QF1 makes unscheduled stop in DRW due to a medical emergency

[Blackadder]

From the NT News, seems like QF1 is going to make a unscheduled stop in DRW due to a medical emergency.

 

[serfty]

Estimated 1:30 minutes late into Changi:

(QF) Qantas Airways 1 Flight Status

 

[Must...Fly!]

FlightAware

Not sure an A380 has ever visited DRW before?

 

[here2go]

DRW says it is the first: Twitter / Darwinairport: A380 diversion to Darwin Airport ...
The air bridge looks a tad tiny!

 

[dot]

Interesting. I was on QF10 a while ago (21Jul11) and we turned around northwest of Christmas Island due to a medical emergency. The announcement on the PA said that they considered DRW and PER, but PER was still too far away and DRW wasn't equipped for A380s, so we went back to SIN.

Edit - as I look at the map now, it was more west of Christmas Is, rather than north-west

 

[Must...Fly!]

I guess this would be one of the cases where the carried-on tow bar would come in useful, hard to imagine they'd have one up at DRW

 

[here2go]

Interesting. I was on QF10 a while ago (21Jul11) and we turned around northwest of Christmas Island due to a medical emergency. The announcement on the PA said that they considered DRW and PER, but PER was still too far away and DRW wasn't equipped for A380s, so we went back to SIN.

RAAF Base Darwin (DRW is merely the small passenger terminal bit) can handle C5s, and Air Force 1, so I find it strange that QF would turn around back to SIN for that reason. If they are simply unloading said unwell passenger then continue moving on to its final destination, between DRW and RAAF Darwin, there would be support for an A380 depositing an extremely unwell passenger.

I'd say that in this circumstance you describe dot, Royal Darwin possibly couldn't handle the particular type of emergency at the time - and noting that we're a small city of 120K who rank among the heaviest drinkers in the world, a couple of car crashes can see the wonderful folk at Emergency swamped (there are three resuscitation beds for acute emergencies). Hence the u-turn back to SIN.
A big hand to the folk at RDH ED too - they saved my then four month-old daughter's life back in February with intususseption.

 

[markis10]

RAAF Base Darwin (DRW is merely the small passenger terminal bit) can handle C5s, and Air Force 1, so I find it strange that QF would turn around back to SIN for that reason. If they are simply unloading said unwell passenger then continue moving on to its final destination, between DRW and RAAF Darwin, there would be support for an A380 depositing an extremely unwell passenger.

Why do you find it strange, given the C5 and VC25 are smaller planes?

 

[here2go]

Why do you find it strange, given the C5 and VC1 are smaller planes?

As I said, if it is simply unloading a sick PAX, and loading more fuel, then I would have thought DRW could handle it - heck get a cherry picker if needs be for the unwell PAX. HOWEVER - if they had to do much else such as unload luggage (I would have sent sick passenger's luggage onto SIN and sent it back), give other PAX a leg stretch, well that is different - the secure bubble at DRW couldn't handle 500 people standing let alone give them a coffee.

 

[Simo]

Wow an A380 in DRW.

I wonder what JB747 can tell us about it if he was flying it. I haven't looked at his flight schedule.

 

[dot]

RAAF Base Darwin (DRW is merely the small passenger terminal bit) can handle C5s, and Air Force 1, so I find it strange that QF would turn around back to SIN for that reason. If they are simply unloading said unwell passenger then continue moving on to its final destination, between DRW and RAAF Darwin, there would be support for an A380 depositing an extremely unwell passenger.

I'd say that in this circumstance you describe dot, Royal Darwin possibly couldn't handle the particular type of emergency at the time - and noting that we're a small city of 120K who rank among the heaviest drinkers in the world, a couple of car crashes can see the wonderful folk at Emergency swamped (there are three resuscitation beds for acute emergencies). Hence the u-turn back to SIN.
A big hand to the folk at RDH ED too - they saved my then four month-old daughter's life back in February with intususseption.

All I know is what they told us over the PA. We were about 2.25 hours out of SIN when we turned back.

BTW - I know (knew) RAAF Darwin pretty well, I spent an eight week secondment there decommissioning Mirage spares and shipping them off to Pakistan - I still have some surplus Mirage switches at home... . Sadly I haven't managed to get back since.

 

[markis10]

Diversions are assessed on a number of factors, weighing the issue up against the various options in terms of the hassle of using and proximity. I would suggest last night the proximity was the deciding factor, despite the damage an A380 can cause to an airport not used to a wing 30ft wider than a C5 and an aircraft that has a Max takeoff weight some 200 tonnes higher than a C5. An A380 at DRW will render three Aerobridges unusable for the time it is there.

 

[here2go]

Diversions are assessed on a number of factors, weighing the issue up against the various options in terms of the hassle of using and proximity. I would suggest last night the proximity was the deciding factor, despite the damage an A380 can cause to an airport not used to a wing 30ft wider than a C5 and an aircraft that has a Max takeoff weight some 200 tonnes higher than a C5. An A380 at DRW will render three Aerobridges unusable for the time it is there.

Big birds can do lots of damage agreed. Dubya's visit cost the taxpayer $250k in repairs to the apron at CBR. Still, if just fuel and sick passenger, I am surprised RAAF aren't asked to supply tarmac. I will speak to my people.

 

[markis10]

Still, if just fuel and sick passenger, I am surprised RAAF aren't asked to supply tarmac. I will speak to my people.

It was after 4.30 PM, probably no one to ask that's not already in the officers mess .

 

[harvyk]

I wonder what JB747 can tell us about it if he was flying it. I haven't looked at his flight schedule.

Unlikely, it looks like he's flying QF10 today....

 

[here2go]

My people have informed me that a fully loaded B-52 can pull up on the hard stand without problems, and Obama had no problems either last year. Hence there appears to be no problem with accommodating an A380 from a physical perspective. Whether a set of stairs or Cherry Picker can be found is another issue - and the question will be asked.

 

[here2go]

My people have informed me that a fully loaded B-52 can pull up on the hard stand without problems, and Obama had no problems either last year. Hence there appears to be no problem with accommodating an A380 from a physical perspective. Whether a set of stairs or Cherry Picker can be found is another issue - and the question will be asked.

Okay - I didn't see that coming. My people have enquired and informed me that an A380 needs Category 9 fire services if less than 300 movements per annum, and Darwin only has Cat 8. So in Dot's case - going back to Singapore makes sense. Learn something new everyday.

 

[NM]

... and an aircraft that has a Max takeoff weight some 200 tonnes higher than a C5.

But a C5 is likley to take off at very close to its max take-off weight, while an A380 departing for SIN or SYD/MEL after a diversion is going to be way below its max take-off weight. So there may not be much difference in weight. Obviously the much wider wings and position of the outboard engines may result in some tarmac sweeping after movements. And its going to cause some ground handling challenges. But obviously able to be done.

 

[markis10]

My people have informed me that a fully loaded B-52 can pull up on the hard stand without problems, and Obama had no problems either last year. Hence there appears to be no problem with accommodating an A380 from a physical perspective. Whether a set of stairs or Cherry Picker can be found is another issue - and the question will be asked.

No one is saying the hard stand is an issue, Bay 1 at DRW is A380 rated, ICAO Code F aircraft design requirements (under Annex 14) for an airport to be A380 capable:



Darwin does not have taxiway shoulders on the taxiway that leads to both ends of 11/29, is is severely limited on jet blast provisions for normal operations, let alone the A380 which has a lower wing and more powerful engines than the types previously mentioned.

 

[markis10]

But a C5 is likley to take off at very close to its max take-off weight, while an A380 departing for SIN or SYD/MEL after a diversion is going to be way below its max take-off weight. So there may not be much difference in weight. Obviously the much wider wings and position of the outboard engines may result in some tarmac sweeping after movements. And its going to cause some ground handling challenges. But obviously able to be done.

An A380 empty is 276T, burning approx 8T an hour she would be carrying 80T of fuel including reserves, putting it at the C5 MTOW before we add passengers and freight.