After our son had watched a programme last night on scary plane landings we got talking about landing and taking off at Corfu. I am sure that back in the 80s when we first came to Corfu we all stood outside and clapped a planes safe take off. My husband seems to think I dreamed it, can any one back me up? If not that means he's right and I'm not at all sure where I got that idea from. Any help anyone?
Message posted by caramc64 on 16 January 2012 at 11:05am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I've been on planes where we've clapped when we landed in Crete and on return to Bristol. Mind you when we flew over London on the way home the whole plane started singing the Eastenders theme!
Message posted by sooz on 16 January 2012 at 8:20pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I have been on planes in the past when people have clapped on landing...however the one pilot that deserved a cheer when we landed in a very snow covered Luton Airport (and told later we were the last plane to attempt that landing for the day and they were going to close as it became unsafe), received no applause at all. Most of the passengers had their hands firming hanging onto the base of their seats!!!
Message posted by alehouse on 19 January 2012 at 8:19pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Only time the passengers clapped on take off was after a 10 hour delay and the captain was dressed in shorts and a baseball cap but that was in the 80's I think, but what a great entertaining flight back to Manchester
Message posted by colsue on 20 January 2012 at 1:36am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
We also all gave our pilot a round of applause on a flight back from Myconos some years ago
We had had a 14 hour delay due to Greek air traffic control strikes
We eventually took off and then found we had to queue to land at Gatwick. We circled for nearly an hour by which time the pilot informed us he had run out of flying hours - so we assumed he was a tad tired
We were on final approach, wheels down, full flaps. ground about 30 feet below us when suddenly the plane veered up into the skies again at a very acute angle
All went silent then the pilot came on. He had been told to land on the spare runway as the main one was being repaired but as he prepared to touch down he saw ahead of him on the taxi runway a jumbo jet turning, with it wings overhanging our runway
Tired or not our pilot was totally on the ball and we all gave him a hearty round of applause when we eventually touched down safely. I assume that one went into the near miss book!!
Susie
x
Message posted by MartynG on 20 January 2012 at 1:52pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Quote: Originally posted by The Grocer on 17 January 2012
I have been on planes in the past when people have clapped on landing...however the one pilot that deserved a cheer when we landed in a very snow covered Luton Airport (and told later we were the last plane to attempt that landing for the day and they were going to close as it became unsafe), received no applause at all. Most of the passengers had their hands firming hanging onto the base of their seats!!!
We has a similar experience back in January 2004, flying Olympic into Athens. The approach was made in a blizzard, with the "autoland" facility engaged. There were huge gusts of wind, coupled with wind sheer; that in itself is bad enough, but when the automatics apply instant and very harsh corrections it makes for extremely rough ride. At the end of all of this, the pilot "planted" the plane very heavily onto the runway, deploying the spoilers as he did so (to ensure that we stayed on the ground). There was no clapping - just a very big, collective sigh of relief!
Then, on another occasion, flying back into Luton, the pilot announced that we would be late arriving "due to headwinds". However, when we did arrive into UK airspace, our approach was unusual with none of the standard course changes to line up with the runway - just a straight in approach. As we lined up for finals, I noticed a slight crab-wise attitude, but so far as I could tell, there was no cross wind to speak of. The landing itself was as smooth as silk, but little or no reverse thrust was applied to stop the aircraft. All the indications then, of a single engine approach and landing (confirmed in my view by the swarms of engineers around the starboard engine almost as soon as we reached the stand) - and so far as I can tell, know one knew!
Martyn
Message posted by parkites on 20 January 2012 at 8:27pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I cant remember what year it was but me my husband and brother and girlfriend were flying into Corfu when all the flight crew went to the emergency exits in a rush. We wondered what was happening.
We realised the nose of the plane was over the water. He must have hit the runway late. Very scarey. sue
If you wish to post a reply to this thread you must first Login
If you are not already registered you must first register
All Rights Reserved. No part of the Corfu Travel Guide web site may be reproduced without permission.
Infringement will be pursued.
The Corfu Travel
Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund
Topic:
. There was no clapping - just a very big, collective sigh of relief!
