Use of 16 Left

[Garry Emanuel]

Am not sure if I have got the right name, however, yesterday was at Brighton and noticed Air Pacific 747 take off in southern direction from what I refer to as the "third runway".

For wahatever reason, I always held the understanding that 16Left was limited to A330 and below - have never seen a 747 in that neck of the woods.

Has there been a change ? Was it a case of the plane was lightly loaded and therefore OK to use 16Left ?

[Kent Broadhead]

Yesterday mid-afternoon they were operating 16L/34L configuration. Noticed the Aerolineas Argentinas 342 head off 16L too on its hop to Auckland.

[Jaryd stock]

Chris is correct Garry category 4 aircraft are not capable of using 16L/34R which is A380/An-124 as examples, Category 3 aircraft are 747's Nigel might be able to shed light on this subject if I'm wrong

[Kent Broadhead]

Double post deleted

[Garry Emanuel]

Thanks all.

Glad it wasn't a figment of my imagination.

I noticed the 16L/34L operation too - haven't see that before so was a good visit.

[Bernie P]

31 March 2010 EX419 to Dubai via Bangkok (it was the night of the QF32 blew tyre(s) on arrival) we flew out on 16L as well!! So 77W are ok to use it as well!

[Stephen Brown]

The very famous shot by the infamous Craig Murray can attest to the above...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Qantas/Boeing-747-438/0260864/L/

[Shayne G]

My answer is simple compared to many of the above but yes many quite large aircraft do sometimes use 16L for takeoffs.
Air Pacific 747s are quite empty so they are the most likely 747 to use 16L. I have not seen an 747 use 16L yet but I have seen an Air Pacific 747 use an taxiway that was further down 16R that I have never seen any other B747s use before. :D

[Jaryd stock]

He'll I wish the 744's were empty when I go to Fiji, all the time I've been on them there bloody full. Shayne you must not get out there much I've seen quite a few heavy's operate 16L/34R...

[Jack B]

Funnily enough I've never seen anything larger than an A330-200 LAND on 16L

[Shayne G]

He'll I wish the 744's were empty when I go to Fiji, all the time I've been on them there bloody full. Shayne you must not get out there much I've seen quite a few heavy's operate 16L/34R...

I am not going to go into an argument about this and this will be one of the only responses you will get from me on this subject.
I never said they were ALL empty, I meant many times they seem to be quite empty because of the all the times I have observed one of their aircraft they use much less space then most other pax 747s. I do not know if they need less fuel then other 744s on routes out of Sydney or if they prefer to use that runway when 16R/L or 34L/16L because of their destination. when the airline also downsizes to 767s and more rarely 737s I do believe pax numbers can be down occasionally. I also do not know loads for these flights but my obeservations and many other people mentioning Air Pacific 744's using 16L is proof enough their 747's are likely to use the runway which is what this thread is about.

Yes, you are right heavies use 16L sometimes when they it is possible for them to takeoff on the short runway, mainly when 16R or 34L becomes inactive due to an incident.

[Jaryd stock]

Mate in not having ago at ya just get that bit right i do wish they were empty, when i've been on them, and i go back there quite alot to take my misses to see her family. every time ive had to sit right down the back the flights have been full one time we had to split up and i got put next to a, how should I put this, A larger scaled version of a contestant from the biggest losser and for 4 hours i was cramped up aginst my side of the chair hence you can see my frustration...

[Shayne G]

Ok Jaryd, sorry for the misunderstanding there. I am sorry to hear about your past experiences and hope future trips go well for you :D

[Matt D]

The ERSA gives most of the guidance as to what restrictions are imposed from a facilities perspective (weight limits on taxiways etc)

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/publications/current/ersa/FAC_YSSY_10-Mar-2011.pdf

At clearance delivery an pilot/acft will be allocated a departure runway based on the runways in use at the time. If the allocated runway is not acceptable for the given the wind, temp, QNH, weight of the acft the pilot will advise clearance delivery that they operationally need a longer runway or a specific runway.

In the case of the B744 mentioned above 16L must have been operationally acceptable to the pilot.

[Nigel C]

16L/34R also gets used during times of low visibility for the heavies when conditions aren't suitable on either 16R/34L or Rwy 07/25. I've seen many foggy days where visibility is ordinary at best on the main runway but quite satisfactory on the third runway (and vice versa).

Re Air Pacific, it's the B747 I would see more regularly using Twy Golf intersection departures off Rwy 16R than any other flight.

[Nadia B-J]

Hi there,

I was at La Perouse today for lunch and saw FJ 744 take off using 16L and bank hard left towards the north, it was a treat. :D Also saw the new VA A332 take off on 16L, it was the 1st time I had seen it and the "flesh".

Lastly, it was the 1st time I saw planes landing on 16R & taking off 16L.

Seeing this made my day :p

Thanks for creating this thread.