Qantas delays flights in Perth

[Expon]

Qantas delays flights after airspace closure | The Courier-Mail

QANTAS has postponed all its flights into and out of Perth airport for a three-hour period from 10pm (AEDT) tonight, the airline's chief pilot said.
A number of air traffic controllers called in sick, leaving the control tower unmanned for several hours, Air Services Australia spokesman Bryan Nicholson said.

Qantas chief pilot Captain Chris Manning said the postponements, between 10pm and 1am (AEDT) were due to safety concerns prompted by the closure of the airspace in the Perth terminal area by air traffic controllers.
"Qantas had deemed it unsafe to operate in this area due the downgrading of controlled air space which would impact critical ascent and descent profiles," Captain Manning said.
"While we regret the inconvenience to our passengers, Qantas always puts safety first," he said.
Mr Nicholson said pilots entering and leaving the air space would be self-monitoring the air space during this time. He was aware Qantas had postponed its flights, but said he knew of no other airline doing the same.

When this happens to Qantas provide food or prewarning to passengers affected? Seems to be happening alot lately and I'm sure more will follow in the future.

 

[oz_mark]

Qantas delays flights after airspace closure | The Courier-Mail



When this happens to Qantas provide food or prewarning to passengers affected? Seems to be happening alot lately and I'm sure more will follow in the future.

I would imagine that it would have affected only a handful of flights such as the red-eyes out of Perth (and the incoming operating aircraft of those). I would think they would treat it like any other delay. Given the timing of it, I would think they would pre-warn passengers as much as possible, but I imagine many would have turned up to the airport oblivious to the delay.

 

[Flashback]

Just got back from PER Dom, the line was insane for bag drop (it went right out the terminal!).

Which begs me the question, I have QP.. even though I'm not flying, could I have taken her into the QP bagdrop line with me and played ignorance? "Oh I didn't know I had to be flying too, but she is my partner after all"

To clarify, her = SWMBO, who does not have any status.

 

[Mal]

I don't begrudge Qantas for rescheduling the flights if they didn't feel it was safe to travel. (Although, aren't there many other non-controlled airspace parts of Australia? I suppose not over and around a capital city airport though!)

I doubt the decision was made with enough time to inform all affected pax before arriving at the airport, except those subscribed to the Qantas SMS service and those who looked at expected flight delays.

 

[serfty]

... Which begs me the question, I have QP.. even though I'm not flying, could I have taken her into the QP bagdrop line with me and played ignorance? "Oh I didn't know I had to be flying too, but she is my partner after all"

To clarify, her = SWMBO, who does not have any status.

In general, PAX checking in together can use the line for the higher status PAX.

 

[serfty]

Arrived in BNE 8:15pm last night to a similar issue; all flights should have departed, but three flights to PER (2 x QF, 1 JQ) had all been rescheduled to depart 10pm.

Quick Browse on AFF/FT, a Bluetounge and I was off ...

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm curious to know how an airport the size of Perth would function during this time. Is it up to pilots to just get on the blower and say "Watch out, I'm using the runway now,"? I mean, that might work for a small airport, but Perth seems entirely too large for that.

It was during one of the really busy periods at Perth as well, when a heap of flights are heading out for East coast cities.

 

[Mal]

I'm curious to know how an airport the size of Perth would function during this time.

Someone else more technical should give a better answer, but my understanding that there are multiple ATC staff working at one time in different areas. (eg one/two/several have control over the runways, others control take-offs, other control landings, same for a certain section of the sky etc.

So they were most likely still working - just that pilots were not being controlled fully on approach.

Where's D1ck Smith when you need him and his description

 

[SeaWolf]

Just watched a story about this on ABC, they said that the problem had occured because the one controller who was rostered on had called in sick. The Union that represents controllers also commented that Air Services Australia was just cutting corners by not scheduling two controllers on at nights.

 

[Mal]

I also heard that Qantas is thinking about installing musical horns (that play "I still call Australia Home") and flashing red lights on their flights that fly into Perth so that they can warn other planes that they are about to land, take off and enter into certain airspace. Apparently this is more reliable at certain times of the day when controller's have sick days :mrgreen:

 

[oz_mark]

I'm curious to know how an airport the size of Perth would function during this time. Is it up to pilots to just get on the blower and say "Watch out, I'm using the runway now,"? I mean, that might work for a small airport, but Perth seems entirely too large for that.

It was during one of the really busy periods at Perth as well, when a heap of flights are heading out for East coast cities.

Throw into the mix the fact that the QF red-eyes to SYD and MEL (and the incoming flights) are often 743's and I guess it is understandable that Qantas took the approach it did.

 

[nlagalle]

I'm curious to know how an airport the size of Perth would function during this time. Is it up to pilots to just get on the blower and say "Watch out, I'm using the runway now,"? I mean, that might work for a small airport, but Perth seems entirely too large for that.

It depends on what the airport was re-classified as while the control tower was unmanned. Probably an MBZ, although there is nothing in the NOTAMS on the Airservices website at the moment.

 

[straitman]

It depends on what the airport was re-classified as while the control tower was unmanned. Probably an MBZ, although there is nothing in the NOTAMS on the Airservices website at the moment.

MBZ's don't exist any more. Best you get is a CTAF. ... another lowering of standards. :evil:

 

[nlagalle]

MBZ's don't exist any more. Best you get is a CTAF. ... another lowering of standards. :evil:

I am a bit out of date. Has been a while since i was flying last. The only difference between MBZ and CTAF is the fact you must report. And you'll find that in CTAF's people still report as well. And from what I remember MBZ's were unique to AU Airspace and did create a lot of confusion. I've got no problem that they got rid of them. I don't think it is a lowering of standards.

 

[Hawkeye]

Any chance of an explanation for simpletons like me?

 

[Evan]

MBZ = Mandatory Boradcast Zone
CTAF = Common Traffic Advisory Frequency

The term ‘MBZ’ refers to the airspace that surrounds a designated, uncontrolled aerodrome. MBZs may also exist at a controlled airport outside the operating hours of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) service.

The standard area of a MBZ has a radius of 15 nautical miles (NM) and a height of 5000 feet above the airfield elevation. Each MBZ is allocated its own VHF frequency, which pilots then use to arrange mutual separation.

Calls must be made for the following....
- Entering the Zone
- Joining the Circuit
- Entering a Runway for departure
- Taxing for Departure
- Straight in Approach

Now i have not done any hours for a long time and do not hold a current license so please feel free to corrent anything i have said if its not correct.

E

 

[nlagalle]

MBZ = Mandatory Boradcast Zone
CTAF = Common Traffic Advisory Frequency

The term ‘MBZ’ refers to the airspace that surrounds a designated, uncontrolled aerodrome. MBZs may also exist at a controlled airport outside the operating hours of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) service.

The standard area of a MBZ has a radius of 15 nautical miles (NM) and a height of 5000 feet above the airfield elevation. Each MBZ is allocated its own VHF frequency, which pilots then use to arrange mutual separation.

Calls must be made for the following....
- Entering the Zone
- Joining the Circuit
- Entering a Runway for departure
- Taxing for Departure
- Straight in Approach

Now i have not done any hours for a long time and do not hold a current license so please feel free to corrent anything i have said if its not correct.

E

Pretty much spot on.. CTAF has the same calls, except they aren't mandatory. But you'll find most people do make calls, especially at larger GA aerodromes.

 

[straitman]

Pretty much spot on.. CTAF has the same calls, except they aren't mandatory. But you'll find most people do make calls, especially at larger GA aerodromes.

Of course there are exceptions to all the rules :!:
There also exists a CTAF(R), and I quote 'At some aerodromes the carriage and use of radios is required. This is annotated by CTAF[frequency](R)'

This is effectively an MBZ under another name so that Oz conforms with ICAO standards.

Anyone confused :?:

 

[NM]

Anyone confused :?:

I am happy to be confused. I just hope the pilots flying the aircraft are not confused

 

[simongr]

In general, PAX checking in together can use the line for the higher status PAX.

But the PAX in question were not travelling together and one was not travelling at all...