATION WILL
FORM UP IN VCY OF 5239N 00033E (MARHAM AD) FROM 1305 HR AND THEN
ROUTE:
5239N 00033E (MARHAM AD) 1318 HR
5221N 00006W (WYTON AD) 1322 HR
5237N 00029W (WITTERING AD) 1326 HR
5239N 00029W (STAMFORD) 1327 HR
5302N 00029W (CRANWELL AD) 1401 HR
5310N 00031W (WADDINGTON AD) 1402 HR
5318N 00033W (SCAMPTON AD) 1404 HR
5306N 00010W (CONINGSBY AD) 1411 HR
5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD) 1415 HR
5240N 00044W (OAKHAM) 1416 HR
5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD) 1420 HR
THE FORMATION WILL REMAIN IN VCY OF 5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD)
UNTIL 1430 HR PRIOR TO LANDING.
15TH IS RESERVE DAY. TIMINGS, HGT AND ROUTE ARE APRX AND MAY CHANGE
DUE TO WX OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 10-12-0055/AS 1. SFC - 3000FT AMSL, 1255-1440,
14 DEC 12:55 2010 UNTIL 15 DEC 14:40 2010. CREATED: 13 DEC 10:02 2010

HTH
Mo

[Mo]

You're not being a thicko John, all that is, is when notaminfo extracted the NOTAM from AIS.
It seems that notaminfo hasn't included the time the actual NOTAM was physically created.
There's nothing wrong with that as the info within is correct as far as making airmen aware of the event and the NOTAM has not been updated.
As I said before, they may not actually change the NOTAM as the information it details already will cover any 16 ship on Weds.

HTH, truly hope the bloomin' wx gives these dedicated crews a break.
Cheers!
Mo

[pb643]

Thinking about it overnight. I guess that if an event on base has been arranged for the 15th with guests etc, then this date was never going to change. (This has also been published in the media.)

If the flypast is part of the same event, then the official flypast date was never going to change, regardless of how unfavourable the weather looked.

By having a "practice" 24 hours earlier they are maximising there chances of actually getting the 16 ship to happen at all.

I have yet to check the met for today and tommorrow, but I assume that todays forecast is better than tommorrow.

Based on this theory, is the practice due to go further afield than Cottesmore? I am assuming it will not be the full route outlined in the NOTAM

I realise this is speculation on my part, but it makes sense to me.

Regards

Phil

[Gary]

ATIS broadcasting 04R in use at the moment

[Tronk 11]

I was just about to post ATIS was on but someone got there first. I suspect flying, as if there wasn't any why switch it on, the base doesn't get visitors as the VAS ramp is closed. 04 isn't good news either, the best views are from 22, taxing & landing shots will be tougher while they use 04. Weather is overcast in Peterborough which is a few miles away, but fairly bright, but cold.

[Tooks]

I'm fortunate to be one of the guests at Cott for the final flypast event, and I was called last night confirming that it is scheduled for Wednesday 15th. The actual timings are as per the most recent NOTAM's posted above, just for Wednesday!

Regards today and any practice, I live a handful of miles north of Cott, and weather at the moment is very foggy!

Hopefully it will clear up later on and something will happen for those folks who are there today.

[Tronk 11]

Hi Guys,
The ATIS is now OFF. Just checked to see the weather & runway, but nothing. Witterings ATIS is on. Calling 4500m in mist as of 0950z.

[pb643]

Sorry to repeat myself, but does anybody know what route a practice will follow, if it takes place at all?


Phil

[Doughnut]

Phil, please read the NOTAM on the previous page, if it happens that is where they will go.

[pb643]

Phil, please read the NOTAM on the previous page, if it happens that is where they will go.

Hi Doughnut, I had read the NOTAM.

I was not aware that there had been any suggestion that the practice would involve the full route. If you are telling me that is a fact, then I am most grateful.

Regards

Phil

[Gary]

Phil, please read the NOTAM on the previous page, if it happens that is where they will go.

Depends what NOTAM you look at.... NATS also have a notam out for today saying they are staying within a 30 mile radius of Cottesmore / South Lincs/ Norfolk area

Q) EGTT/QWVLW/IV/M/W/050/150/5240N00100E030
B) FROM: 10/12/14 13:00C) TO: 10/12/14 14:00

E) FORMATION PRACTICE BY UP TO 16 MIL FAST JET ACFT WI 30NM RADIUS OF
5240N 00100E. 10-12-0055/AS1

LOWER: FL050
UPPER: FL150

[Mo]

Gents,
This is the new NOTAM issued for todays practice.
H5405/10 - FORMATION PRACTICE BY UP TO 16 MIL FAST JET ACFT WI 30NM RADIUS OF
5240N 00100E. 10-12-0055/AS1. FL050 - FL150, 14 DEC 13:00 2010 UNTIL 14 DEC
14:00 2010. CREATED: 14 DEC 09:29 2010

As said in my previous posts, ETD 1300L.

The original NOTAM (the one with the airfields listed) stays for tomorrow.

Hope this finally clears it all up and confirms all my posts yesterday!!

Mo

[Gary]

ATIS back on as of 1100L runway 04R still in use