Big Jet TV presenter Jerry Dyer attracted a large crowd last Friday with his running commentary of the pilots’ performance while landing in Heathrow amid heavy winds caused by storm Eunice.
1. Broadcasting danger
A red weather warning for wind is currently in force over London and the southeast, as well as in parts of southwest, west and south Wales as the Met Office warns of winds in excess of 90mph caused by the storm Eunice.
On Friday 18 February, Dyer’s YouTube channel hit a record 200,000 concurrent live viewers for its stream of planes struggling to land in strong winds at Heathrow airport — a high figure compared to the audience given to British news television channels. Dyer’s latest video on YouTube registered more than 7 million viewers during nearly 8 hours of broadcasting.
What’s great is you get the see the skill of the pilot, and how they manage to handle it.
Jerry Dyer, Big Jet TV presenter
Speaking to BBC Radio 2, the Big Jet TV presenter said the compelling footage was “the best scenario you could image” for entertainment value.
“Big kudos to the pilots and the crews working at the airports,” he said. “Normally the conditions are calm and we have great shows we do for hours on end, people watching from all over the world. But right now, these conditions with 70mph gusting winds, it’s pretty intense. And what’s great is you get the see the skill of the pilot, and how they manage to handle it.”
Dyer noted that several planes were diverted on Friday during the time he was filming. “Many planes are having to abort their landings,” he said. “It’s a bumpy ride, you have to think of all those folks who are on the aircraft.”
2. Accidental occupation
Dyer’s infatuation with planes starting at an early age as he grew up near Heathrow. Only in 2015, he started live streaming plane landings after his nephew told him Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson, a pilot, was flying his plane into London. Back then, Dyer raced to the airport and streamed the plane’s landing live on Twitter.
