Manchester Airport

[presta]

So the country's third biggest airport falls over just because of a power cut? Really? Presumably there are generators for the air traffic control, so when they were installing them, didn't anyone say why aren't we providing enough standby power to keep the whole show running and not just get everyone safely back on the ground? But then, when you see the proposals to replace the telephone system with something that won't work in a power cut, perhaps not.

 

[Emanresu]

According to FlightRadar24 there are planes landing / taking off so the main issue seems to have been sorted. If your flight in to / from the EU then there is compensation under EU261 (EU law rolled into UK law) which will cover many passengers. Those flying to / from other destinations will have to take it up with their holiday insurance (if they have any)

If you want to know what actually happened rather than what the papers will tell you, wait for the High Court's decision as someone will be suing someone else for compensation for the debacle. Always good fun reading about a HC judge dismantle carefully crafted BS from both parties.

 

[Cycleops]

Flight control will surely have back up generators but not for the great unwashed using the terminal.

 

[Gunk]

It’ll be yesterdays news tomorrow

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

The power requirements for ATC would be minimal when compared with what would be required to keep the rest of the airport operating. Even hospitals only supply essential services.

 

[presta]

The power requirements for ATC would be minimal when compared with what would be required to keep the rest of the airport operating. Even hospitals only supply essential services.

Our generators were big enough to carry on with business as usual, and a power cut only inconvenienced the company, not the wider public.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Our generators were big enough to carry on with business as usual, and a power cut only inconvenienced the company, not the wider public.

How did the energy requirements of said company compare to an airport?

Manchester airport has been described as a small town in terms of infrastructure and energy requirements.

 

[PeteXXX]

All that space there they could have loads of wind & solar power...
Possibly...

 

[Paulus]

According to FlightRadar24 there are planes landing / taking off so the main issue seems to have been sorted. If your flight in to / from the EU then there is compensation under EU261 (EU law rolled into UK law) which will cover many passengers. Those flying to / from other destinations will have to take it up with their holiday insurance (if they have any)

Apparently terminal 3 was working normally, 1and 2 were out.
All back to normal working today.

 

[DaveReading]

Our generators were big enough to carry on with business as usual, and a power cut only inconvenienced the company, not the wider public.

So were Manchester's, according to reports. But when the power failed and the backup was switched online, it reportedly caused a power surge that knocked out a bunch of services.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

It’s one thing having suitable backup generator power but when critical servers don’t come back up you’re stuffed. Even if your primary power is immediately restored you still need to get your systems (assuming they’re still intact) back up again.

 

[presta]

So were Manchester's, according to reports. But when the power failed and the backup was switched online, it reportedly caused a power surge that knocked out a bunch of services.

It makes you wonder if they ever tested the system. Power cut or not, we used to run off the generator for an afternoon every once in a while just to make sure it was all working. It's a bit like having fire drills, you don't wait until you need them before you test them.

It’s one thing having suitable backup generator power but when critical servers don’t come back up you’re stuffed. Even if your primary power is immediately restored you still need to get your systems (assuming they’re still intact) back up again.

Wot, no UPS?

The PMR systems we designed & built used to run off 24Vdc, go into any cabin at the foot of a mast and you'll find a large bank of float-charged batteries. Our customers were police, fire, ambulance, gas, water, electricity, & business users like Securicor, IBM, Hotpoint, London Transport, etc. Only customers like taxi offices ran their base stations directly off the mains.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

It makes you wonder if they ever tested the system. Power cut or not, we used to run off the generator for an afternoon every once in a while just to make sure it was all working. It's a bit like having fire drills, you don't wait until you need them before you test them.


Wot, no UPS?

The PMR systems we designed & built used to run off 24Vdc, go into any cabin at the foot of a mast and you'll find a large bank of float-charged batteries. Our customers were police, fire, ambulance, gas, water, electricity, & business users like Securicor, IBM, Hotpoint, London Transport, etc. Only customers like taxi offices ran their base stations directly off the mains.

In the three decades I have worked in the NHS there has been extensive power outages (between 4 and 6 hours each time ) on three occasions due to failures of generators. That’s despite the regular checks, startups and annual black start testing that gets carried out.

Such power outages mean you are in for a fun day!!!

 

[presta]

In the three decades I have worked in the NHS there has been extensive power outages (between 4 and 6 hours each time ) on three occasions due to failures of generators. That’s despite the regular checks, startups and annual black start testing that gets carried out.

The way to reduce that risk is by improving the reliability of the generator, not dispensing with it. Was it unreliable, or just overloaded?

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

The way to reduce that risk is by improving the reliability of the generator, not dispensing with it. Was it unreliable, or just overloaded?

In all cases they were neither unreliable or overloaded. One was down to maintenance induced error, that had been m the previous day, and the other two were in recently fitted switch gear which failed. (Bath tub effect.)