Innsbruck Airport.

IceGhost wrote:There is a pair of NICE red handled pliers floating around that airport. I'd like them back......... :lol:

...hope the FBI aren't reading this - :shock:

Went through Innsbruck on 25th January on the way to St Anton. Airport was fogbound (low cloud) and we circled for 45 minutes, when the pilot informed us that air traffic control had told him there was a clearance and he would 'give it a go'. We dropped into cloud, couldn't see a thing out of the windows, and nor could the pilot, because pretty low to the ground he full throttled back, and we climbed to 13,000 feet and flew on to Munich to refuel and give it another go, which was ok. Innsbruck is a typical alpine airport, pretty small but transfer through was quick and eficient.

After my last 2 trips I am NEVER flying into Innsbruck again.

Last year we had a nightmare journey both ways, outbound the pilot wouldn't land because it was too windy and we ended up in an Italian airport with a 6 hour transfer, inbound it was foggy and we sat at the airport for 5 hours waiting for our plane which had been circling above the clouds, ran out of fuel, went to Munich to refuel, came back to Innsbruck and landed - hurray! When we did get on the plane, someone had a fit and the medics were called, he was obviously unfit to fly so they had to find his luggage. We finally got back to Gatwick at 5pm.

Long day.

NellyPS wrote:After my last 2 trips I am NEVER flying into Innsbruck again.

Last year we had a nightmare journey both ways, outbound the pilot wouldn't land because it was too windy and we ended up in an Italian airport with a 6 hour transfer, inbound it was foggy and we sat at the airport for 5 hours waiting for our plane which had been circling above the clouds, ran out of fuel, went to Munich to refuel, came back to Innsbruck and landed - hurray! When we did get on the plane, someone had a fit and the medics were called, he was obviously unfit to fly so they had to find his luggage. We finally got back to Gatwick at 5pm.

Long day.

But that could have happened anywhere NellyPS. It could have been worse you could have been stuck at Jersey airport due to sea fret.


AJ Adele

But it only ever happens when I have flown to Innsbruck - never had an issue with any other airport in 20 years.

NellyPS wrote:After my last 2 trips I am NEVER flying into Innsbruck again.

Last year we had a nightmare journey both ways, outbound the pilot wouldn't land because it was too windy and we ended up in an Italian airport with a 6 hour transfer, inbound it was foggy and we sat at the airport for 5 hours waiting for our plane which had been circling above the clouds, ran out of fuel, went to Munich to refuel, came back to Innsbruck and landed - hurray! When we did get on the plane, someone had a fit and the medics were called, he was obviously unfit to fly so they had to find his luggage. We finally got back to Gatwick at 5pm.

Long day.

Long day, but not really the fault of Innsbruck Airport. You could get fog anywhere, and you should actually be thankful that the pilot didnt attempt to land if it was windy and foggy. I have flown in and out of Innsbruck under both conditions and I can tell you its not particularly pleasant. We flew in through thick cloud with a base only 500m above the ground, so whilst it was clearer at runway level, there was zero visibility on the way down. It was bumpy and no one could see a thing, and having flown there before, I knew we were manouvering down the valley with mountains all around. However, pilots these days rarely look out of the window as most of the flying is automated, and you quite simply put your faith in their experience and training as well as trusting the technology that keeps them in the sky.
We made a 180 turn shortly before dropping through the cloud base and landed about 30 seconds later.

Another time going back, we took off and flow straight into a snow storm over the mountains whilst climbing. The pilot would not release the crew for 20 minutes and had to slow the plane right down as it was the worst turbulence I have ever encountered. Everyone went silent apart from quite a lot of screaming and crying, but you have to remember planes are built to withstand these conditions.

Unfortunately, as AJ says, these incidents could have happened anywhere. Lyon is particularly prone to fog. However I wouldnt be so quick to say you wont use Innsbruck again, because for the resorts close by, its the perfect airport to use for short transfers. I think you were just unlucky with the weather at the time.

If you were flying from Heathrow yesterday, would you be saying "I'll never use it again" because of the snow we had?

This is the view from the plane just after take off from Innsbruck last Saturday.



Somewhere down there is an airport :shock:

The odd thing was that the surrounding valleys were clear.

Do Easyjet go there? Their pilots are none too sure.

What is your favourite airport?

We get to go to some quite challenging and interesting places. Innsbruck in the Swiss Alps, Gilbraltar in Spain and Funchal in Madeira are the most rewarding – there are amazing views out the window

From http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/high-flyer-how-to-become-a-pilot-822525.html

So there you go, getting a flying job bad geography needn't hold you back :D