Storms, Dust & Gust in Sydney (Sep 22-23, 27)
 

VH-EBK QF580 orbiting at TARAL FL210
9V-SPJ SQ219 orbiting at TARAL FL240
VH-ZLG orbiting at BINDOOK now heading in
NZ707 ZK-OJO orbiting south of SHARK FL37
EK413 A6-EDA joining NZ707 but at FL400

VH-EBK QF580 is heading in.
9V-SPJ SQ219 still orbiting at FL240.
NZ707 ZK-OJO still orbiting at FL290.
EK413 A6-EDA still orbiting at FL340
9M-MRH MAS141 orbiting at Orange at FL370.

The big storm cells are south east of the airport now.

MAS141 9M-MRH and QF32 VH-OQD were holding south of Orange but in the last few mins QF32 has descended to FL330 and heading towards TARAL.

NZ707 ZK-OJO heading in to MARLN at FL244.
QF32 VH-OQD is heading for Goulburn to join 9V-SPJ SQ219.
EK413 A6-EDA is back out at 120nm again.

QF32 VH-OQD started to orbit northwest of Goulburn.
NZ707 ZK-OJO orbited near MARLN and is now heading in.
9V-SPJ SQ219 is heading in via RIVIT.

JQ3, NZ744 ZK-OJD have departed.

Storm cells are moderating and off the coast between Wollongong and Sydney.

Looks like VH-ZRB tracked off the coast at Lake Macquarie to avoid a cell south of Cessnock, and now back inland to pickup the BOREE, BEROW track in.

It appears that QF32 VH-OQD at FL237 got the jump on 9M-MRH MAS141 at FL258, and are both heading in towards RIVIT.

NZ786 ZK-OJI is heading out via DIPSO at FL140.

That little cloud came through at just the wrong moment... it didn't last long, but it's created a few delays across the place.

only lasted about 15 minutes but impressive lightning show from Wolli Creek.. would have been a good photo opp from international terminal

TG991 HS-TKS is approaching west of Orange at FL350 but should be able to head straight in via TARAL and RIVIT.
EK413 A6-EDA is heading in and just approaching WHALE.

Looks like A380 QF32 VH-OQD will be immediately ahead of A380 EK413 A6-EDA for Runway 34L.

Correction, they have taken A380 EK413 A6-EDA directly overhead the airport and 9M-MRH MAS141 will slot in between them.

And now back to normal operations again by the look of the strom cells (a bit like calling a horse race).

...if you call 50 minutes inbound traffic holding and 25-ish minute start clearances 'normal'!!

This one will take a while to clean up I fear.

Point taken Adam, but we have ...

TG991 HS-TKC, then QF766 VH-VYG, then DJ669 VH-VBZ, then TT846 VH-VND, then DJ877 VH-VOW all heading in between TARAL and YSSY.

so on the improve.

Nice night to be working your job, Mr P. ;)

He did the easy stuff this evening.

So I see this morning Chris... :D nice handover!!!

Pleasure.

Just practising yesterday?
 

Could be more in the next few hours from the looks of things

Here are a couple of shots I took of this storm with the YSSY to the left.

more at www.darrenbutterworth.com

Attachment 783

Attachment 784

Darren

somehow that didn't work

Attachment 785

Attachment 786

OMG Darren, those photos are awesome!

Thanks Mike - I can't wait until the storm season is in full swing.

Daz

I heard that we can expect 100km/h winds tomorrow in Sydney. Should spice things up a bit at the airport. Will be interesting if it eventuates, how bady it will delay aircraft.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sy...0922-fz6s.html

The current ATIS for Sydney states that there are going to be diversions due weather. A couple of a/c holding over tarel south again tonight

Quote:

SYDNEY TERMINAL INFORMATION OSCAR Operational Info: PARALLEL RWY OPS IN PROG. INDEPENDENT DEPARTURES IN PROG. EXP DEP DELAYS DUE Weather DIVERSIONS Wind: 280/15-25, CROSSWIND MAX 20 Visibility: 10 KM, REDUCED TO 6 KM, IN PASSING SH Weather: CB IN AREA

ETD454
ANZ707 over Warty - actually now heading 002 degrees...possibly diverting to Brisbane?
UAE413 south of Shark - did a very big circuit from Shark to Warty at FL410.
QF32 holding over Makka

NZ105 from Auckland has been Canceled
QF 48 delayed a few hours
SIN219 delayed

And numerous delayed departing and arrving domestic flights.

Looks like NZ707 has definitely diverted to Brisbane. There are now delays of at least 60 minutes for departures, with some a/c having been waiting longer than this.

QF32 VH-OQD holding east of Crookwell at FL351
DJ873 VH-VUC holding east of TARAL at FL309
Thai 991 HS-TKC is holding south of Orange at FL350
DJ877 VH-VOT is holding west of Canberra at FL380

Time 1932
QF32 VH-OQD now tracking into YSSY via RIVIT
DJ873 VH-VUC now tracking into YSSY via RIVIT

Time 1944
Thai 991 HS-TKC now tracking into YSSY via RIVIT
DJ877 VH-VOT now tracking into YSSY via RIVIT
EK413 A6-EDB was heading in towards MARLN but was vectored up to ENTRA before heading southwest again and overhead YSSY
CPA139 B-LAC now tracking into YSSY via BOREE

Time 1853
Looks like QF32 VH-OQD had a missed approach and is tracking south overhead Southerland
The A380s are shadowing each other, EK413 closely following QF32, with CPA139 joining them from behind
The tight conga line is QF32, Ek413, CPA139, Thai 991 and QF927.

CPA139 B-LAC holding north of MQD at FL280

745p

QFA88 now holding south of SGT with QFA927
And also looks like UAE413 is finally makings its way in.
They must be hoping for a quick turn around because 991 is open for their departure to Brisbane already!!!

I'm no meterologist but it seems to have all cleared for now but according to BOM.gov.au there is more forming west of bathurst/lithgow which may or may not build up closer in to Sydney.

VH-OGC 767 is in Williamtown

ANZ707 is on its way back to Sydney now from Brisbane.

Due in at 10:40pm.

So much for Cityflyer!
 

QF450 (MEL-SYD) VH-OGC diverted to Williamtown after making 2 attempts to land around 6.30pm. Initial arrival time was 5.55pm.

Diverted to Williamtown after encountering severe turbulence and almost declaring a fuel emergency. The pilots were a little shaken by the experience and asked for 5 minutes time out from ATC to 'gather their thoughts'... fair enough too.

After holding for 20 minutes they ended up in Williamtown.

Only arrived back in Sydney at 10.50pm.

Sounds like the pax had a major roller coaster ride. A 6 hour flight from MEL!

Mother nature is always the boss...

Today is looking even better. Current TTF for SYD:

TTF SPECI YSSY 221930Z 29020KT 0500 DS VV/// 20/06 Q0993

The dust storm is incredible outside.

Great view from the mound...

BA15 made it in on 16R, CX111 diverted to MEL.

UA839 & UA863 on the ground in BNE along with QF6, QF2, QF74, QF12, QF20, BA9,
JL771 also heading up the coast now.

By the looks of my car, the planes on the ground might need a wash today :)

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/v...ststorm042.jpg

Micheil's pic sums it up. I have arrived at work and the dust is beyond amazing. You can't see beyond 100 metres! Any car washing businesses will do well in the coming days thats for sure!

Someone from SYD airport said the BA15 arrived, as well as the VS from HKG and he said many of the domestic departures are getting away.

Would the wind be causing most of the problem or the dust?

From my place just after 0600 this morning:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/...e23f13aa2d.jpg

It was an incredible red colour as the sun was rising.

is YSSY open this AM Wednesday???
 

Is YSSY open ATM?

It is open according to ATIS:

Looks like most morning flights from NZ (Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch) have been cancelled.

QF130 div BNE
QF128 div BNE
EK418 div MEL
QF050 div MEL
QF368 div MEL
OZ601 div MEL
QF022 div MEL
DJ071 div MEL

Just saw the EK A380 departing off 25 - it rotated very quickly!

Cathay diverted due to company policy on Min Visibility which I think is 800m and at the time the RVR was 780m. The downwin component on 16R when Virgin Atlantic arrived was 16 knots and about 24knots crosswind.

Pretty tough morning with low vis and high winds - a couple of flights received congratulations from Tower after touching down.

What is the status of UA839 and UA840 ?

Syd Airport Site Seems to be down :S