JFK 12-31-10

[heeshung]

Weather looks good. Heading out tomorrow.

[Zee71]

I should be around. What time are you heading out?

[heeshung]

Gonna head out in the morning and arrive maybe around 1-2ish.

[gonzalu]

I am jealous... I will miss the airport! Have to babysit 5 10-11 year olds all day! If you don't hear from me, call the FBI!

[Roush6NY]

The weather does look good for tom, wish I didn't have to go in to work!

I'm hoping it will stay the same for sat!

[Zee71]

Went out late this morning and I think ATC was playing hell with me. Every hour or so they kept switching runways. I started out at the mounds, then ended up at Panera, then back to the mounds and then they switched to the 22s and 13s. After an couple of hours of that configuration, they then went to the 22L arrivals and 31L departures. The light was better in the morning and got worse as the day progressed. From the mounds I got lucky as they were landing some aircrafts on 22R and the light was great. Will shortly post my catches.

By the way, the mounds are snowed in, but not as bad as I thought. There is a spot right in the middle of the soccer field that is clear of any snow. The roads to the mounds are clear and parking is a non-issue.

[NIKV69]

The light at Hobe sucked all morning. Almost seemed like a little marine layer was up there as the sun never broke through enough to light up the fuselage well enough consistently. Yea they started 31s then mixed in 22. Then sent the majority of departures off 22 then I left 10:45 and it was just 22. I did see a couple having crazy monkey sex in the car next to me. As for things being plowed nothing is. Cross bay was a disgrace. As was much of the area. 5 Days. I mean this doesn't even pass the laugh test. I hope Cuomo steps in because Bloomberg has lost all control and you can tell NY Sanitation is going to stand with their own and deny it all.

[gonzalu]

Nick,

NJ is far worse. It took me 1:30 hours yesterday from EWR to Montclair through Newark... some streets did not even get salt or even one plow...cars were still abandoned in the middle of the street in some places. I think the city did a terrific job by now given the situation. I mean, HoBe was open and so was the west parking lot the day after the storm :-) Also the fact that I made it the day after to JFK without incident was a testament of the job the highway units did. I know the side streets are not done but this is a HUGE HUGE city! Lots of streets. If we had more plows/sanitation employees, we'd be complaining about large payrolls.

Snow Melts!

[NIKV69]

Do babies come back to life?


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/q...KdoieXPnP4ECJN

[Zee71]

Well..........here are my final catches for the year. Happy New Year fellow spotters!

Always nice to catch a Virgin (approach to 31R)


Airborne Express on the ramp


Cathay Pacific on approach to 22R


Delta Sky Team on approach to 31R


DHL on approach to 22L


Jet Blue at ya!


Kalitta cargo on approach to 22L


Sun Country on approach to 22R


I liked this one, with the Emirates A380 at the gate and Air France A380 in the background as it just landed on 22L

[gonzalu]

Sweet! I wanted to go to HPN at least and catch one or two final day of the year planes. I was Mr. Mom all day with three 10 year olds and one 11 year old. It was a ton of fun but exhausting... Happy New Year to all fellow diehards!

[gonzalu]

Do babies come back to life?


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/q...KdoieXPnP4ECJN

That's unfair and you know it. This can happen regardless of the snow. The ambulance could have a blown tire, the driver could get into an accident etc. etc. That was a low blow and you know it. What if that never happened? It is always a 50/50 chance when you stretch statistics to the maximum. Are there any stories of the ones that DID get saved because they did clean their street? or all the other trips that were finished properly in the Emergency Room on time?

Nick, you have to look at things positively from time to time :-) Cheers and Happy New Year sir...

[hiss srq]

Great shots guys! That Cathat 777 came in real high... When he crossed the fence he was literaly diving for the runway......

[megatop412]

Do babies come back to life?


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/q...KdoieXPnP4ECJN

What an incredibly terrible tragedy for parents to have to go through. I don't have any kids(yet) but the thought of what those parents went through is terrifying.

Yes tragedies happen, but the main street outside the hospital not plowed after 5 days??? That just reeks of incompetence. A blown tire or an accident isn't totally preventable, but unplowed streets 5 days after a storm totally is.

This is America. Where there's a will, there's a way. At least that's what we used to say.

[NIKV69]

Nick, you have to look at things positively from time to time

Well there will be hell to pay and people should lose their jobs and pensions if not face charges. When it comes to life saving seconds count and this Ambulance was directly effected by the circumstances. 30 mins is a lifetime in the EMT world and after the truth comes out I want them facing prosecution. This was a complete fiasco and looking at things positively is a great sound byte but in the trenches you don't need sound byes you need leadership and the man who fought for the right to break his own term limits didn't lead. The heads of the department in charge of clearing streets in a snow storm didn't lead. They failed and a families life was ruined. I can't just punt it and put a fake sound byte smile on my face. I want accountability not passing of the buck.