27/05/2015 Major power failure at Belgocontrol

Homo Aeroportus · Post by **Homo Aeroportus** » 27 May 2015, 12:15

sn26567 wrote:Diversion of the day: SN3154, which went to HAM. Almost as far from BRU as its origin airport, MXP!

I beat you André, for once. See above.

H.A.

Passenger · Post by **Passenger** » 27 May 2015, 12:16

On top of this chaos, the Belgian railways will go on strike as from 22h tonight.

Passengers stranded in a neighbour country won't find their way home easily...

Homo Aeroportus · Post by **Homo Aeroportus** » 27 May 2015, 12:21

airazurxtror wrote:...
Eurocontrol gave electrical failure at the Belgian center as the cause but gave no further details on whether backup systems were available.

Any explanation of the latest Belgocontrol fiasco ?

No sure what to make of this.
There are indeed redundant power supplies such as D-UPS whereby a generator kicks in immediately in case of mains failure.
I doubt it is the electrical power supply that failed. I hope it is not a question of bits and bytes or worse.

H.A.

Nevihta · Post by **Nevihta** » 27 May 2015, 12:31

Homo Aeroportus wrote:
airazurxtror wrote:...
Any explanation of the latest Belgocontrol fiasco ?
There are indeed redundant power supplies such as D-UPS whereby a generator kicks in immediately in case of mains failure.
H.A.

don't be so sure... Redundancy is a concept...
Plus there has already been a problem with ATM system at belgocontrol a couple of years ago.

jan_olieslagers · Post by **jan_olieslagers** » 27 May 2015, 12:37

I completely fail to understand why (just for an example) ANR-LCY service needs to be interrupted. Surely they could fly either under control of EBAW tower or EBOS tower, or VFR, until clear of Belgian airspace? Or would the company procedures preclude flying VFR? It wasn't so in the VLM days, I believe.

It also makes me wonder: the various "Brussels Control" frequencies will certainly be affected; AFAIK TWR frequencies are handled locally, so they should be available. But who handles the APP frequencies/services of EBCI/EBLG/EBCI? Are they operated locally, or from Steenokkerzeel? Even if this last, could not an emergency service be set up at the various control towers? Such a plan B could (and, IMHO, should) be provided in a documented and periodically tested plan B aka "disaster recovery procedures".

If the complete site has failed, there will be an impact not only on the comm's equipment: IT will be out, too, so that the controllers do not have the information on which to base their work.

And don't get me started on the subject of emergency generators not starting when they're expected to - every IT infrastructure professional has lived through a couple of horror stories in that department. My most picturesque instance was at NMBS/SNCB...

Nevihta · Post by **Nevihta** » 27 May 2015, 12:41

Approaches are managed at regional airports for EBLG/EBCI.
In some companies, flying VFR is an exclusion for insurances.
If the system is down, it means that all the flight plan processing is down to, and that coordinations are not automatic any more, and in this case, you have time to do everything but manual coordinations...

Wouter_DM · Post by **Wouter_DM** » 27 May 2015, 13:01

There is a live stream from VTM nieuws about the situation at BRU.
http://nieuws.vtm.be/video?page=9&aid=11602

Post by **sn26567** » 27 May 2015, 13:11

Long-haul diversions from the Gulf: EK183 diverted to DUS, QR193 to CDG, EY55 on its way to ...?.

Post by **sn26567** » 27 May 2015, 13:14

From Eurocontrol: Latest situation: Belgocontrol restarting systems but it will all take some time.

Brussels FIR unavailable until 1530 UTC, due to ATC equipment failure.
A/D EBBR also unavailable for both inbounds and outbounds due to the same reason.

NOTAM A1137/15 refers.

NMOC has been informed that all systems in Belgocontrol (radar, VCS and frequencies) are going to be restarted.
Still not possible at this stage to provide a recovery time, although Belgocontrol are confident to reopen airports and radar sectors at reduced rate.
You have to expect moderate to high delays all day to/from all Belgian airports and all flights crossing/overflying Belgian airspace (GND-FL245).

In order to ease the flight planning situation the following RAD restrictions have been lifted: EB4010, EBLF4009, LF4044, YX4005, LS2505B, EDLS1010A.

Coordination between EHAM EDDY and EGTT are ongoing in oder to exclude some traffic from EBBU airspace.

For EBBR, the departure tolerance window has been extended until 1240 UTC.

Parking availability of nearby airports:
ELLX - 6 heavy, 1 medium
EHRD - 1heavy, 6 medium
EHAM - unavailable for diversions
EHEH - unavailable for diversions
LFQQ - unavailable for diversions

NMOC is closely monitoring the situation and any update will be communicated as soon as we have it.

NMOC Brussels

Post by **sn26567** » 27 May 2015, 13:18

From Brussels Airlines:

Latest update: 13h05

Due to an electrical failure at Belgian Air Traffic Control (Belgocontrol),it is currently impossible to land or take off at Brussels Airport. As a result we are unfortunately forced to suspend our flights.

Our priority is to inform our guests and to find alternative solutions as soon as possible.

If you are travelling today, please check the status of your flight before coming to the airport:

Updates will be available here, on our Facebook page and onTwitter, as soon as more information becomes available.

Rebooking options

Passengers holding a ticket for a cancelled flight, are offered the possibility to rebook their flight free of charge. Rebooking can be done at the Brussels Airlines ticketing desk at the airport or our Service Center (tel. +32 (0)2 723 23 62). If your flight was booked via a travel agent, we kindly ask you to contact your travel agency.

In case your flight is cancelled and you do not wish to travel at another date, you have the possibility to choose for a refund.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes for our passengers.

List of cancelled flights on 27/05:

SN3667 Brussels-Toulouse
SN3668 Toulouse-Brussels
SN3147 Brussels – Milan Linate
SN3148 Milan Linate – Brussels
SN2581 Brussels – Berlin
SN2582 Berlin – Brussels
SN2633 Brussels – Hannover
SN2634 Hannover – Brussels
SN2249 Brussels – Billund
SN2250 Billund – Brussels
SN3597 Brussels - Marseille
SN3598 Marseille – Brussels
SN3623 Brussels – Hamburg
SN3624 Hamburg – Brussels
SN2173 Brussels – Manchester
SN2174 Manchester – Brussels
SN3617 Brussels – Nice
SN3618 Nice – Brussels
SN2371 Brussels – Vilnius
SN2372 Vilnius – Brussels
SN3633 Brussels – Paris CDG
SN3634 Paris CDG – Brussels
SN465 Brussels – Kigali/Entebbe
SN465 Kigali/Entebbe – Brussels
SN453 Brussels – Bujumbura/Nairobi
SN453 Bujumbura/Nairobi – Brussels
SN3289 Brussels – Tel Aviv
SN3290 Tel Aviv – Brussels
SN2835 Brussels – Moscow
SN2836 Moscow – Brussels
SN2809 Brussels – Prague
SN2810 Prague – Brussels
SN3135 Brussels – Palermo
SN3136 Palermo – Brussels
SN2713 Brussels – Geneva
SN2714 Geneva – Brussels
SN3771 Brussels – Alicante
SN3772 Alicante – Brussels
SN3587 Brussels – Lyon
SN3888 Lyon – Brussels
SN2837 Brussels – St Petersburg
SN2838 St Petersburg – Brussels
SN2313 Brussels – Goteburg
SN2314 Goteburg – Brussels
SN2037 Brussels – Birmingham
SN2038 Birmingham – Brussels
SN2823 Brussels – Budapest
SN2824 Budapest – Brussels
SN2257 Brussels – Copenhague
SN2258 Copenhague – Brussels
SN2093 Brussels – London
SN2094 London – Brussels
SN3811 Brussels – Porto
SN3812 Porto – Brussels
SN2623 Brussels – Hamburg (SN2624 Hamburg-Brussels is scheduled to operate)
SN2303 Brussels – Stockholm
SN2304 Stockholm – Brussels
SN3581 Brussels – Figari
SN3582 Figari – Brussels
SN3139 Brussels – Florence
SN3140 Florence – Brussels
SN3713 Brussels – Bilbao
SN3714 Bilbao – Brussels
SN3735 Brussels – Malaga
SN3736 Malaga – Brussels
SN3653 Brussels – Strasbourg
SN3654 Strasbourg – Brussels
SN3621 Brussels – Nice
SN3633 Nice – Brussels
SN3157 Brussels - Milan Malpensa
SN3158 Milan Malpensa - Brussels
SN3195 Brussels - Turin
SN3196 Turin - Brussels

Diversions to other airports:

SN2310 Stokholm – Brussels -> diverted to Liege Airport (bus transport to Brussels)
SN2580 Berlin – Brussels -> diverted to Maastricht airport (bus transport to Brussels)
SN3108 Olbia – Brussels -> diverted to Luxemburg airport (bus transport to Brussels)
SN3696 Barcelona – Brussels -> diverted to Paris CDG (bus transport to Brussels)
SN3154 Milan Malpensa – Brussels -> diverted to Hamburg (flight will continue to Brussels at 13h15)
SN3556 Bordeaux – Brussels -> diverted to Lille airport
SN2902 Vienna – Brussels -> diverted to Dusseldorf airport

Tom Pouce · Post by **Tom Pouce** » 27 May 2015, 13:24

JAF206 was over the Atlantic, probably diverted to PDL

Inquirer · Post by **Inquirer** » 27 May 2015, 13:31

sn26567 wrote:Diversion of the day: SN3154, which went to HAM. Almost as far from BRU as its origin airport, MXP!

Source: Steven @airwaysfoodie

indeed, but possibly its the smartest divertion of them all, as this plane will be used to operate a scheduled back flight from HAM once BRU is reopened, if I understand the list posted above correctly.

Post by **sn26567** » 27 May 2015, 13:36

At this moment there are 147 cancellations and 32 diversions at Brussels Airport, affecting 20,000 passengers.

Post by **Apuneger** » 27 May 2015, 13:45

New update via Eurocontrol NOP: EBBR reopening at 1200 UTC

Brussels FIR andA/D EBBR are reopening at 1200 UTC with reduced rate

In order to ease the flight planning situation the following RAD restrictions have been lifted: EB4010, EBLF4009, LF4044, YX4005, LS2505B, EDLS1010A.

NMOC is closely monitoring the situation and any update will be communicated as soon as we have it.

NMOC Brussels

Best regards,
Ivan

Flanker2 · Post by **Flanker2** » 27 May 2015, 13:53

Forgot to pay the electricity bills?

Why don't they have a back-up plan that for instance they have alternate radar facilities or that Military ATC takes over? This is going to cost all airlines a ton of money.

Perhaps invest less money in shiny glass buildings that no one but themselves can see and invest more money in the technical department?

Passenger · Post by **Passenger** » 27 May 2015, 13:56

Apuneger wrote:New update via Eurocontrol NOP: EBBR reopening at 1200 UTC
Brussels FIR andA/D EBBR are reopening at 1200 UTC with reduced rate.
In order to ease the flight planning situation the following RAD restrictions have been lifted: EB4010, EBLF4009, LF4044, YX4005, LS2505B, EDLS1010A.
NMOC is closely monitoring the situation and any update will be communicated as soon as we have it.

Thanks Ivan, nice to hear.

Nevihta · Post by **Nevihta** » 27 May 2015, 14:03

Flanker2 wrote:Forgot to pay the electricity bills?

Why don't they have a back-up plan that for instance they have alternate radar facilities or that Military ATC takes over? This is going to cost all airlines a ton of money.

Perhaps invest less money in shiny glass buildings that no one but themselves can see and invest more money in the technical department?

You're right on the priorities on the investments at Belgocontrol. Technical department and manpower for example really lack...

Regarding the back up plan, you cannot duplicate the whole system, and there are legal concerns when military takes over. They are not trained to handle the same trafic, same separation, same phraseology, and then what happens if there's an incident, who is responsible etc...

jan_olieslagers · Post by **jan_olieslagers** » 27 May 2015, 14:20

The military have neither the manpower nor the training nor the equipment nor the IT infrastructure to take over completely from Belgocontrol. They could operate as a plan B so that emergency services can operate with optimal security - and I'd not be surprised if they were doing that right now.

From their point of view, they might even be at an increased level of vigilance because all the world has been informed Belgian airspace is controlled less tightly than normal.

Bralo20 · Post by **Bralo20** » 27 May 2015, 14:22

Self-proclaimed aviation specialist Luk De Wilde is thinking about a deliberate act as the cause of this event since it's not normal all system failed: http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/33746/Stroompa ... iten.dhtml

Oh boy...

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 27 May 2015, 14:50

La panne d’électricité qui a provoqué mercredi la fermeture de l’espace aérien belge depuis 09h45 est due à une surcharge sur le réseau électrique, a-t-on appris auprès de Belgocontrol. Sollicité par l’agence Belga, le gestionnaire du réseau électrique en Belgique, Elia, précise que le problème n’est pas survenu sur son propre réseau mais sur le réseau interne de Belgocontrol.

According to Belgocontrol, the power breakdown that caused the closure of the Belgian airspace was due to an overload on the electrical network. Solicited by Belga, the manager of the electricity network in Belgium, Elia , points out that the problem did not occur on its own network but on the internal network of Belgocontrol .

Aviation24.be

27/05/2015 Major power failure at Belgocontrol

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