How close have you got to curfew?

[Austman]

I was on QF497 SYD-MEL last night. The schedule is for a 22:05 departure. SYD curfew starts at 23:00. In the Business Lounge they announced that the flight would be delayed due to late incoming crew.

At around 22:20 they asked everyone to go to the gate even though boarding had not started.

All were on board at around 22:45 and the door was closed. I was sitting in row 2. Some activity then happened in row 1 and the door was re-opened. Ground staff came in and escorted a lady off the plane who had been sitting in row 1. The pilot then announced that a passenger had been escorted off because they had consumed too much 'silly juice'. The pilot also didn't like the chances of beating curfew because the lady's checked luggage had to be removed (from the container in the 767).

At about 22:54 it was announced the luggage had been found and removed (in world record time!) and we pushed back.

Take-off was a few minutes later. The pilot announced that we had made it by 90 seconds!

qantas.com shows QF497 departed 22:55 but I think it was few minutes later than that. Close call!

 

[harvyk]

That's pretty close...

I personally about I'd ever get close as usually the latest plane I fly on is QF807, which (is meant to) leave at 21:10...

That said luckly last night they held it for me (and one other person who was on the same incoming flight as me) as we arrived at SYD at 21:00 (10 minutes after boarding had started on QF807) and I was only boarding QF807 at about 21:10. Pretty happy about that, no sitting around waiting at SYD (which I hate when I'm just so close to home)

 

[Taezar]

Coming back from AFF Canberra... I came back via SYD.
Our plane out of MEL had to be replaced due to a mechanical fault, so we were delayed from 8.05pm to I think 9.30pm then to 10.15pm. Finally we got the boarding call around 10.20pm.
No one was there to board us!
We finally get herded on 15 minutes later (on a chockas 767 mind you).
Needless to say there are some worried looks. Lots of looking at watches.
We then get an announcement from the captain that we do not have the required number of blankets on board and we won't leave till we get them.
I want you to picture Cabin Crew running up and down the aisles opening overhead lockers. Another crew member sprinted up the aisle and ran out the main door. Where he thought he was going to get a bag of blankets from at on a Sunday night with no staff in the building I have no idea. He comes running back - chucks a bag of blankets in a spare seat in J, the door is closed, the pilot announces the door is shut.
We got taxi clearance at 10.58pm, which means we took off either after 11pm or seconds before.

 

[Austman]

We then get an announcement from the captain that we do not have the required number of blankets on board and we won't leave till we get them.

Blankets? Are they a safety item?

 

[markis10]

Blankets? Are they a safety item?

Yes, very much so, think fire

 

[milehighclub]

An aircraft cannot depart without 20 blankets and pillows.

We have a table of what items can delay an aircraft and if so by how long. The delay allowed varies depending on the flight time and destination.

For example:
Total aircraft failure of IFE can delay the aircraft by about 1 1/2 hours if the flight is going to LAX. If it isn't fixed within that time the aircraft must be dispatched without IFE. The list is quite extensive but most things have a maximum delay time and this ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours. There are about 5 items however where the aircraft can be delayed indefinitely until the problem is fixed - not having blankets and pillows is one of them.

Yes, very much so, think fire

Not quite. Think bombs or other explosives.

Blankets and pillows are used to make a "bunker" around the item.

There is an article here about a fake bomb onboard an aircraft and mentions the use of the blankets and pillows

Derek Stansberry | Man charged in bomb scare - Los Angeles Times

 

[travellerqff]

Great stories!

- anyone arrived SYD early before the curfew is off?

I often see BA and QF flights touching down well before 6am. What's the go? Do they pay more or something?

 

[milehighclub]

Great stories!

- anyone arrived SYD early before the curfew is off?

I often see BA and QF flights touching down well before 6am. What's the go? Do they pay more or something?

There are very strict conditions for landing before 6am. You can land after 5am if runway 34L is in use and you cannot use reverse thrust. Wind is also a factor, although rare in Sydney at that time.

There are a limited amount of arrivals allowed. I have arrived before curfew and we had to circle for 45 minutes until 6am.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....sion/qf6-and-sydney-airport-curfew-12657.html

 

[ozmille]

When flying to LHR in June with the ash cloud the airport closed at 3PM and because a pax did not show up and his bags had to be removed we left at 2.59PM...


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Taezar]

There is an article here about a fake bomb onboard an aircraft and mentions the use of the blankets and pillows

Derek Stansberry | Man charged in bomb scare - Los Angeles Times

Of more interest is the fact they had 4 (I repeat, 4) air marshals on the plane.... aren't they meant to be scattered? Maybe off to an Air Marshal Convention?

 

[Flying Fox]

Yes, very much so, think fire

Why? If there was a fire, I would be warm enough and wouldn't need a blanket!