I saw the calibration aircraft working 34R while I was out there this morning.

And 16L?
 

OK - I see that 16L will take nine weeks from 10 January which takes us to the Ides of March: http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...up/a10-h20.pdf

For such an important nav aid, nine weeks does seem to be a very long time to me - what is actually involved and why does it take so long?

They have to run new fibre optic cables, often replace the computer room (red and white 'KFC' building near the facility), demolish the old one, survey and lay the foundation for the new ILS facility, re-grade the earth mat in front of the Glidepath if required, erect the new ILS system (localiser or glidepath including monitor aerial and DME), calibrate it, commission it.

Then you have to factor in the weather; poor weather often means work can't be carried out. Cranes are needed for some of the demolition/installation, so curfew works may need to be undertaken.
Etc, etc, etc

I'm sure there's more to it, but that's a pretty basic rundown.

Add some manpower?
 

Maybe if you had someone to help you it could be done more quickly, Nigel!

These things take time, and I'm sure the Airservices Aust. project team are getting it done as quickly as they can.

*BUMP*

If you get the chance to listen to the ATIS, do it. ATC has kindly added a little Australia Day touch...

Nice one guys.:D

Also they are using the old voice :D Reminds me of the US ATIS's(sounds like Mic Sam??).

Apparently they can't get the new voice to say 'Oi' right, so on Australia Day, they had to import the old foreign voice.:)

Flying out at Bankstown this morning and the ATIS (and ground controller) had a beautiful Russian accent for Australia Day.

Luckily we're not in CNS!
 

ATIS this morning is showing 16L and 16R anemometers as unserviceable - is this programmed maintenance or have they just got wind?

CAVOK with 8 OKTAS?
 

Someone at YSSY BM needs to look out the window this morning!

CAVOK simply means no cloud below 5000ft and visibility of 10km or more, with no significant weather present. So yes, it is CAVOK today.
And the METAR confirms this:

Thanks, Mick - I've learned something! :o

Look out for ICE!
 

Noted this unusual inclusion in ATIS Charlie this morning:

Does that suggest hail or just a very cold icing-up environment?

Just that there's severe airframe icing above FL120. It could be pretty normal temperatures environment wise, but you've got the right moisture conditions sitting at the right levels to cause this severe icing.

Mick

YSSY METAR Weather: YSSY 120330Z 10012KT 9999 SCT030 SCT220 25/16 Q1013 RMK LIGHTNING DETECTED 26NM TO SW AND 25NM TO W MOVING ENE AT 10 KNOTS TEMPO 0400/0630 3000 TSRA SCT010 SCT040CB

Lightning on its way. Shaping up as an interesting afternoon ahead.

Stop bar lgt fac opr
 

Haven't noticed that in ATIS before today - is it new or am I just that unobservant?

It's a new feature to the airport Phillip. Basically it's a stop bar procedure to prevent runway incursions from happening. This link will explain more along with some of Nigel's expertise ;-)

http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/corp...StopBarsFS.pdf

I remember Nigel telling me about it at our Spotters Weekend dinner, but I hadn't realised that implementation had been delayed.

We saw it in operation, albeit it on the screens, when we were up in the tower!!

Shades of the Flintstones?
 

From this morning's TAF:

:)

NAIPS down
 

Can't login to NAIPS today and the old open access ATIS has been taken down. Not impressed. :(

New version of NAIPS released yesterday by Airservices Australia, even some of the App developers are scrambling to make changes to their connectivity.

That's annoying that they have removed public access.

Anyone know if it will ever be restored?

One step forward three steps backwards!
 

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...ds/NIS-FAQ.pdf

No logic to withdrawal of quick-access free ATIS. Under NAIPS you have to login, select the special briefing screen, enter YSSY with ATIS ticked and NOTAM etc unticked, click Submit, wait another 8 seconds, and get a personalised version of what previously took a few seconds to get with a YSSY-coded URL!

Whose mad idea was this? :mad:

Unusual Approach msg?
 

This evening we are seeing this:

What does that mean exactly?

I believe that means when you are turning onto finals they do not want you to overshoot the extended centreline of the runway. You may drift too close to the other parallel runway centreline.

ie If 16L and 16R are the arrival runways. If the aircraft turning final on 16R drifts too much past the centreline he may encroach the extended centreline of 16L.

If they both do it at the same time then its not good at all.:eek:

I hope I have explained that correctly. The piloty types may correct me.:D

Philip, they are telling us the obvious. Typically, aircraft can go through the centreline if: a) too fast a speed for the autopilot to capture; b) a poor (too large an intercept heading) assigned by ATC or a combination of a and b; or c) a disruption of the localiser signal, caused by an aircraft taking off and flying through the beam as an aircraft is about to join the localiser. This can cause problems with the autoflight system, resulting in an overshoot.

I'm sure there are more reasons. These are a few that I've encountered in over 20 years of operating into Sydney.

Hope this helps.

I have had similar instructions from the Tower when doing an approach into Bankstown when there is a good cross wind blowing. ATC are just reminding you to allow for the crosswind turning onto final, to maintain separation from other aircraft on a parallel approach.

No PRM
 

I just hadn't seen that in ATIS before and it didn't seem like a standard expression.

I know PRM is normally only used with bad visibility but I wonder when there's strong cross winds if it should be used if there's a horizontal separation concern?

The comment on the ATIS is essentially repeating what is also written in ERSA and AIP. There's only a little over 1000m between the two centrelines, it only takes seconds for two aircraft to get very very close if they go through.

CASA/ASA is always striving to improve saftey.. this may be a reactive response to some recent incidents in Australia or just a nice saftey reminder.

The changes coincide with this recent bulletin that was put out.
Nothing new, all stuff we're clear about but nice to get a reminder.

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

If you read the CASA 'flight safety australia' magazine you'll see they have atleast one issue each year that reminds you to have enough fuel. Simple enough, right? :)