Holding Patterns regular around Sydney?

[Shameel Kumar]

On my way back from Fiji yesterday, scheduled for a 7.00pm arrival into SYD we were put in a holding pattern. As we came in on our final approach we went by some very heavy clouds, and you can easily see a curtain of rain tracking just off the shore. There were some flashes of lightning about 10mins out from landing, so it made for a bumpy descent.

I took a few photos of the heavy cloud cover over Sydney, so I'll include that in my trip report which I'll post here in a few days.

[Steve Jones]

Three QF flights were diverted (all to YSCB) last night due to the Sydney weather - 2 MEL-SYD services and a PER-SYD service.

[Darren Butterworth]

I think holding for weather over the ACT must be reasonably common. Here are some pics of us doing circle work near Canberra on a recent QF flight from Perth.

Attachment 323

Attachment 324

[Jack B]

Originally Posted by Darren Butterworth

I think holding for weather over the ACT must be reasonably common. Here are some pics of us doing circle work near Canberra on a recent QF flight from Perth.

Attachment 323

Attachment 324

Similar area and pattern to what we did

The reason people were a little anxious was how enexpected and rather rapid the descent was before we started holding, and the cabin crew were also rather unsure. One annoucned that we had begun our descent into Sydney, then another went into the flight deck and came out about 5 mins later. Then the captain told us we were just going to hold over Canberra and then we made S turns all the way into Sydney

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Looks like there may be delays this evening too - there are several small cells approaching Sydney from the west from which I can hear rumbling!

[NickN]

Is there a good weather radar site where we can monitor live weather radar?

[Anthony J]

Originally Posted by NickN

Is there a good weather radar site where we can monitor live weather radar?

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR033.loop.shtml
Often there is an ATC requirement to be at a certain level entering the hold so they can stack other aircraft above at 1,000ft intervals. The most efficient holding altitude for a 767 is mid to high twenties.

[Grahame Hutchison]

On the ground and in the air !

ACARS mode: B Aircraft reg: .VH-VXI
Message label: 86 Block id: 0 Msg. no: M39A
Flight id: QF0507
Message content:-
ARI
ETAB 2220YSSY
WHLCHR 00 /00MED
ASST 00MINORS 00PAX
SICK N
SI BILL N BEN....
NOT AS GDAY NOW. GOT 25 MINS HOLDING. NEW ETA 2220.
-------------------------------------[20/10/2008 08:17]

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .VH-QPG
Message label: 86 Block id: 5 Msg. no: M66A
Flight id: QF0128
Message content:-
ARI
ETAB 2225YSSY
WHLCHR 02 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI REQ ADVISE CONX DETAILS DELAY ATC HOLDING
-------------------------------------[20/10/2008 08:37]

ACARS mode: S Aircraft reg: .VH-EBE
Message label: 87 Block id: 9 Msg. no: M92A
Flight id: JQ0037
Message content:-
OFF 0638Z. DELAY DUE
ATC TARMAC CONGEST. ETA 1255Z. RCVD WX UPDT THX. ALL GOOD HERE.
-------------------------------------[20/10/2008 18:18]

[Oliver A]

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...ecsmlsywol.pdf

Holding for jets occurs at TARAL (near Taralga. No holding occurs at Shellys) FL210-240, usually CULIN for anything lower out of Canberra or FL250 and above when TARAL is full. So the lower and closer to Sydney you hold, the fewer jets are in front of you and the happier you should be.