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View Full Version : My First Tubroprop Experience: QF1477 SYD - CBR


Arthur T
7th October 2008, 10:15 PM
As you all know, Floraide in Canberra is always awesome and attractive, and I decided to go Canberra for the Floraide. This year they launched a NightFest which makes things even more awesome.

As a member living in Sydney, Canberra is about 4 hours drive from there which is a complete waste of time. Furthermore like me who don't have a driving license, I won't tolerate to wait 3 hours for buses even book trains which runs 2x Daily only.

There are 2 carriers operating bewteen Sydney and Canberra frequently, which are QANTAS CityFlyer and Virgin Blue. Since no free meals would be served on Virgin Blue's flight and no luggage allowance, I decided to take QANTAS CityFlyer, which works for me (and you too mate!)

Flying time is just 30 minutes, which is 7x faster than trains and 9x faster than trains, less tired than you driving there, so just hop on and enjoy the flight and the report!

Flight Information

Operating Airlines and Flight Number: Sunstate Airways SSQ 1477
Codesharing Airlines and Flight Number: Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited QF1477
Origin: SYD - Sydney Kingsford-Smith
Destination: CBR - Canberra International Airport
Date: 26/9/2008 (Friday)
Estimated Departure Time: 1155
Actual Departure Time: 1200
Estimated Arrival Time: 1245
Actual Arrival Time: 1245
Stops: None
Transfers: None
Aircraft: Bombardier Q400
Rego: VH - QOC
Seat: 15B
Seat Class: Discounted Economy - O
QANTAS Frequent Flyer Miles Eligible: 1000
QANTAS Frequent Flyer Status Credits Eligible: 10
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Eligible: 76
Velocity Points Eligible: 0

The first thing to do before depart - Check-in
(Of Course you can do it in the customer service desk inside customs if you don't have checked luggage)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0002.jpg

Boarding Pass
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0037.jpg

A long bag drop queue
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0001.jpg
The staff at bag drop really catered me well, direct me where to board the flight and advised me the flight would be delayed by 5 minutes.

If you don't feel like booking a ticket, just buy it on the spot!
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/CIMG7472.jpg

Have you win?
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0006.jpg

The First Aircraft of QANTAS - The Spirit of Australia
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Flight Indicator
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It's time to get through the customs
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0008.jpg

Let's have a look at our jet engines:

VH-ZXC, having a special mission tonight (7/10/2008) in Western Australia
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0009.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0010.jpg

Arthur T
7th October 2008, 10:15 PM
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0012.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0014.jpg

Time to get to Gate 17
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0020.jpg

Special Gates for CBR Flights - Gates 16 & 17
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0022.jpg

CityFlyer: Works For Me

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0024.jpg

QF1475 for Canberra is now due to depart - Please Stand Clear
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0025.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0030.jpg

Gate 16
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0027.jpg

VH-OQC

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0026.jpg

Gate 17
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0029.jpg

Arthur T
7th October 2008, 10:16 PM
Another Bombardier Q400 is arriving, Please stand behind the Yellow Line.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0032.jpg

Ground Staff Directly the Aircraft
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0033.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0034.jpg

QF 738 x2

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0035.jpg

Legroom on the aircraft
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0038.jpg

Aircraft Interior
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0041.jpg

Airbourne

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0044.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0045.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0053.jpg

Arthur T
7th October 2008, 10:18 PM
I take QANTAS just for this:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0050.jpg

Looks delicious! :p
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0051.jpg

After Landing
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0058.jpg

Exterior of Bombardier Q400
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0057.jpg

737-400

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0059.jpg

Another Bombardier Q400

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0060.jpg

Cross the Road - Back to The Terminal
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f135/arthur_tsang/IMG_0061.jpg

Comments:
Some of my friends actually feel frightened when they see the Bombardier Q400 aircraft I am taking, think QF need to market their Q400s better to raise public image.

The flight was very stable, with only little tubulance upon take off and landing. The cabin is not so noisy as I expected, even quieter than the jetfoils, but of course nosier than Boeing 737-400s.

Back to the Cabin, Legroom is satisfactory, but seat pitch seems a bit narrow that the passenger in front of me feel difficult travelling on a Q400 as shown. Unfortunately there is no PTV on board, even no Inflight Radio System :( But an inflight magazine sounds alright.

The food is a bit awful anyway, think Virgin's noodle soup might be better for $6.

Whilst landing, one of the trollies didn't strolled well so some cans of cokes fell from the rear of the cabin and generated really nasty noise :eek:

Finally, I hope any QF crew here can help me with this, one of the cabin crew named Krystal on this flight (QF1477, 26/9/2008) is awesome, she is really sweet and polite to passengers, acts friendly. Hope I would get more details and commendate her or more.

That's it for the report. I really hope you'd enjoy it and hope more to come on this board with photos and comments.

Lukas M
8th October 2008, 07:37 AM
You were lucky that you got a Lunch box there, over the holidays on the same route, I got a measly "lemon biscuit" and tiny water.

A really good insight and great read.Would love to read more trip reports on here.

Jason Carruthers
8th October 2008, 05:21 PM
It's time to get through the customs



As a New South Wales citizen were you required to pre arrange the relevant visa for entry into the Australian Capital Territory or was it issued on arrival in CBR? :)

Arthur T
8th October 2008, 09:16 PM
Sorry I was trying to say a security screening.

But for a NSW resident, you are required to conduct a quarantine when you enter South Australia or Adelaide Airport, seriously.

Daniel M
8th October 2008, 09:19 PM
you take QF just for the sake of having a muffin and a cup of juice? I'm sure you could by those things in the terminal and go on a jet with DJ ;)

Rhys Xanthis
8th October 2008, 09:29 PM
But for a NSW resident, you are required to conduct a quarantine when you enter South Australia or Adelaide Airport, seriously.

There are some VERY good reasons for Quarantine procedures in some states of Australia, particularly Western Australia.

Protection from various insects and diseases etc is very important for the Agricultural industry's survival and also to decrease the amount of pesticides used in production of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Arthur T
8th October 2008, 09:41 PM
you take QF just for the sake of having a muffin and a cup of juice? I'm sure you could by those things in the terminal and go on a jet with DJ ;)

QANTAS FF Points and Status Credits, in addition to free luggage allowance also my concern to take QANTAS.

There is 5 more flights to come, the last flight my checked luggage was 32kg.

What a great uni break holiday!

Re: Rhys Thanis

That's why they have a fruit fly quarantine zone in western NSW is that right?
(I am just a study abroad student so don't know much about that, but Australian fruits is really tasty, worth to protect it)

However, I am just wondering whether this is constitutional.

Section 92 of the Australian Constitution states:
On the imposition of uniform duties of customs, trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.

Rhys Xanthis
8th October 2008, 10:31 PM
What you just quoted seems to me to be a law regarding tariff's and protection for domestic state industries, nothing to do with quarantine.

You're right on the fruit fly - the bastard could really stuff up Australia's agricultural industry. Its primarily the reason why you can't import fruit into the country.

Laws into WA are very strict - even honey is a banned import.

Hugh Jarse
9th October 2008, 11:24 AM
Finally, I hope any QF crew here can help me with this, one of the cabin crew named Krystal on this flight (QF1477, 26/9/2008) is awesome, she is really sweet and polite to passengers, acts friendly. Hope I would get more details and commendate her or more.

Arthur, it's always good to hear positive things about service. It doesn't surprise me about Krystle. She's a credit to the company (and a talented musician to boot!)

I cannot give you any further details due to respect for her privacy. Suffice to say, if you write a letter addressed to the Cabin Crew Manager Eastern Australia Airlines, PO Box 538 Mascot 2020, it will definitely fall into the right hands. There is only one Krystle in the Cabin Crew ranks.

Regards.

Philip Argy
9th October 2008, 05:05 PM
I am just wondering whether this is constitutional.

Section 92 of the Australian Constitution states ...

The High Court has said that section 92 of The Constitution does not prevent "reasonable regulation". The States' quarantine regimes have been implemented under that "exeception".

For an article that summarises the latest High Court view on section 92, see http://epublications.bond.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1047&context=blr

Arthur T
9th October 2008, 07:43 PM
Arthur, it's always good to hear positive things about service. It doesn't surprise me about Krystle. She's a credit to the company (and a talented musician to boot!)

I cannot give you any further details due to respect for her privacy. Suffice to say, if you write a letter addressed to the Cabin Crew Manager Eastern Australia Airlines, PO Box 538 Mascot 2020, it will definitely fall into the right hands. There is only one Krystle in the Cabin Crew ranks.

Regards.

Thanks, but is Eastern Australia Airlines = Sunstate Airlines :confused:

My boarding pass said it is operated by Sunstate Airlines. :cool:

Hugh Jarse
10th October 2008, 10:48 AM
Don't go there Arthur. That was an industrial ploy used by QL management to divide & conquer the troops at EAA & SAA :mad:

Although your boarding pass states "operated by SAA", these aircraft have been crewed in part by EAA pilots for almost a year. This is because EAA are too tight to spend a penny putting the 400 on the EAA AOC. Because the 400 is only on the SAA AOC all flights use "Sunstate" callsigns. SAA cannot even keep their Canberra crew base fully functional from QLD, such is the industrial turmoil QL (Sydney) management created.:rolleyes:

Industrially, both groups of crew are on separate EBA's linked to their employing airline, and answer to different managers in their respective airline.

Krystle is employed by Eastern. Therefore the address I gave you will get the desired result :)

Jeff Lane
24th October 2008, 04:00 PM
What you just quoted seems to me to be a law regarding tariff's and protection for domestic state industries, nothing to do with quarantine.

You're right on the fruit fly - the bastard could really stuff up Australia's agricultural industry. Its primarily the reason why you can't import fruit into the country.

Laws into WA are very strict - even honey is a banned import.

Am I stupid or has fruitfly been in this country for years?

The first time I saw them was in 1980 when I was managing a pub.

I constantly see them in the house. Especially around he fruitbowl.

I think it's too late.

damien b
24th October 2008, 04:11 PM
Fruit Fly is in Australa but SA has border controls to try and keep it out of that state and protect the states fruit crops, especially in the Riverina area near Berri. There is the occasional outbreak, but they usually are able to manage it reasonably well it terms of maintaining afruit fly free environment.

Oliver A
26th October 2008, 10:48 PM
Hugh, any chance Sunstate will ever drop the 'D' from their callsign? SSQ1477 would be so much easier to say than SSQ477D!

Mick F
26th October 2008, 10:58 PM
Oliver, doubtful in the near future. The 'Delta' is there to alert ATC that it's a Q400, and therefore it's a higher wake turbulence category than the 300's, 200's and 100's, requiring different seperation standards.

Cheers

Mick

Oliver A
26th October 2008, 11:17 PM
I know, but as an ATC, I can tell you it's annoying and difficult to say! Personally I don't think it's needed, but I suppose not everyone would agree.

Mick F
26th October 2008, 11:31 PM
Sorry Oliver, didn't realise you were ATC.

Mick

Hugh Jarse
27th October 2008, 04:36 PM
Mick, the Q400 is not in a different wake turbulence category. At around 29t they are well within the medium category. However its climb and cruise speeds are somewhat higher than the 1-2-300's.:)

Oliver, I think that was agreed to between Airnoservices and SS to trigger the ATCO's about the higher handling speeds.;)

Mick F
27th October 2008, 05:59 PM
Ah righto, thanks for that Hugh.That was just what I had been told by a few people previously.

Cheers

Mick