I've been spending a bit of my time this week operating a radio station to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight in the UK by Samuel Cody.
On Thursday there was a flypast
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7673625.stm as part of the celebrations. Now, I was stuck in a meeting but my mates at the radio station naturally had the Farnborough Tower frequency to hand.
Apparently, Vulcan XH558 was called in to land from a holding area. The conversation went along the following lines:
Tower: Vulcan, you're clear to land. Are you aware that the main runway is closed and you'll be landing on the cross runway?
Vulcan: Not without a parachute arrester, I won't!
Tower: Well, the main runway is not serviceable.
Vulcan: If I can't have the main runway I'm diverting.
Tower: <Pause>
Vulcan: What is the status of the main runway?
Tower: The ILS needs calibrating.
The pilot flying XH558 was a chap called Martin Withers. Back in the Falklands war he was a member of the crew who flew the BlackBuck raid, taking off from Ascension Island, flying to the Falklands, refuelling in-flight several times on the way, bombed the runway at Port Stanley in the dark, and returned to Ascension, on vapours.
Ironic that 26 years later he is told he can't land on an 8,500ft runway in perfect flying conditions without a functional Instrument Landing System.
Never underestimate the power of the jobsworth.
Kevin
Went out to the meter to double check. Hmm. Turn on a few loads and the red LED on the meter is glowing dimly instead of flashing, and no digits are turning. It has been FUBAR since September at least. 