Every year I look back to that magical Christmas Eve in Southend when the airport was flooded with diversions from Heathrow and Gatwick. From lunchtime onwards 48 aircraft arrived which included no less than 19 Viscounts (mostly BEA and Air France). On the following day when the airport was scheduled to be closed a further 3 aircraft arrived (including an Eagle Airways DC6) which made 51 visitors in total. The non-active runway 33/15 had to be used for the overflow (both ends!) and the airport looked an inpressive sight over the Christmas period.
I was supposed to do a paper round that evening but there was no way I was going to tear myself away from such a momentous event so I didn’t bother to go. I thought that if I had got the sack it would have been worth it!
By: Gooney Bird - 24th December 2005 at 23:05
Well just listen out….isn’t that the sound of RR Darts approahing…..?
By: waco - 24th December 2005 at 23:03
Well its 2300 utc on Christmas Eve and am sitting in ops room of a UK charter carrier.
It’s very foggy at many uk airfields…..
Many thanks to the chaps and chapesses who invented Cat III. Nice on !
By: Old Fart - 24th December 2005 at 14:32
I’m far far far too young to rember that… mainly because I was not born until 1975! but I have heard about it just wish I had seen it.
This years closure details:
Southend Airport is to close except for PPR air transport movements from 2000/24th to 0800/27th.
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December 24, 2005 at 10:26 am