Sydney weather

[Nigel C]

Massive storms hitting YSSY right now causing chaos for aircraft trying to arrive and depart.

At 1030 there was a tornado reported near Kurnell, with wind gust up to 200km/h confirmed by the BOM. Moderate funnel clouds are in the TTF...
TEMPO 2338/0045 VRB45G80KT 2000 THUNDERSTORMS WITH MODERATE RAIN AND SMALL HAIL, MODERATE FUNNEL CLOUDS BKN005 SCT020CB

I imagine Grahame is watching racetracks being flown all over the place, and there have been many diversions due fuel limits being reached.

[Grahame Hutchison]

A strong storm front with high winds, lightening and hail, hit Sydney around 1045-AEDT. We had hail on the balcony up to 2cm dia, saw lightening appear to hit a crane at Port Botany, and visibility reduced to less than 200 metres (only 4km from the airport). Even VOZ702 VH-VUV from Brisbane to Hobart tracked well out to sea, and is now heading back in towards Eden.

Live ADS-B Map (http://adsb.16right.com/live/map/)

ATIS YSSY R 160010
APCH: EXP ILS OR GLS APCH
RWY: 16L AND R FOR ARRS AND DEPS
SFC COND: WET
OPR INFO: HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING ON.
SYDNEY DME NOT AVBL
START APPROVAL RQ, WHEN READY FOR PUSH BACK OR ENGINE START,
CTC SYDNEY COORDINATOR ON FREQ 127.6, FOR START TIME
+ WIND: 100/20-30
XW MN 22 MAX 25 KTS
VIS: RED TO 3000M IN HVY RA
WX: CB AND LIGHTNING IN AREA
CLD: SCT007, BKN018
+ TMP: 19
+ QNH: 1015

1050-AEDT - Aircraft are holding to the North, East and Southeast.

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY ADS-B 20151216 A.JPG

1131-AEDT - Looks like ATC will have some sorting out to do - ACDC are holding off the coast in 9H-AVK, and FJI911 has also gone into a hold.

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY ADS-B 20151216 B.JPG

[Grahame Hutchison]

Sorry Nigel, I didn't see your post and started This Thread (http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?p=97830#post97830)

I can believe the Tornado effect, I could see the clouds over Botany Bay heads moving in opposing directions, almost looked like northerly and southerly patterns colliding.

Yep, plenty of holding, including ACDC in the A319, heading in from Auckland. NZ103 operated by B777-319(ER) ZK-OKR did three orbits off the coast, and is now heading north to Brisbane.

Live ADS-B Map (http://adsb.16right.com/live/map/)

[Adrian B]

You can throw in there a runway change, plus a water craft in trouble in Botany Bay on the 34L approach moving all arrivals to 34R . ATC guys are certainly earning their sheckles today.

[Mark T]

Looks like ANZ103 has headed up to Brisbane

[Radi K]

Fiji and CI to BNE.

ACDC to Canberra

[MarkR]

You can throw in there a runway change, plus a water craft in trouble in Botany Bay on the 34L approach moving all arrivals to 34R . ATC guys are certainly earning their sheckles today.

Most ATC folk enjoy the challenge such weather brings as its a change from what can be a boring normal day,

[Grahame Hutchison]

70 minutes on and ATC are still working hard to clear the backlog - only a few minutes ago, there were six aircraft queued on Taxiway Tango up to the Runway 34R Holding Point, and waiting for departure.

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY ADS-B 20151216 C.JPG

[NathanJ]

Garuda 712 did quiet a few orbits down south, attempted a 07 arrival before aborting and heading to MEL.

Round 2 is just about to arrive... Gonna be an interesting arvo playing airports!

[Adrian B]

Second storm is about to hit. Runway change from 16 to 34 to 07 and in the process if going back to 16. Gusts up to 50 knots with a 25 knot downwind on 07.

[Adrian B]

Tower just asked for volunteers for take off clearance... :)

[George G]

I love it!!

All that action...and again i'm stuck at work! :( :D

[Grahame Hutchison]

This is what my southerly panorama looked like after the first storm cleared, and the second storm started to form to the south (minutes later things got very dark again). The poor guys in ATC were just starting to clear things up when the second storm hit. The rain was much heavier, just minor hail here, but very strong winds. Visibility was reduced to almost zero at the height of the second storm.

Airport Runways are to the right and Maroubra to the left. A lone VA B737 at Tango 6 Runway 34R and three holding at Alpha 6 Runway 34L
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY Panorama 20151216 A.jpg

1432-AEDT Aircraft are still going into holding patterns on approach into Sydney
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY ADS-B 20151216 D.JPG

[Ian Gains]

SIA231 9V-SNB and GIA712 PK-GPS both came to MEL, & RP-C3343 went to CBR.

[George G]

SQ 252 & SQ 232 leaving one behind the other SYD - SIN :D

[Grahame Hutchison]

BK117 Lifesaver 21 (LIFE21) is operating over the Kurnell area in support of the storm damage clearance work being done
on the ground. They are infringing the extended centreline of Runway 16L, and are in constant Comms with ATC re the
aircraft departing. They had to declare Priority Work in order to operate there. They have now changed to 34L operation,
and ATC are advising LIFE21 of each arrival passing overhead, with a "Wake Turbulence" warning.

The other at the Botany Bay Heads is Bk117 VH-VRQ belongs to the Rural Fire Service.

1548-AEDT LIFE21 has completed their first pass of the storm damage area and are now back on the ground at Kurnell.
They will be departing again in 5-10 minutes.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY ADS-B 20151216 E.JPG

[Grahame Hutchison]

With all the departing aircraft on 34L/34R looking directly at this weather to the
north, they are all negotiating their departure heading with ATC.

ATC actually said "Pick A Heading" to one aircraft.

REX982 VH-ZRC asked for a 30 second line-up so they could take a look at the
weather first, and then nominate a departure heading.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/YSSY ADS-B 20151216 F.JPG

[Grahame Hutchison]

QF447 just reported a Bird Strike on departure from Runway 34R - identifying it as a Hawk or Kestrel.

ATC asked JST813, who was arriving on Runway 34R immediately after QF447 departed, if they would like to continue. JST813 confirmed they would continue the approach, and ATC then said the bird was on the centreline, do you still want to continue ? JST813 confirmed Yes again.

ACR-3 is now doing a Runway inspection

CAR-3 reported nothing sighted - the Bird lives to hunt another day maybe !

[Grahame Hutchison]

Here are a few images of BK117 LIFE21 operating at 200ft over Kurnell. The overflying aircraft on approach are directly above at 1000ft, so ATC were
understandably cautious. Range to the BK117 is 7km.

Channel 7 AS.355F1 chopper VH-SEV is now operating in the same area, and ATC are asking them to move east with each approaching arrival.

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/D200-20151216-013.jpg

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/D200-20151216-014.jpg

http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/D200-20151216-015.jpg

This is a Jetstar A320 overhead the same point where LIFE21 was operating
http://www.16Right.com/MessageBoard/D200-20151216-016.jpg

[Grahame Hutchison]

ATC advised an arriving aircraft of the helicopter (Channel 9 I think) operating at Kernell, stating that the chopper would maintain separation.

The aircraft replied, "We have him on the fish finder".

[James R]

Saw what appeared to be a JQ A320 go around on 07 just as the storm was about to hit, then presumably the GA712 had a crack right behind but also pulled out.