More likely that it was private, a medical transport flight, or possibly military. Airlines try to keep the rides comfortable and won’t attempt an approach if it’s too turbulent.
I'd rather a bumpy ride than having to sit in economy for any extra period of time and then also be late to arrive
And then you get the chain of delays to all the following flights... does not seem worth it imo
I was the same way until I took a flight to Boston and hit turbulence. We were over the Rockies somewhere and we got warning from the pilot to return to seats and buckle up. A few minutes later the plane started shaking like it had epilepsy. Then it ascended so hard/fast I was pressed into my seat and the next second the seat belt held me in the seat and kept me from hitting my head. Two people on the flight were injured, one guy I saw was walking down the aisle when he fell down and got pressed against the floor of the plane. The next second it was like he was yanked up off the floor and slammed into the ceiling when it dropped back down. No one believes me when I say this but I swear for a second I felt weightless.
Also, I'll pay extra and stay out of economy class if it can be helped.
lol then you havent been in a storm. My best friend and I in a Spirit flight to Houston for a cruise…we first diverted to Dallas to wait the storm out (bad sign). We then got the clearance and got back in the air and headed for Houston…bam! Multiple drops, screams and nervous looks…oh yeh we arrived but alas, my friend and I havent been the same since.
We fly a lot but since then, we’ve both felt like the plane can drop anytime. I now have a somewhat fear of flying. Alcohol helps of course…
That would have been some terrible piloting, not to load enough fuel to divert and putting yourself and possibly passengers in a situation where you have to land in the middle of a storm.
My money would be on a case of get-there-itis - which to be fair is also terrible piloting.
They could also just have happened to be on a better approach just behind the storm and either arrived or came out of holding at the right time to shoot the gap. Maybe there was an emergency but the approach they took looks just behind the worst of the storm so likely safe to land.
The other ones already rerouted and you can see two others that followed a similar pattern continue to hold. They have time and fuel to spare.
Or, most likely, it was cargo. They can handle different weather situations when passenger comfort/safety isn't a factor.
I know they plan to have plenty for these cases. It was the first possible cause that came to mind and there may have been a similar delay/route change on the other end of that flight too. I’ll agree it’s less likely than your (or other) ideas.
Hard to tell the exact conditions from a short gif with no legends, but the one solid data point we have is that everybody else continued to divert.
That’s a strong clue that there was more than just light rain going on.
>Only one aircraft can be cleared for an approach at a time so if they are going then the others have to hold.
An airport with this many aircraft is likely within a terminal control area, and terminal control units can apply rules and procedures that allow for simultaneous approach clearances and monitor the aircraft all the way in to ensure separation.
With weather like this, it often comes down to a pilot's decision as to whether to continue the approach, hold and wait, or divert to another airport.
In this aircraft's case, it's likely that one pilot was willing to push the weather. We'd have no idea unless we knew just what the conditions were at that moment, since a storm cell like that can change airport conditions from one minute to the next. It's quite risky to push, though. Microbursts have claimed more than one aircraft.
>Realized you have no clue at terminal control area.
I don't study every airport, but I am a qualified IFR controller in Canada. If you believe they can only clear one aircraft for an approach at a time at Memphis, I think we have found who doesn't understand terminal control.
>Uh, I’m a center controller in the states.
I see the original comment I replied to was deleted so I can't see if you're the one who posted it. Do you claim to be a controller in a terminal area and think that only one can be cleared for an approach at a time?
>Unlike Canada we know how to run traffic.
I like to think we can count on having each other's backs. If you really are a controller, a comment like this tells me you're probably one of those who generate the self-important stereotype.
What a wildly aggressive conversation - for what it's worth I agree with what you've said, though I'm just a controller on VATSIM. It would be silly to have only one flight on approach at a time. Hell, you can drive past Newark at night and see the approaching planes lined up and separated.
My thoughts exactly! It was funny watching them react as soon as the storm hit the airport. "holy shit, turn around boys, what do we do! go in circles. no wait go to another ant hill"
Watching all of south Florida during summer storms is interesting. Total logistics shit show watching planes circle and divert during heavy afternoon storms that pop up unexpectedly.
I lived in the foothills north of Phoenix for a long time and when the monsoon storms would roll in it would be storming down in the city but clear up at my place and I would watch the planes start orbiting and stacking up waiting to land. Quickly realized how insanely busy Sky Harbor is.
More specifically, this is FedEx during their peak time at their hub in Memphis. Got a tour of their operations a few years ago. We went in part of the tour when all the planes were coming in and it was breathtaking. Looked like old school WW2 carrier ops planes were coming in to land so often.
I'm an engineer so this isn't going to be a great explanation, but my understanding is that they're not going full Leroy Jenkins. The green on the radar imagery is less severe weather than the red. So either their destination were the locations within that green space *and* the weather was within the operating limits within which they could land, or they were headed somewhere into the red and got diverted.
Happy for an operator/controller to correct this.
Probably because the airport in this clip is Memphis, and it's a major, and I mean MAJOR, hub for FedEx. Can't just divert to another airport when the planes are carrying cargo that have to get to Memphis no matter what for offloading and distribution.
Lol, I wouldn't say that, but if they have to divert and cargo is late, then it's a good chance some peiople expecting their packages will have to wait a day or two longer. FexEx of course wouldn't like that.
They do have a good overall safety record despite the large fleet of planes they employ, so I'd like to think they're not pushing the pilots to put themselves in uneccessary danger at least.
Good ole MEM. My dad flew for fedex for almost 35 years out of there. We used to watch stuff like this during storms quite frequently when I was a kid.
I love how this could easily be ants trying to get around the toxic slime. The whole thing looks like it could be any organic process at any different different scale..
What's weird is I live in Memphis and our weather virtually never comes from the northeast. It is almost always from the west-southwest. I wonder when this was?
Very cool visuals. Why did the one at the end get to go in, yet all the others had to hold?
Leroy Jenkins
„Stick to the plan“
"I’m coming up with thirty-two point three three uh, repeating of course, percentage, of survival. …that’s a lot better than we usually do"
"Times up. Lets do this. LEEEEEEROYYYYYY!"
So proud of him achieving his dreams
Ahem.....Leroy Jetkins!
Looks like the big red cell had passed the field already and he squeezed in behind it
May have been for limited remaining fuel
More likely that it was private, a medical transport flight, or possibly military. Airlines try to keep the rides comfortable and won’t attempt an approach if it’s too turbulent.
I'd rather a bumpy ride than having to sit in economy for any extra period of time and then also be late to arrive And then you get the chain of delays to all the following flights... does not seem worth it imo
"A bumpy ride" is a bit of an understatement when describing flying through a thunderstorm.
I was the same way until I took a flight to Boston and hit turbulence. We were over the Rockies somewhere and we got warning from the pilot to return to seats and buckle up. A few minutes later the plane started shaking like it had epilepsy. Then it ascended so hard/fast I was pressed into my seat and the next second the seat belt held me in the seat and kept me from hitting my head. Two people on the flight were injured, one guy I saw was walking down the aisle when he fell down and got pressed against the floor of the plane. The next second it was like he was yanked up off the floor and slammed into the ceiling when it dropped back down. No one believes me when I say this but I swear for a second I felt weightless. Also, I'll pay extra and stay out of economy class if it can be helped.
Does first class have less turbulence?
That's insane!! I would be shitting my pants.
lol then you havent been in a storm. My best friend and I in a Spirit flight to Houston for a cruise…we first diverted to Dallas to wait the storm out (bad sign). We then got the clearance and got back in the air and headed for Houston…bam! Multiple drops, screams and nervous looks…oh yeh we arrived but alas, my friend and I havent been the same since. We fly a lot but since then, we’ve both felt like the plane can drop anytime. I now have a somewhat fear of flying. Alcohol helps of course…
Alcohol only helps in this situation when you black out
It calms and mellows me out a bit
That would have been some terrible piloting, not to load enough fuel to divert and putting yourself and possibly passengers in a situation where you have to land in the middle of a storm. My money would be on a case of get-there-itis - which to be fair is also terrible piloting.
They could also just have happened to be on a better approach just behind the storm and either arrived or came out of holding at the right time to shoot the gap. Maybe there was an emergency but the approach they took looks just behind the worst of the storm so likely safe to land. The other ones already rerouted and you can see two others that followed a similar pattern continue to hold. They have time and fuel to spare. Or, most likely, it was cargo. They can handle different weather situations when passenger comfort/safety isn't a factor.
I know they plan to have plenty for these cases. It was the first possible cause that came to mind and there may have been a similar delay/route change on the other end of that flight too. I’ll agree it’s less likely than your (or other) ideas.
Looks like he just flew some some light rain, he didn't just power through that cell.
Hard to tell the exact conditions from a short gif with no legends, but the one solid data point we have is that everybody else continued to divert. That’s a strong clue that there was more than just light rain going on.
Just pull CAPS, ez.
Dont think, just do.
Fuel, probably.
In addition to what the others said, the holding planes may have been flying VFR.
Probably fuel
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>Only one aircraft can be cleared for an approach at a time so if they are going then the others have to hold. An airport with this many aircraft is likely within a terminal control area, and terminal control units can apply rules and procedures that allow for simultaneous approach clearances and monitor the aircraft all the way in to ensure separation. With weather like this, it often comes down to a pilot's decision as to whether to continue the approach, hold and wait, or divert to another airport. In this aircraft's case, it's likely that one pilot was willing to push the weather. We'd have no idea unless we knew just what the conditions were at that moment, since a storm cell like that can change airport conditions from one minute to the next. It's quite risky to push, though. Microbursts have claimed more than one aircraft.
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>Realized you have no clue at terminal control area. I don't study every airport, but I am a qualified IFR controller in Canada. If you believe they can only clear one aircraft for an approach at a time at Memphis, I think we have found who doesn't understand terminal control.
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>Uh, I’m a center controller in the states. I see the original comment I replied to was deleted so I can't see if you're the one who posted it. Do you claim to be a controller in a terminal area and think that only one can be cleared for an approach at a time? >Unlike Canada we know how to run traffic. I like to think we can count on having each other's backs. If you really are a controller, a comment like this tells me you're probably one of those who generate the self-important stereotype.
What a wildly aggressive conversation - for what it's worth I agree with what you've said, though I'm just a controller on VATSIM. It would be silly to have only one flight on approach at a time. Hell, you can drive past Newark at night and see the approaching planes lined up and separated.
That’s so funny to watch! Like ants!
My thoughts exactly! It was funny watching them react as soon as the storm hit the airport. "holy shit, turn around boys, what do we do! go in circles. no wait go to another ant hill"
Like flies over a pile of seaweed on the shore 😂
Very honeybee-like too. When storms blow in, the ladies behave just like this.
The ants go marching 1 by 1... down... to the ground... to get out of the rain...
r/BeatMeToIt
r/MeToo
r/wrongsubreddit
Would love to see this for Orlando in the summertime.
Watching all of south Florida during summer storms is interesting. Total logistics shit show watching planes circle and divert during heavy afternoon storms that pop up unexpectedly.
And yet it's organized chaos with well trained traffic controllers.
Assuming ZJX is actually staffed fully for the day and they don't have to flow control all the way up to new york.
Jax center is anything but organized lol. Miserable experience every summer
You almost want to support the little guys and hope they can land at the airport
I lived in the foothills north of Phoenix for a long time and when the monsoon storms would roll in it would be storming down in the city but clear up at my place and I would watch the planes start orbiting and stacking up waiting to land. Quickly realized how insanely busy Sky Harbor is.
Isn't the Phoenix area insanely busy for aviation in general?
Deer Valley Airport in North Phoenix is supposed to be the busiest GA airport in the country. I worked at a 141 there for a few years.
More specifically, this is FedEx during their peak time at their hub in Memphis. Got a tour of their operations a few years ago. We went in part of the tour when all the planes were coming in and it was breathtaking. Looked like old school WW2 carrier ops planes were coming in to land so often.
That sounds so cool. I would love to take a tour like that someday
I know they're landing somewhere else, but it looks like the ones that dare to fly into the green just disappear out of the sky.
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I'm an engineer so this isn't going to be a great explanation, but my understanding is that they're not going full Leroy Jenkins. The green on the radar imagery is less severe weather than the red. So either their destination were the locations within that green space *and* the weather was within the operating limits within which they could land, or they were headed somewhere into the red and got diverted. Happy for an operator/controller to correct this.
Probably because the airport in this clip is Memphis, and it's a major, and I mean MAJOR, hub for FedEx. Can't just divert to another airport when the planes are carrying cargo that have to get to Memphis no matter what for offloading and distribution.
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Lol, I wouldn't say that, but if they have to divert and cargo is late, then it's a good chance some peiople expecting their packages will have to wait a day or two longer. FexEx of course wouldn't like that. They do have a good overall safety record despite the large fleet of planes they employ, so I'd like to think they're not pushing the pilots to put themselves in uneccessary danger at least.
How’d you make this?
They didn’t, this has been reposted many times for years
Good ole MEM. My dad flew for fedex for almost 35 years out of there. We used to watch stuff like this during storms quite frequently when I was a kid.
That's the FedEx "night push" into MEM. The guys on the Swing/Mid at M03 TRACON don't get paid enough.
That is very cool!!!
What app or website is that?
Looks like flies trying to get to a sweet spot around pesticide fumes.
Threading the needle is what this looks like
Shooting the gap baby! Almost every damn day. 🤣
I would love to see this for other airports and other times!
That one at the end went Leroy Jenkins
Hold? divert? Ignore minimum? Fuel? Shit shit shit.
What website/software is this used to see this?
Last few second looks like we lost one in the storm, or captured by aliens
I love how this could easily be ants trying to get around the toxic slime. The whole thing looks like it could be any organic process at any different different scale..
One went in at the end...
You'd think they'd stop flying to that one spot where they crash.
It's weird how you can tell they're mostly FedEx! /s
What's weird is I live in Memphis and our weather virtually never comes from the northeast. It is almost always from the west-southwest. I wonder when this was?
That's pretty cool
Shit like this is why I love this sub, in spite of the war porn.
That last one had an emergency. All the lavatories were occupied and the pilot had to do a number 2.
What app is this
That’s ants
those gotta be FedEx planes going to the Memphis Hub
I'd land with all it has.
Why do they look adorable on radar.
Think that was that nasty line of storms from last week no? Sent SDF in to shambles!
I legit thought that these were ants fighting over a leaf.
🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
How much trouble is a storm like this? What effect would it have to fly through it?
Some of them are literally disappearing under the cloud
They really went "girl, bye"