World Youth Day - What Aircraft Can We Expect?
 

World Youth Day is coming up soon.

The Pope will be attending along with hundreds of thousands of visitors. I know they are expecting a million people at randwick to see the Pope.

What sort of aircraft can we expect to see? Maybe special charter aircraft etc. Anybody know what the Pope will fly in on?

Could be a very exciting time, even better than APEC.

Hi Nick,
The Pope should arrive on an Alitalia 777-200 and there are 6 Aeromexico 777 flights reported due....however, where they will put these extra flights and whether they will appear in daylight is certainly going to be the big question.
Cheers
Wayne

Possibly use the APEC model and 'encourage' parking at other ports for all but the Pope's aircraft?

Looks like it.

http://www.coordaus.com.au/Coordaus/2008WYD_070427.pdf

:rolleyes:

...now all we have to do is get our hands on the Charter schedule list ;)

Nigel?????

Cheers
Wayne

I haven't seen it, and I probably won't unless it happens on a day that I'm rostered on.

Sorry lads!

Well the good news is, each aircraft will turn around and depart to Brisbane or Melbourne within 2 hours so that will mean plenty of arrival and departures to capture and provide great opportunities for spotters at the other ports. As mentioned it will depend if those are during daylight or at night as to whether it will make it easy to photograph or not.

Hi all,
OK, so we know the Red Rat is using a 743 to ferry in the faithful...given that allegedly 4000 pilgrims rocked up today...what brought them in? Anyone know? Any funky charters around today?

For the alleged influx quantity, I cannot believe there is nothing to report...otherwise the Pope won't be needing a microphone for his sermon ;)

Just bringing this back to the top for those of us who don't live 30 minutes from YSSY.

Cheers
Wayne

Extra Air Mauitius today ,MKO950

Sorry MK9944

I heard the Pope will be landing at Richmond RAAF base on Sunday but have no idea what time?

That flight came in yesterday aswel opperated by 3B-NAU.

Paul, I've heared that he will be arriving at Richmond at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks Matthew

Quote "Pope Benedict will begin this Sunday afternoon with live coverage at 3pm AEST on SBS. World News Australia reporter Auskar Surbakti will be flying on the same plane as the Pope."

So around 3:30 - 4pm.

Anybody going out to Richmond to get some photos of the Pope arriving?

yes i will be see you out there

Yeah I'll be going to Richmond to get a few snaps

As will Matthew and I. Any idea of best spots for photography?

The Information Centre is the best place from my experience.

I believe that the best places are at each end of the runway. At one end there is a dirt cutout from the road and anything landing can be seen perfectly, while at the other end there is a shaded road to park, although the view of oncoming traffic is kind of cut out by a few buildings.

The information centre is pretty good, One assumes with the current westerly winds, operations will be on 28.

The media are expecting a lot of people there, not some much for our interest, but to get a glimpse of the Pope.

One assumes the RAAF won't be re-enforcing their photographic laws?!

I can almost guarantee there will be special event clearways along the roadways at both ends of the runway at Richmond...good luck!

Fasten your Holy See belts - here comes AZ4000
 

Update - edited excerpts from this morning's Sydney Morning Herald (page 7, column 1):

I will be heading out to Richmond tomorrow. Can anyone give me some decent roads to go on like the Motorways as this will be my longest trip by myself as im still on my red P's;) I will research a little more but i understand there will be some road closes as the pope is staying at Kenthurst or something for a few days.

Tim

Tim depending on where you are coming from, there would be one main way to get out to richmond. Get on to the M7, either from M4, M5, M2 and take the Richmond Rd exit. Follow Richmond Rd up past Windsor downs, and at the roundabout, turn right(george st). Follow this until you go under the rail bridge and then there is a set of lights. Turn left. this road runs parallel to the railway line and the air base is on your right at Clarendon. My best tip for parking would be the hawksbury race track(on the other side of the railway line to the air base, and then walk back across.)

Tim,

From Cronulla.......Get onto the M5 and then take the M7... From there, follow Kierans directions

Jason

M5 and M7 and then onto Old Windsor Road.

If you want to avoid the ridiculous tolls, you can go King Georges Rd, M4, James Ruse Drive and Old Windsor Road.

There shouldn't be any major road closures out this way. I think the majority will be near the city.

EDIT: Lol, we all replied at the same time.

Hi All,

Here is a further update taken from Reuters:

Stuart

Channel 7 showed footage of EI-DBL taxiing at Rome with the Papal pendants showing above the cockpit windows.

Like to know where all these Aero Mexico's and other charters are!

Ok thanks for the help everyone its much appreciated.. Ill let you know i printed it off;) Lets hope i make it.

Tim

Can somebody please tell me what the frequency for air traffic control at richmond is, what runway is probably going to be used taking into account today's weather and if there has been anymore arrival time updates.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

*Richmond - YSRI TWR/MBZ
119.7 Richmond Centre
Approach Frequency: 135.900 MHz
Approach Frequency: 124.550 MHz
135.5 Richmond Tower/MBZ
Ground Frequency: 121.650 MHz
Ground Frequency: 128.250 MHz
257.3000 Tower
269.2000 Air Movements

There is a Northwest 747-200 on charter from Pittsburgh to SYD (via HNL) for World Youth Day. Info from another site is that it will arrive sometime early July 15 local SYD time - it is delayed because of mechanical issues.

NW flt 9988 is scheduled to leave PIT at 0015z

NW 9988 due in 0900 Tuesday from HNL.

Cheers for the Info Andrew. Any ideas if it will be the old or new livery? Like when the 2 NWA came there was one old and one new. Im hoping for the old;) I should be able to get there.

Tim

Nah current livery and hope its parks at YMML:D

Not special (and probably has nothing to do with WYD) but an NZ 747-400 was in today. I think there might be two - one left 2 hours ago and the other is lining up for departure. And there was a 777 leaving this morning. I wonder if that increase in capacity has anything to do with it.

NZ put on an extra flight today which was a 744 and upgraded one of the regular flights to a 744. However I notice that the same extra 744 flight is showing MTW next week also.