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BAVirtual Diversion Policy

Why divert?​

  • Excessive traffic at the arrival aerodrome that was unplanned for and would result in a landing below final reserve. However, pilots should plan for VATSIM events and plan reasonable additional fuel for holding, EATs, CTOTs, ground stops, etc.
  • Weather below approach minimums or aircraft limitations.
  • If you are flying a flight from a real schedule, and the real-world flight diverts (regardless of reason) on the same day, provided the real-world diversion strategy was followed.

How to divert​

When a diversion is undertaken, pilots must continue operating in accordance with OM-A, fleet-specific guidance and the Minimum Standards of Flying.

Pilots must select a suitable airfield in line with commercial, meteorological, political and operational factors when deciding on an airfield to divert to. This may not be the closest airfield to the pilot when the incident or extenuating factor occurs. Use of the BAVirtual OM-C can support pilots in selecting a diversion airfield.

Crews operating A380 aircraft must consult the A380 approved aerodrome list when selecting a diversion airfield.

Rank restrictions should be adhered to when deciding where to divert. There is a reason why these aerodromes are restricted, usually due to challenging approaches or weather conditions; they do not provide good diversion facilities.

Commercial factors​

At the destination aerodrome​

Commercial alternates will be shown on your Operational Flight Plan (OFP). These airports have handling agreements and the correct facilities for immigration, etc.

En route​

Commercial alternates should be aerodromes that are served by British Airways in normal operations. Useful examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Budapest (BUD/LHBP)
  • Istanbul (IST/LTFM)
  • Athens (ATH/LGAV)
  • Toronto (YYZ/CYYZ)
  • Chicago O’Hare (ORD/KORD)
  • Bermuda (BDA/TXKF)

Within the London TMA​

Commercially, flights heading to London should stay within London wherever possible:

  • Stansted (STN/EGSS) works best for Heavy aircraft.
  • Gatwick (LGW/EGKK) is a good option for Super aircraft.
  • Luton (LTN/EGGW) is a good option for Medium aircraft. Luton is unable to accommodate Heavy aircraft.

A380 guidance must be reviewed.

If you cannot divert to one of these aerodromes, Birmingham (BHX/EGBB), Manchester (MAN/EGCC) and Cardiff (CWL/EGFF) offer good links to London.

In major diversion events, other aerodromes within the United Kingdom mainland provide a strong possibility for diversion and should be given preference, such as Glasgow (GLA/EGPF) and Edinburgh (EDI/EGPH). Diversions to islands such as the Channel Islands are not preferable and should be avoided.

Heavy and Super aircraft may need to consider Amsterdam (AMS/EHAM) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG/LFPG) in extreme cases.

Meteorological factors​

You may have to divert further afield for meteorological conditions to be suitably different. You must still land with final reserve fuel; this may mean that you divert earlier than for other reasons.

You should plan and check the weather conditions at your alternate aerodromes as part of your approach briefing and preparations to land at a destination with inclement weather.

Political factors​

Please see the guidance below and review the Global Safety and Security Brief available via the BAVirtual DocStore app.

Airports and countries to avoid on diversion​

If travelling to/fromDo not divert to
BakuYerevan; Beirut
BeirutTel Aviv; Damascus
IndiaPakistan
Tel AvivDamascus; Beirut
South KoreaNorth Korea

Countries and airfields to avoid if possible​

  • Karachi (KHI/OPKC)
  • Kano (KAN/DNKK)

Countries and airfields to avoid unless there is no other option​

  • Afghanistan
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Mali*
  • North Korea
  • Pakistan — except Karachi (see above) and Islamabad (ISB/OPIS)
  • Peshawar (PEW/OPPS)*
  • Somalia*
  • South Sudan*
  • Sudan*
  • Syria*
  • Yemen*

* Country/airfield poses an extremely high security threat and should be avoided unless in dire emergency.

Operational factors​

Operational factors will usually be covered if you respect commercial factors. However, if a diversion is necessary outside of these parameters, then thought should be given to the likelihood of finding handling cover, hotel accommodation, ground transport, maintenance facilities, etc.

Common ETOPS/EDTO alternates, such as St. John’s (YYT/CYYT), Gander (YQX/CYQX), Edmonton (YEG/CYEG) and Ashgabat (ASB/UTAA), provide a good operational option in isolated areas.