A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

jtagen wrote: post #3

I wonder if it was an option to say "okay", continue circling, then declare a fuel emergency and land. Seems like ATC was being a dick here. Not sure: 1) How long this would take 2) If this actually endangers anyone/anything

Problem is that emergencies also involve a lot of paperwork and delay for the pilot.

Re: A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

#5

Post by kokken » Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 6:55 PM UTC

I’m sure the industry has standards for assigning blame, but it looks to me that ATC is clearly being assholes here.

Even from this article that clearly seems to think Lufthansa is in the wrong I walked away with a feeling that ATC and small town cops are one and the same.

Re: A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

#6

Post by kspacewalk2 » Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 6:59 PM UTC

jtagen wrote: post #3

I wonder if it was an option to say "okay", continue circling, then declare a fuel emergency and land. Seems like ATC was being a dick here. Not sure: 1) How long this would take 2) If this actually endangers anyone/anything

Seems like ATC has dozens of airplanes to route and cannot give preference to those who have the strictest company policy and complain the loudest.

Re: A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

#7

Post by aaronbrethorst » Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 7:00 PM UTC

This feels 'of a type' with the rest of the crisis in the United States's air traffic control system. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/02/business/air-traffic-cont...

Re: A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

#8

Post by riversflow » Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 7:03 PM UTC

I see this as a reap what you sow moment for Lufthasa.

Why should ATC at a busy airport be so accommodating? Lufthasa is the one making this hard on everyone.

I used to watch both these airports fairly frequently from Oyster bay regional park, they are both super busy with flights often lining up to the horizon.

Re: A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

#9

Post by snypher » Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 7:05 PM UTC

riversflow wrote: post #8

I see this as a reap what you sow moment for Lufthasa. Why should ATC at a busy airport be so accommodating? Lufthasa is the one making this hard on everyone. I used to watch both these airports fairly frequently from Oyster bay regional park, they are both super busy with flights often lining up to the horizon.

“okay, you promised me 10 minutes, that ran out four minutes ago, so how many more minutes?”

Seems to me that ATC need to get it together also.

Re: A Lufthansa A350's frustrating Oakland diversion

#10

Post by lowbloodsugar » Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 7:11 PM UTC

Seems like Lufthansa has decided it's not able to land planes at SFO at night.