FraT From Germany, joined Sep 2003, 1101 posts, RR: 1 Posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4585 times:
Just a short question: What are the diversion airports for Widebodies on route from Europe to North America or vv. between Iceland and Labrador/Newfoundland? How many airports in Greenland can handle a widebody?
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6475 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4408 times:
Thule Air Base (THU) features a 9997 ft runway, but I am not sure if it would be open to commercial diversions.
-HT
EDIT:
Added from wikipedia.org: Kangerlussuaq Airport (IATA: SFJ, ICAO: BGSF), also known as Søndre Strømfjord Airport, is located in Kangerlussuaq (Danish name: Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland. It is the only civilian airport in Greenland large enough to handle large airliners. Consequently, it is the international hub for Air Greenland.
[Edited 2006-08-30 12:48:27]
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
FXRA From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 683 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 4364 times:
I've used Sondestrom (the other name is harder to pronounce), Thule if you are way north (along with Fro Bay in Canada - CYFB). I've also used Narsarsuak (UAK/BGBW) for narrow bodies going over, just to get them within the required time (we were using non ETOPS aircraft with only 60 minutes from a suitable)
Jamesjoyce From Belgium, joined May 2004, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4321 times:
Quoting FXRA (Reply 10): I've used Sondestrom (the other name is harder to pronounce), Thule if you are way north (along with Fro Bay in Canada - CYFB). I've also used Narsarsuak (UAK/BGBW) for narrow bodies going over, just to get them within the required time (we were using non ETOPS aircraft with only 60 minutes from a suitable)
SAS used to take their DC8-series-60 direct from Copenhagen into Narsarsuaq so the runway has some potential though it is not that extremely long. I seem to remember the cockpit-crews had to be specifically certified to fly DC-8-60-ies into that airport with captain in control, no landings nor take-off by FO.
YOW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 4198 times:
Quoting FXRA (Reply 10): I've used Sondestrom (the other name is harder to pronounce),
The other (official inuit) name Kangerlussuaq is roughly pronounced as Kanger-loo-soo-ack.
How about this one in Northern Quebec: Kangiqsuallujjuaq. The village's english name is George River.
Quoting HT (Reply 8): Thule Air Base (THU) features a 9997 ft runway, but I am not sure if it would be open to commercial diversions.
It would be in the event of an emergency. Every now and then First Air and Cdn. North have done commerical-military charters up to THU.
Churchill Manitoba can handle widebody diversions. AF diverted there a couple of years ago, except YYQ didn't have any ground equipment (i.e airstairs) capable of handling a B772. The emergency slides had to be deployed in order for the pax to deplane. I wonder if the ground equipment problem there has been fixed?
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6477 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 4159 times:
For aircraft flying from Europe to the eastern US and Canada, no airport in Greenland is needed as long as they have at least 138-minute ETOPS and the other alternates (KEF, BDA, Azores, SNN, Newfoundland) are available.
AVIATOR27 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 4159 times:
NARSSARSSUAQ, GREENLAND (DENMARK) - BGBW
KEFLAVIK, ICELAND - BIFK
GOOSE BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA - CYYR
STORNOWAY, SCOTLAND, UK - EGPO
ETOPS isn't just over water. You need ETOPS over land also. You have to be within your ETOPS limitation (90, 120, 180 mins, etc) of any airport regardless of geography. Twins normally come certified with a 60 min limit. ETOPS extends that beyond 60 mins.
SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6105 posts, RR: 10 Reply 16, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3923 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 8): Thule Air Base (THU) features a 9997 ft runway, but I am not sure if it would be open to commercial diversions.
-HT
Quoting YOW (Reply 12): It would be in the event of an emergency. Every now and then First Air and Cdn. North have done commerical-military charters up to THU.
Keep in mind Thule/Qaanaaq is VERY VERY far north, out of any sort of emergency diversion zone for most Europe-USA/Canada flights (except maybe SEA-CPH) types of flights. Most flights that even pass over Greenland pass over the very southern tip (which is absolutely beautiful from the sky, I must say)
Actually the flight from CPH to SEA usually flies further north than the eastbound flight ...
Quoting SW733 (Reply 16): Greenland pass over the very southern tip (which is absolutely beautiful from the sky, I must say)
Copy that !
I have had stunning views of Greenland on flights from FRA/MUC to LAX !
Clear views of glaciers reaching fjords and subsequently numerous icebergs in the water !
I'll need to dig for some pictures of this ...
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6105 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3796 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 17): Copy that !
I have had stunning views of Greenland on flights from FRA/MUC to LAX !
Clear views of glaciers reaching fjords and subsequently numerous icebergs in the water !
I'll need to dig for some pictures of this ...
Last time I saw Greenland with any clear view was January when I flew DUB-ORD...the pilot said if you look out the right side window, you can see Greenland for the next 15 minutes, and all I thought was "there's no Greeland, just clouds..." until I noticed the "clouds" had mountain peaks. Beautiful! I would love to go, my grandpa was stationed there during WWq...is it true Air Greenland is starting flights to BWI in May 2007?
Sponsor Message: 
From Germany, joined Sep 2003, 1101 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2006, 1402 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 683 posts, 
From Belgium, joined May 2004, 82 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Norway, joined Jul 2006, 887 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
