Flying into Ayers Rock (airport) - views

[Steve Jones]

I am flying into Ayers Rock later this week (on QF) and wondered if there was a typical landing direction, and if so, what side of the aircraft is best to view the rock on approach. Same applies for departure.

If it makes a difference, I am arriving from Alice Springs (QFlink 717) and departing to Sydney (QF 73H).

cheers

[Adrian B]

In summary, not a hope in hell.

AYRE (Ayers Rock Airport) to Ayers Rock is about 20KMS

A Rwy 31 arrival to AYRE would give you views out of the port side.

Alice Springs is about 350kms ENE from YBRE,so I doubt you will get a view, unless you were arriving from Perth for a RWY 12 arrival.

You can see the airport charts Here (http://www.airservices.gov.au/publications/current/dap/AeroProcChartsTOC.htm?cf14FC9024=YWJhcmJlcjI6Y3NjX 21lbGJvdXJuZTo1JyE7c4u+BJMXTxSZdP17)

[Mick F]

Ayers Rock might be 20km's from the airport, but I know from personal experience, that it is quite visible from the airport.

If you're landing on Rwy 31, the left side of the aircraft would be best. If you're departing on Rwy 13, then the right side.

There's no 'typical' landing direction. It all depends on the wind.

Mick

[Matt D]

On the morning of the flight you can check the TAF (forecast) for YAYE (http://www.airservices.gov.au/brief/html.asp?/cgi-bin/avreq?met=Yaye) and that might help you work out which runway and therefore which side.

[Kelvin R]

If you are landing on 13 I don't think you will get much of a view but you would need to be on the right side (D,E,F) winds for a 13 will need to be coming from the South or East or South West.

I just did SYD-AYQ-SYD over the weekend with a 31 arrival and a 13 departure.

There were 2 fighter jets which took off about an hour before us which stopped in to refuel.

[Adrian B]

I stand corrected I never knew QF flew into Ayers Rock

[Tony G]

Here are a few shots i took out the back of a J-Herc about 3 weeks ago. In the afternnon runway 13 would possibly be a better approach for light, RHS of Aircraft to view this. Fortunately with the herc we can go off track and get really close as shown in the photos.

The rock
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/IMG_3651.jpg

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/IMG_3666.jpg

The Airport YAYE
http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/IMG_3640.jpg

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/IMG_3636.jpg

You can see Qantas link 717 on the strip

[Robert Zweck]

I believe the remains of the old strip near the base of the Rock can still be seen.

It was an E-W strip and on the north side, was gravel and nil bitumen....was OK for operating the F-27 which was about the largest type that could use it.

[Kelvin R]

The remains of the old strip can still be seen as a short dirt strip with a turning area at one end. They have just started to replant it. The old strip however is in a sacred site area so I couldn't take any photos but you walk past it as part of the base walk.

At 2500m what is the biggest aircraft you could get in and out of AYQ?

[Anthony T]

At 2500m what is the biggest aircraft you could get in and out of AYQ?

Probably an A380, although runway width and turning nodes could be a problem:rolleyes:

YMML rwy 27 frequently handles B747 arrivals and departures.

QF009 to SIN & LHR went off the 34 Juliet intersection at YMML the other day, and was airborne by Echo, quite impressive considering it actually got to the runway without a gate return:D must have been one of the better aircraft.

Cheers
Anthony T

[Robert Zweck]

The Ansett A320 VH-HYN landed at AYQ with the torch during the 2000 Olympics Torch relay.

It arrived from ( New Zealand ?) and was flown by Ansett's Chief Pilot, Mark Rindfleish.

There was a live telecast of it during Channel 9s morning programme with Steve Liebman

[Jethro H]

In the mid 90's we use to fly there often on QF and the planes would often do a circuit of Uluru before touch down. Does that still happen?

One time we were due to take off mid afternoon, it was 40 degrees and our baggage was left behind due to weight. Got the bags back in Sydney the next day!

[Kelvin R]

There was no circuits flown the time I was there but the flight attendant said that they still happen from time to time. I guess with fuel being tight these days (we were told the airport gets 2 x road trains of 4 trailers of fuel a week) I am sure the pilots are discouraged from flying a lap.

There are also two (un official?) no fly zones, the first is over Longitude 131 and the second is over the community at the east end of Uluru. This would make doing a lap a bit more difficult.

[Mal M]

Yep Longtitude 131 is a no fly zone. What do you expect when the Resort owns the airport!

[David N]

At 2500m what is the biggest aircraft you could get in and out of AYQ?

Condor 757 on a World Tour some years ago.
Unable to find any pics of it on the net, I am sure one of the Oz mags had a small write up and picture of it at the time.

David

[David N]

From the New Travel Insider link on the Qantas website.

http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/from_the_sky_twin_peaks.htm

"The best introduction to Uluru comes from the air. The horizon is dead flat for miles and miles and then this huge rock comes out of nowhere. Flying in from the east or south, the left-hand side of the plane probably gives the best view, but the rock is so imposing that you should get to see it from all vantage points on a plane. In the distance you might catch a glimpse of the Olgas (Kata Tjuta), as well." CC