Early arrivals from Singapore today

[Gerard M]

Just a quick question, but i just noticed on webtrak that both BAW15 and QF6 from Singapore this morning arrived (not landed) a around 500am and went into a holding pattern over the ocean.
Do they normally arrive this early and wait or was there something going on in Singapore that they departed early hence arriving early?

Thanks in advance
Gerard

[Jack B]

I noticed from Webtrak that they held for about half an hour before landing on 34L

what's the point in holding them if they're going to make a 34L approach at 5:30am anyway?

[Owen H]

Other aircraft arriving at that time, so they had to hold is one option.

Wind outside limits thereby delaying the first arrivals is another.

[Nigel C]

The winds at 0500 were 140 at 15-20kts, but by 0530 they had abated somewhat and were 200 at 10-13kts, so I would hazard a guess that the downwind component was too strong initially (possibly in passing showers?).

[Matthew W]

I remember flying from Singapore a couple of years ago and after initially leaving singapore about 30 minutes late due to a technical problem, arrived to early due to very high tail winds during most of the flight and ended up in a holding pattern over Wollongong for about 45 mins before being able to land after the curfew was lifted. This may be what has happened this morning as well.

[Owen H]

Those flights are scheduled to arrive between 5am and 6am, when only runway 34 can be used for landing. In the case of strong southerlies, the aircraft have to hold until 6am (plus any time to allow the other aircraft that arrived before 6 and are holding as well to land).

Typically 10 or sometimes 15kts tailwind is the most that can be accepted (depending on aircraft type), and it is not particulally uncommon to get 20kt southerlies that prevent a landing.

Personally I believe the curfew should be modified to say in the shoulder period (5am to 6am) the aircraft must land on 34 unless the tailwind exceeds the aircraft limit, when they can land on 16. This would provide schedule integrity, and stop the ENORMOUS waste of fuel that is carried by these flights to hold for an hour in case the wind prevents a landing, whilst forcing them to land on the noise preferred runway whenever possible.

[Gerard M]

Thanks Matthew, that was sort of the explanation i was looking for. Ok that explains the holding patterns too with Nigel's weather forecast for this morning as well. thanks Owen!