Christchurch Airport closed due to earthquake

[Justin L]

Christchurch Airport has been closed due to the earthquake (http://www.smh.com.au/world/powerful-earthquake-strikes-new-zealand-20100904-14us4.html) this morning.

No reports of damage, just checking facilities.

The quake was felt through much of New Zealand's South Island where Christchurch is located on its east coast, local media said.

Christchurch International Airport, the main international gateway to the South Island, has been closed and rail movement in the South Island has been stopped while facilities are checked.

The Press (http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4094979/Huge-earthquake-rocks-Christchurch)
Airport, rail lines closed

Christchurch Airport is closed, and a spokeswoman said it was unlikely to reopen before 10am at the earliest.

Spokesman Gareth Owen said the airport was closed until 10am to conduct checks on possible damage to buildings or runways.

Checks were being conducted on buildings and runways.

Owen said there did not appear to be any major structural damage "at this stage".

All inbound flights had been diverted, while aircraft in the city were staying on the ground.

Owen said most passengers were staying away from the airport, while those who were there were being "well-catered for".
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He said the airport would review the situation soon, and could extend the closure if necessary.

The rail network in the South Island has been shut down while it is inspected for damage.

[Jarden S]

I heard one 737 was damaged with the aerobridge swaying into it. I not sure which airline. By the photos on the news a lot of buildings have come down in the 7.4 earthquake the biggest in the city for 100 years.

[Dave Dale]

I believe it has just opened according to TVNZ.

dave

[Dave Dale]

Christchurch airport updates airport closed to at least 1PM NZ time.

[David Ramsay]

Relevant NOTAMs

B3536/10 FROM: 04 SEP 2010 00:05 TO: 04 SEP 2010 03:00 EST
AD CLSD DUE EARTHQUAKE

B3530/10 FROM: 03 SEP 2010 18:38 TO: 04 SEP 2010 03:00 EST
RWY 02 PAPI NOT AVBL DUE EARTHQUAKE, AWAITING GNDCK

B3528/10 FROM: 03 SEP 2010 18:16 TO: 04 SEP 2010 03:00 EST
NZ08,NZ09
RSR/TAR OPR BUT CTN DUE SSR U/S.
RSR NOT AVBL S AND W OF NZCH.
THE SAFETY NET FUNCTION MNM SAFE ALT WARNING (MSAW) NOT AVBL WI
CHRISTCHURCH CTR/C AND ALL CTA AIRSPACE WI 45NM OF NZCH.

[Nigel C]

How shocking!

[Rod Sloan]

CHC open (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2010-air-new-zealand-flights-to-and-from-christchurch-airport-update-4)

[David Ramsay]

Notam b3537/10 from: 04 sep 2010 01:33 to: 05 sep 2010 01:30 est
ad opr with limited atc ser: Intl ops, domestic jet, military,
civil defence and sked turboprop flights only.
General aviation ops prohibited

atis nzch l 0133
apch: Expect visual approach
rwy: 02
sfc cond: Dry
opr info: Runway 11 29 closed papi unserviceable
wind: 310/05
vis: 50km
cld: Nsc
t: 14
dp: M02
qnh: 1016
2000ft: F270/40

[Raymond Rowe]

There is an curfew on all of CHC no one is allowed out from 7pm to 7 am just been talking to someone there on the landline

[Torin Wilson]

Only for the city area, most likely within the four avenues.

[Robert S]

Only for the city area, most likely within the four avenues.

Yep, it was only parts of the CBD and Kaiapoi.

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/25314.html

[Geoff W]

Another what appears to be significant damaging quake has hit central CHC.

Airport closed until further notice.

It sounds quite horrific and damaging

From "The Age"

http://www.theage.com.au/world/multiple-deaths-reported-after-quake-hits-christchurch-20110222-1b356.html


Kind regards,

Geoff

[Jaryd stock]

6.5 on the richter scale epicenter 20 km southwest of city alot of lives lost..

[AaronBradford]

Australian Business Traveller (http://www.ausbt.com.au/) now has an article on the quake: http://www.ausbt.com.au/christchurch-airport-evacuated-in-latest-new-zealand-earthquake

I also found a tweet (http://twitter.com/#!/jaredkiwi) regarding the airport: #eqnz the Chch airport building is badly damaged although very new and on opposite side of Chch. 80% of power out. NZ Air traffic temp down

[Ryan N]

Breaking News on Seven News is saying all airspace across NZ is now closed.

[AaronBradford]

Breaking News on Seven News is saying all airspace across NZ is now closed.

That was the initial report, Australian Business Traveller has an update (http://www.ausbt.com.au/new-zealand-airspace-closed-flights-cancelled-diverted-planes-circling) on this too. Looks like aircraft are continuing to operate from Wellington and other ports.

Looks like ATC are still at their posts at Christchurch too: http://www.ausbt.com.au/air-traffic-controllers-still-up-there-says-earthquake-hit-christchurch-airport?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=promobox&utm_campaign=latestnews-articleleft

And apparently an aircraft landed just as the earthquake hit (http://www.ausbt.com.au/air-nz-plane-landed-as-christchurch-earthquake-hit?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=flipper&utm_campaign=home-flipper).

[Jarden S]

6.5 on the richter scale epicenter 20 km southwest of city alot of lives lost..

Reports are its epicentre was in Lyttleton only 10km from the city centre and very shallow at 5km deep. The damage is worse than the Sept 4th Quake as Buildings have collapsed like a pancake!!

[Geoff W]

I dont intend to send all news that is easily available on the TV/internet.

But CHC, I believe has done it tough THIS time.

Two areas I have heard of Lyttleton is one, is "said" to be unliveable!

The CBD has been devastated from what I know, for those of us that have been to CHC, the cathedral has been terribly damaged.

What a great landmark it was?

Terrible news. and I dont know of the loss of life as I post this. I truly hope it is minimal, I feel uncomfortable about that though!

For our board members in either CHC or with family (or friends) in CHC, I wish safety to you and yours and all the best to you all at this time.

Geoff

[Torin Wilson]

2x RNZAF Kingairs arrived in sometime this afternoon, plus a Beech 90 (I think thats what it was) as well as a white and a black BK117 from other cities here.

Many helicopters flying around, a squirrel is flying back and forth with a monsoon bucket due to no water in town and fires.

Also 65 confirmed dead at this stage.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Aerodrome MET Information

Date: 22-Feb-2011 1038 UTC

CHRISTCHURCH (NZCH)

ATIS
ATIS NZCH C 1014
APCH: EXPECT ILS DME APPROACH
RWY: 20 SFC
COND: WET
WIND: 200/08
VIS: 20KM RED 10KM
WX: SHRA
CLD: SCT006 BKN018 T: 13
DP: 12
QNH: 1008
2000FT: F190/15TAF

TAF
NZCH 220502Z 2206/2306 22012KT 9999 BKN020
TEMPO 2206/2221 6000 SHRA BKN012
BECMG 2304/2306 07008KT

METAR
METAR NZCH 221000Z 23008KT 9999 -DZ SCT006 BKN018 12/12 Q1008 TEMPO
6000 SHRA BKN012

RAIM
GPS RAIM PREDICTION 211400
NZCH
NO GPS RAIM OUTAGES

[Brock Little]

Just saw on the news Qantas is sending an evacuation flight. When, I don't know.

[David Ramsay]

NZCH opened last night for emergency services, military, and air ambulance traffic only. It has re-opened to domestic traffic this morning but is still closed to internationals.

B0822/11 FROM: 22 FEB 2011 17:48 TO: 22 FEB 2011 21:00 EST
AD RESTRICTED TO MIL, GOVERNMENT, CIVIL DEFENCE, HOSP, EMERG,
AND DOMESTIC SKED OPS ONLY
Two USAR teams flew in last night from Australia. There's USAR teams from US, UK, and Singapore in the air now.

NZ are offering $50 fares trans Tasman and from the Pacific Islands and $400 long haul fares for immediate relatives who need to be there.

They are also operating a couple of 744 services between NZAA and NZCH today to complement the normal 733 and 320 services.

Not a good scene at all.

[Mark M]

Has been all sorts arriving today, saw the ANZ744 go over, turned onto a fairly short final, the QF flight arrived in the last hour it was B767, RAAF C-17, the have been numerous herc, an Orion last night (only saw one but there were more) and what looked like a DC-9 not long ago, was a bit of a distance away. The EK flight is back today and a UA744 is scheduled with a SARS team for arrival tomorrow morning. Would give anything to have only seen the normal arrivals though after the last 24 hours we have been through. The thoughts are with all those in central Chch

[Dave Dale]

Air New Zealand has put a media release detailing their extra capacity for flights:

Air New Zealand is continuing to add additional capacity out of Christchurch to meet the high demand for people wishing to depart the city.

At the request of Civil Defence, Air New Zealand is operating a fourth wide-body aircraft to the city for the day, with a Boeing 777-200 to operate Christchurch - Wellington and then a further Christchurch - Auckland service with tourist evacuees onboard as identified by the Civil Defence.

The total additional services added for travel today, in addition to our standard scheduled services, are:

Three return Boeing 747-400 (379 seats each) services between Auckland and Christchurch
A Boeing 777-200 (313 seats) service from Christchurch to Wellington and Christchurch to Auckland for evacuees at the request of Civil Defence
An A320 (171 seats) service from Wellington to Christchurch
A return Boeing 737 (133 seats) service between Christchurch and Wellington
Additional wide-body services tomorrowFrom tomorrow morning, Air New Zealand will also be operating two additional return Boeing 747-400 services between Christchurch and Auckland and is looking at further capacity options.

http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2011-additional-capacity-from-christchurch-to-wellington-and-auckland

Dave

[Mick B]

QF45 SYD-CHC and QF46 CHC-SYD tomorrow will be operated by a B744

[Torin Wilson]

Singapore Airforce KC135 tail number 751 - brought in their USAR team - has now departed to Auckland.

JASDF 744 20-1101 due in at 0450am, then departing to Auckland

N116UA is UA 744 due in.

I also heard Taiwanese USAR team due in at 1am, however also heard they arrived around the same time as Singaporeans so not sure.

UK team still due, unsure of when or on what.

[Mark M]

Some of the Chch arrivals today...been a lot less than what we have seen over the last few days, the SQ is the second Singapore 777 to arrive into Chch today, the earlier one used the callsign Singapore 297D, the RAAF C-17 arrived mid afternoon carrying I believe a field hospital....more pics to follow

[Mark M]

And a sight I never thought I would see in Chch a QF B744 would still have been more than happy to see the usual B738 if it meant Tuesday never happened.....

[Alex Lui]

SQ298 diverted into Sydney today, does anyone know why? :S

[Mark M]

Alex they have added tech stops for the next few days, so will route SIN-SYD-CHC-AKL-SIN, not 100% sure of the reason though. Mark

[Alex Lui]

Qantas are putting an extra 4 flights tomorrow it seems from the CHC airport website. 3 are from to melbourne and one to Sydney (so 2 to Sydney and 3 to Melbourne.)

UA9797 from LAX due to Arrive tomorrow morning 1.45am local New Zealand time.

Thank you for clearing that up Mark re: SQ flights.

Alex

[Andrew P]

Alex they have added tech stops for the next few days, so will route SIN-SYD-CHC-AKL-SIN, not 100% sure of the reason though. Mark

maybe to do with crewing requirements with no accommodation available in CHC for the crew, pick up a fresh crew in Sydney and leave them in AKL

[Chris W]

Are JQ's NZ ops running at a reduced schedule due to many of the crew ex CHC being unable to work. I imagine a significant portion of the workforce have been affected by these horrible events.

[Torin Wilson]

maybe to do with crewing requirements with no accommodation available in CHC for the crew, pick up a fresh crew in Sydney and leave them in AKL

No, it's so that they can move people on the otherwise empty seats.

The other SQ flight operated via AKL to transfer domestic pax.

[David Ramsay]

Are JQ's NZ ops running at a reduced schedule due to many of the crew ex CHC being unable to work. I imagine a significant portion of the workforce have been affected by these horrible events.


Doesn't appear that way as there has been a significantly larger number of JQ flights in/out of NZCH than normal.

[Torin Wilson]

Qantas are putting an extra 4 flights tomorrow it seems from the CHC airport website. 3 are from to melbourne and one to Sydney (so 2 to Sydney and 3 to Melbourne.)

UA9797 from LAX due to Arrive tomorrow morning 1.45am local New Zealand time.

Thank you for clearing that up Mark re: SQ flights.

Alex

1 flight from SYD was for NSW police, and 1 flight from MEL was Victorian police. I think it was a total of 298 officers brought over all told.

They are now sworn into the NZ police, with the same powers as regular NZ police.

[Radi K]

i think you will all the tech stops are due to a lack of fuel ex CHC