Washington, Dulles Airport. 14th January 1977
By Steve Sterner
Handling Company Manager
Washington Dulles
A massive ice storm hits Dulles Airport, conditions are hazardous. Concorde was number 3 on approach. Pan Am 747 landed on 19L and slid to the end of the runway. Runway closed. Northwest DC10 landed on 19R, and slid to the end of the runway. Runway closed. Concorde disappeared. The tower called to tell us that it had diverted to Baltimore (BWI).
Fortunately, Washington (IAD) Station Manager Bob Saitta had prepared all the alternate airport handling companies for this eventuality. Saitta told me and René Ledamany, AF ground engineer, to take a taxi over to BWI, check on the plane and crew and prepare for the return to Dulles next morning for the IAD CDG departure.
What a long ride that was!
Plane was good. Passengers had been sent off in taxis to reach their next point. Handling company did a good job. No expense was to be spared! This was Saitta’s instruction to the alternate airport.
Snow removal scene and Concorde in winter in Washington © Steve Sterner
We were then off to the hotel. Got some sleep and back next morning to prepare for departure. Handling company was well ahead of us. I have never seen an aircraft de-iced top and bottom. It was immaculate. The crew arrived shortly afterwards.
Chief Pilot CdB Dudal was in charge of the flight. We recognized each other, shared greetings, and stories, about the night before. Concorde is ready to go. CdB Dudal invites me to take the jumpseat. René is in the cabin with the PNC. Taxi out and take off. I’ll never forget being pushed back into my seat when the after burners kicked in. The OMN Brugeroux forgot to secure his “brain bag” (his sacoche with all the manuals and other printed material), so as we rotated, his bag went zipping down the aisle, thru the galley, hit the carpeting strip and jumped into the air, discharging his stuff as it went. Talk about cockpit discipline, the OMN looked down, and then right back to his gauges.
Very noisy in the cockpit. Wind noise. Sounded like driving down the highway at 100mph with all the windows open. But, as the visor was raised, the noise stopped. Absolute quiet. 5,000 ft 250 knots across the Maryland and Virginia countryside. I joked that altitude we will see the curvature of the earth !!
As we touched down at IAD, CDB Dudal commented, “ah ca glisse!” Still icy, but no issues. Taxi to the ramp and get back to work for the departure.
An unforgettable experience!
SS