Royal Visit April 2014

[Alex Lui]

So with the news reports saying when Prince William, Catherine and Prince George are arriving into Australia and leaving Australia, I am guessing that they maybe travelling on BA15 into Sydney and then a private BA flight (similar to what the Queen had when she last visited) from Canberra to Singapore to London??

Just speculating but it would be pretty cool to see 2x BA aircraft again in Sydney after a bit of an absence, not to mention another BA aircraft in Canberra which is a RARE treat!

[Rowan McKeever]

I read this morning that they're in NZ before Australia, so doubt they'd be on BA15? Unless they fly to NZ via SYD?

[Justin L]

Adelaide's The Advertiser reports they will arrive in Sydney from NZ on an RAAF charter. Not sure about the rest of their legs though.

[Mark C]

I would have thought 34SQN would be flying them once in the country.

[Matthew Chisholm]

Would they be flying together?

[Radi K]

I would say 34SQN is a good bet.

The Queen has given special permission for father and child to travel together.

THE Queen has given special permission for Prince William and Kate to bring baby George with them on their week tour to Australia.

Kensington Palace confirmed overnight what had been expected but not guaranteed - Prince George will accompany the Cambridges in April.

After touring New Zealand the royal family will visit Sydney, Brisbane, Uluru, Adelaide and Canberra.

Victorians will miss out on the Royal visit.

Multiple heirs are not normally allowed to travel on the same flight in case of an accident, AAP reported.

"The Queen has to give permission for it to happen and Her Majesty has given permission for it to happen," Prince William's private secretary, Miguel Head, said.
- AFR

[Robbie J]

They usually come in on chartered air force jets, not commercial flights with the general public. This means they would land at the private jet base near McDonalds and the Krispy Kreme store. Does anyone know the exact arrival and departure dates for the Sydney leg of their tour?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Prince William, Duchess Kate and baby Prince William arrived in Sydney just early this morning, and then transferred to a Royal New Zealand Air Force B757

G-STBI BA0015 07/04/2014 04:42 British Airways B777-336ER London-Singapore-Sydney
-> Listened to Sydney Approach/Tower and I did not catch any mention of the Royal passengers
-> Although the SMH said it was a Qantas flight from Britian arriving just after 7am, but that doesn't work with NZ7572s departure.

NZ7572 (http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/0/6/1/1140160.jpg) ADS-B- KIW639 07/04/2014 07:18 B757-2K2 - New Zealand Air Force

[Winston Khong]

Will HRH Prince William and family be coming back to YSSY on an RNZAF 752 or an RAAF aircraft?

[Grahame Hutchison]

RAAF was mentioned on the News

[Jaryd stock]

Usually as it has happend in the pass RNZAF will bring them over and then RAAF 34 SQN BBJ's will look after them here.

[Winston Khong]

Thanks Grahame.

[John Thoroughgood]

Possibility of a 757 in town?
mmmm! That calls for a road trip if it can be confirmed. ;-)

[Grahame Hutchison]

A36-001 has departed Canberra as ASY313, and is 250nm out over the Tasman heading for New Zealand to pick up the Royal visitors. Currently at FL370 and 481kts.

[Jacob L]

Sunrise said it was the RAAF 737

Don't know who to believe

Have to wait and see

[Nigel C]

If Grahame's ACARS is saying it's the BBJ, then it's fair to assume that he is correct unless it goes tech in New Zealand.

[S.Greaves]

According to Flightradar the BBJ did a touch and go at WLG then headed up the coast towards Ohakea. Pretty calm in WLG at present.

[Phillippe M]

A36-002 just took off from Wellington, with A36-001 still flying circuits over Palmerston North.

[John Thoroughgood]

Thanks for the update Graham.

[S.Greaves]

Not taking any chances with that sort of redundancy!

[Grahame Hutchison]

1349L A36002 has just appeared on ADS-B with no position data at present. Call Sign ASY312
1350L Position data now available - FL340 at 408kts and tracking 315 for YSSY and approx 140nm out.
1403L Started descent at 460kts
1407L ATC - ASY312 cleared to 9000ft for Runway 16R with an independent visual approach when visual
1411L Maintaining 9000 at 310kts
1413L ATC - ASY312 descend to 7000ft
1415L ATC - AST312 descent 6000ft - looks like they will overfly the field for a right circuit to Runway 16R
1416L ATC - ASY312 Right heading 290 - currently 270kts
1420L Overhead Castle Hill tracking 012
1423L Overhead Hornsby at 3300ft heading 141 to intercept the localizer
1426L Overhead Drummoyne on final for Runway 16R at 166kts and 1600ft
1428L Touchdown Runway 16R
1429L Taxiing on Bravo then right onto Runway 07
1435L Parked at DOM6

[Greg Hyde]

When the US President flies there is always AF1 plus a backup B747 aircraft.

AF1 is given to the aircraft that is carrying the Pres at the time.

If one goes u/s they can switch to the other plane (which becomes AF1) and continue.

I expect the RAAF were doing the same procedure.

I don't think it is that elaborate for the PM.

[Grahame Hutchison]

A36002 FR24-- 22/04/2014 10:05 B737-7DT BBJ - RAAF ALG 34 Squadron VIP Transport - Canberra-Uluru
-> Callsign RGL3 With The Royals Onboard
-> A36001 Is Following 17Min Behind
-> 1320EST A36002 has tracked south of Yulara and Uluru at 5,800ft, then out around Petermann and Kings Canyon, while VA1627 does its approach to Runway 31. Presumable doing a bit of sight seeing.
-> 1330EST A36002 touchdown on Runway 13. Conditions are good (230 at 6kts in the ATIS), as VA 1627 landed in the opposite direction.

AYERS ROCK (YAYE)
TAF YAYE 212217Z 2200/2212
23006KT CAVOK
FM220900 16005KT CAVOK
RMK
T 23 29 31 28 Q 1019 1017 1015 1016

METAR YAYE 220330Z AUTO 21006KT 9999 // NCD 31/02 Q1017
RMK RF00.0/000.0

[Rowan McKeever]

Is it unusual that they'd use -002 to carry the royal family? My understanding of the protocol is that -001 is the 'primary' aircraft and used by the GG and royal family? Is it also unusual for both aircraft to go everywhere?

[Nigel C]

Throughout the last Federal Election campaign, then Prime Minister Rudd was using -002 for all his campaigning, and Abbott was using -001.

[Grahame Hutchison]

A36001 actually landed at Alice Springs at 1400EST, presumably as a backup in case of any operational issues with A36002.

[Greg Hyde]

Are both 001 & 002 identical ? ie: Internal fitout

Also has the press pack chartered an aircraft for this tour ?

[Grahame Hutchison]

A36002 FR24-- 23/04/2014 09:18 B737-7DT BBJ - RAAF ALG 34 Squadron VIP Transport - Uluru-Edinburgh AFB- Callsign RGL3
A36001 FR24-- 23/04/2014 09:16 B737-7DT BBJ - RAAF ALG 34 Squadron VIP Transport - Alice Springs-Edinburgh AFB- Callsign Envoy 53

11:15 EST A36002 just landed Runway 36 at Edinburgh Air Force Base
11:46 EST A36001 just landed Runway 36 at Edinburgh Air Force Base

[Rowan McKeever]

Also has the press pack chartered an aircraft for this tour ?

Nothing that shows up on flightaware at least

[Grahame Hutchison]

A36002 FR24-- 23/04/2014 14:40 B737-7DT BBJ - RAAF ALG 34 Squadron VIP Transport - Edinburgh AFB-Canberra - Callsign RGL3
A36001 FR24-- 23/04/2014 15:02 B737-7DT BBJ - RAAF ALG 34 Squadron VIP Transport - Edinburgh AFB-Canberra - Callsign Envoy 53

15:56 EST A36002 landed Runway 35 at Canberra
16:23 EST A36001 landed Runway 35 at Canberra

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

Did the Royals, fly to Singapore or up to Sydney to Connect with BA16?

Please advise

Stuart

[Mark C]

They went to Sydney.

[Grahame Hutchison]

And apparently on a Qantas flight out of Sydney.

1755 EST From Qantas on Twitter - The Royals have touched down in London. We're thrilled to have welcomed them to our beautiful country and onboard our A380!