G-G's plane aborts landing, turns back

[Greg McDonald]

From NEWS.COM.AU:

THE Governor-General has cancelled a planned trip to Norfolk Island after her plane was unable to land due to severe weather.
Quentin Bryce was due to attend a special 30th anniversary sitting of Norfolk Island's Legislative Assembly when extreme weather forced her Airforce 737 to turn back to Sydney this morning.

Official secretary to the Office of the Governor-General, Stephen Brady, said that on the third attempt to land the pilots were forced to abort when the plane was only 30m from the ground.

"The crew made three separate attempts to land the Governor-General's plane,'' Mr Brady said.

"However, severe cross winds, gusting to almost 98km an hour, prevented the plane from landing.''

Mr Brady said those aboard the plane were shaken but unhurt by the incident and the Governor-General thanked the RAAF crew for their handling of the difficult flying conditions.

[Gerard M]

When it says her plane, does that just mean one of the RAAF BBJ's?

[Michael Mak]

I think so, the article mentioned it was a Airforce B737.

[Philip Argy]

Did they really attempt landings with 50 knot cross winds? I wonder what Air Force One would have done.

[Adam P.]

those aboard the plane were shaken

With 50kt gusting crosswinds, one would think they would indeed be shaken in a literal sense...

[Mick F]

If indeed they were 50kt crosswinds, I'm astounded they even made an attempt at landing, let alone 3!

Mick

[David Ramsay]

Slightly o/t but I was on an NZ flight from NZWN to NZAA a couple of weeks back and the New Zealand GG was on board.

We were advised on arrival that "there was no airbridge available and we will have to await air stairs".

Subsequently discovered that this was because GG's car was parked airside alongside the a/c.

[Adam G]

Originally Posted by Mick F

If indeed they were 50kt crosswinds, I'm astounded they even made an attempt at landing, let alone 3!

Mick

Depends how much of it was gust factor - the NG has a max crosswind of 35kts so if there was a gust factor of 10-15kts it would be worth a shot for them.

It must have been fairly close to give it another 2 shots.

[Mick F]

Fair enough Adam, but when determining max crosswind, gust factor MUST be taken into account. Not much good when you're just touching down and that 50kt gust hits you, sending you off the runway. You're really up **** creek then.

Mick

[NickN]

It depends on exactly how much of that 50knots was actually considered cross-wind.

50knots at around 42 degrees off runway heading or better would mean only 35knots of cross-wind or less at the strongest gust.