Rockhampton Airport Closure

[Jacob P]

Hi All,

not sure if you're aware but as of 0430UTC today rockhampton airport will be closed for a period of no less than 10 days according to media reports. during this time however emergency flights will be permitted to operate during daylight hours only. Below are the relevant NOTAMS for Rocky at the present time. My thoughts are with friends/families who are affected by this flooding in Queensland.


AD NOT AVBL
DUE FLOODING EMERGENCY ACFT EXCEPTED WITH PRIOR NOTICE.
RWY LGT NOT AVBL
FROM 01 010430 TO 01 180700 EST

C428/10
DME 'RK' SUBJ TO INTRP
DUE FLOODING
FROM 01 010630 TO 01 080630 EST

C430/10
A / G FAC FLIGHT INFORMATION AREA BRISBANE CENTRE 122.0 (ON GROUND -
OUTSIDE TWR HR) SUBJ TO INTRP
DUE FLOODING
FROM 01 010630 TO 01 080630 EST

C434/10
ATIS 'ROCKY' 116.9 AND 128.5 SUBJ TO INTRP
DUE FLOODING
FROM 01 010630 TO 01 080630 EST

C427/10
NDB 'RK' SUBJ TO INTRP
DUE FLOODING
FROM 01 010630 TO 01 080630 EST

C429/10
VOR 'RK' SUBJ TO INTRP
DUE FLOODING
FROM 01 010630 TO 01 080630 EST

C433/10
ALL RDO NAV FAC MNT
AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA MNT OF RDO NAV FAC STATUS SUBJ TO INTRP DUE
FLOODING
FROM 01 010630 TO 01 080630 EST

C1/11
TWR AMD HR
DUE FLOOD RESPONSE STAFFING
FROM 01 012030 TO 01 080850 EST
DAILY 2030/0850

[Mick F]

Rocky Airport at the flood peak, will be covered in roughly 0.7m's of water.

This photo show's the airport in the 1991 flood, which was 0.1m's lower than the expected peak of this flood.
http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/rockhampton/images/RK11.jpg
Photo from BOM

At this stage the airport will more than likely be shut until mid January at the earliest. That's accounting for the water to go down, and then the required works to make the airport operational again.

Mick

[Jacob P]

Wow Mick! Didn't realise it would actually flood the whole apron and runway. Thought it would just flood part of the RWY. Thanks for that pic.

[Nigel C]

Flood plains 'usually' make fairly good sites for airports. Sydney, Bankstown, Camden are all built on flood plains to some degree, and they're just the ones in the Sydney basin.

Unfortunately Rocky is taking the flood plain concept to a whole new level.
Float plane charters, anyone?

[Kent Broadhead]

Flood plains 'usually' make fairly good sites for airports. Sydney, Bankstown, Camden are all built on flood plains to some degree, and they're just the ones in the Sydney basin.

Unfortunately Rocky is taking the flood plain concept to a whole new level.
Float plane charters, anyone? Well, 07/25 is the original path of the Cooks River - but yes, plains are good for planes! :)

[Brent L]

From the ABC

Rocky Airport...

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201101/r696732_5300322.jpg

[Mick F]

The latest on the airport from the Rockhampton Regional Council

The Fitzroy River reached its peak flood level of 9.2m on Thursday 6 January at the Rockhampton City Gauge. The flood level is currently stationary at approximately 9.1m. The information provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is that the Fitzroy River will remain around 8.5m until late next week.

As a result of this information, the following general recovery information for the airport can be provided:

Friday 14 Jan 11

Floodwaters are expected to reduce to 8.5m around this date. Access to the runways and other critical operational areas may become available for visual inspection at this stage. These inspections are expected to take approximately 2 working days to complete.

After the visual appraisal, more detailed assessments of the major infrastructure elements will be conducted. The timing for these assessments should take around 3 working days, depending upon access and infrastructure condition.

Wednesday 19 Jan 11

Assuming that all critical infrastructure has not sustained major damage, remedial works can commence.

Monday 24 Jan 11

By this date it may be possible to reinstate some aircraft operations during daylight hours only. Airport facilities necessary for Regular Public Transport (RPT) services (e.g. QantasLink, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways) may be possible but more information will required before this can be accurately determined.

Friday 28 January 11

Unless the airport has sustained significant damage to key infrastructure, it is probable that normal RPT services could be reinstated.

Airport Management will endeavour to expedite the return to service of all RPT services but at this stage the condition of the facilities is unknown. More information will be posted on this web site when it becomes available.

Airline Information:

QantasLink
13 13 13 or www.qantas.com.au

Virgin Blue
13 67 89 or www.virginblue.com.au

Tiger Airways
03 9335 3033 or www.tigerairways.com

Date Published: 08/01/2011

Mick

[David Knudsen]

Brisbane Airport flood discussion should be directed here: http://www.yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=6331