Congestion at YSSY Tonight
 

Apparently there is debris on 34L and so 34R is being used for arrivals and 25 for departures. Quite a queue of plans over Goulburn Crookwell area. I noticed that Air Austral B77W (F-OSYD) and a Singapore B77 (9V-SVM) were almost shadowing each other at one stage except they were 2000' apart.
What is the normal separation distance when plans are in holding patterns like this?

Runway is now open again, so expect a return to 'normality' soon.

1000ft and 3nm is the separation minima with radar in terminal airspace, but Goulburn is probably classed as enroute airspace, so 1000ft and 5nm. I think this changes again above certain flight levels but not sure.

All clear now .... only 3 to go at Goulburn (QF456, DJ565 And QF64)


ATIS ATIS YSSY R 200659
+ APCH: EXP INDEPENDENT VISUAL APCH
+ RWY: 34L AND R FOR ARRS AND DEPS
+ OPR INFO: PARL RWY OPS IN PROG.
INDEPENDENT DEPARTURES IN PROG
WIND: 280/15
XW MAX 13 KTS
WX: CAVOK
+ TMP: 17
QNH: 1012
SIGWX: EXP TURB IN CIRCUIT AREA