AeroPics
November 20, 2011 at 7:04 pm

A Very Busy Day at Southend!!!

This mornings Aer Arann from Waterford in the shape of the ATR42 EI-CPT had to divert to Luton due to fog which typically cleared just after it left the hold for Luton.

Once the fog had lifted, it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, perfect for photographing VP-BBW going on yet another test flight.

VP-BBW GMA B73G 201111 EGMC 2 by AeroPics, on Flickr

It was gone for around an hour and a half, and the only other movements was a helicopter performing some training. When VP-BBW returned, the crew indicated that they wanted to perform 2 circuits to my delight, so upon landing on Runway 24, it turned around and took off from Runway 06.

VP-BBW GMA B73G 201111 EGMC 6 by AeroPics, on Flickr

To my surprise, instead of a landing, it performed a low approach and go around, followed by a landing on Runway 06.

VP-BBW GMA B73G 201111 EGMC 7 by AeroPics, on Flickr

The aircraft vacated, and indicated it wanted a further circuit. In the meantime, I saw an aircraft an approach. It was EI-BYO, which turned out to be a London City diversion due to fog, which originated in the Isle of Man.

EI-BYO REA AT43 201111 EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

Immediately afterwards, VP-BBW backtracked 06 and did another circuit, this time on approach St Lawrence Church, (which the airport once said needed to be picked up on a crane and moved for a runway extension to happen) as a backdrop.

VP-BBW GMA B73G 201111 EGMC 5 by AeroPics, on Flickr

Looking up, I could see a Cityjet Fokker 50 and a BA Cityflyer E190 in the SPEAR hold above Southend. Since BA has taken delivery of the Embraer’s they are no longer regular diversion visitors. However, the Cityjet F50s always like to come in. So it was only a matter of time before one diverted, OO-VLR from Luxembourg.

OO-VLJ from Paris-Orly followed soon after, here it is approaching 06, under difficult lighting conditions.

OO-VLJ BCY F.50 201111 EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr