Insect-infested aircraft at Heathrow forced to abandon take-offs
Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Grounded aircraft presented an “attractive opportunity” for insects as pitot probes - a tube that measures the speed and pressure of air, liquid or gas - are an “ideal construction site for nests”, the AAIB report stated. “Insects blocking aircraft pitot/static systems is not a new hazard, but one likely exacerbated at Heathrow in 2021 due to the unusually low operational tempo resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic,” the AAIB said. With less aircraft activity, including less noise and jet efflux to deter the insects, the parked aircraft made an attractive opportunity, with the pitot probes providing an ideal construction site for nests.” Looking ahead, “proactive habitat management and aircraft monitoring will be required to mitigate the risk”, the report concluded. “The White House press charter, flying from Dulles to Europe ahead of President Biden, has been delayed for hours – due to mechanical issues caused by cicadas,” Associated Press reporter Jonathan Lemire tweeted.
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