[conshaldow]

I was wondering if the vast knowledge of BT’s forum members could help me out with a trivial point that has been bothering me for some time.

The first instance I travelled with Continental from Glasgow to Newark the aircraft touched down at a (to me) unknown airport. This would have been circa October-November 1996 judging by my memory, but for the life of me I cannot figure out what airport this stop would have taken place at.

We were transferred into the terminal for what I presume would have been refuelling, which was no bigger than a moderately sized UK train station. I can remember outside being very cold, but given the time of year this doesn’t narrow down the location. If I were to take a guess i’d say it would be an airport in the Labrador/Newfoundland/Nova Scotia area.

I have had a dig online to find historic info on the route but I’ve come a cropper. If anyone has any knowledge of the airport it would help resolve a multi-year family dilemma.

Thanks much,

[conshaldow]

Follow on note – I cannot attain as to whether this was a scheduled stop, or if it was unscheduled due to meeting unusually strong headwinds… which I believe was quite common.

[AMcWhirter]

conshaldow – You guessed correctly.

At that time Continental (now United) was using B757s and these aircraft had difficulties flying non-stop the the US East Coast when there were strong headwinds.

There are many cases of where these B757s (not just from the UK but also from mainland Europe) had to refuel en route when flying to the US.

https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2012-01-11/flying-from-europe-avoid-boeing-757

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/transatlantic-flights-forced-by-wind-to-land-for-fuel-1.1205359

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/winds-force-more-757-fuel-stops-from-europe/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085535/Continental-supercharged-Jetstream-forced-refuel-increasing-number-flights.html

[Locod190]

I ended up at Gander International YQX in the late 80`s, beleve it was an unscheduled pit stop.

[AMcWhirter]

Those Canadian airports are still used when N American-bound flights need to divert for one reason or another.

It can be inconvenient for passengers. A few years ago a VS A330 flying LHR-JFK was diverted to Gander and passengers had to overnight in the terminal (insuffient hotel accommodation in the local area).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23747391

[TominScotland]

Probably was Gander as that was the standard stopover for DC8s when I first crossed the pond on student charters in the early 70s. Visited there when I was working in Newfoundland in the 1990s – mostly tiny 12 seaters (not sure what) with no cabin crew, just two pilots from St Johns and parked up against this massive terminal building. Weird.

I was hosted by the Mayor of Gander to a local delicacy for lunch – hot turkey sandwich – as it sounds but swamped by thick gravy – horrible….

[canucklad]

I’d probably opt for Gander too…..

On a separate but similar note, I’d recommend the book….”The day the world came to town”

a fantastically heart warming tale of how the gander community managed the vents of 9/11

[Author]

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