QF A380 in BNE this morning

[bPeteb]

Pulling back this morning at 0600 on JQ667 bound for Uluru from BNE and there's a QF A380 arriving at the gate usually occupied by EK's A380. I've never seen one in Brizvegas before.

 

[jase05]

QF8 came from DFW and landed at 0558 before departing for SYD at 0751.

 

[AIRwin]

Sure it's not BA?
Answered - BA A380 parked at MEL (northern end) for some time? [No - a different EK daily]

 

[bPeteb]

Sure it's not BA?
Answered - BA A380 parked at MEL (northern end) for some time? [No - a different EK daily]

Should have been clearer and have edited to make it more so. Was BNE. Def had a big red too on its tail too.

 

[jase05]

Should have been clearer and have edited to make it more so. Was BNE. Def had a big red too on its tail too.

You are correct as I posted above.

 

[Quickstatus]

Several times a year, QF8 DFW-SYD has to land in BNE for a “splash and dash”.
Usually it is able to make the distance to SYd with a restriction of passengers. It is common for Y passengers to be able to get a middle row of 4 to themselves, aided by a QF buy-in fee to guarantee the vacant 4.

However, this restriction in weight is sometimes not enough, so the airline plans a splash and dash in BNE. There is enough crew- hours to spare for this to happen.

QF7 SYD-DFW is assisted by favourable tailwinds usually so it does not have to do a splash and dash

The QF9 PER-LHR has not done a splash and dash yet. However if it ever does - wherever it lands, the aircraft will be stranded because the crew will not have enough hours to complete the journey. I’m not sure what contingency the airline has in place for this. They would need a prepositioned crew ahead at the splash and dash airport. But how do you preposition a 787 crew into say SIN 2 days ahead of the affected flight. Likely the weight would be reduced further by offloading passengers. A hot summer evening on departure from PER, stronger than predicted westerlies, problem at LHR airport or one the nearby alternate airports would be the reason.

 

[jb747]

Several times a year, QF8 DFW-SYD has to land in BNE for a “splash and dash”.

Any of the three 380 routes from the USA could be forced into an en-route diversion to Brisbane. For those with Sydney as the destination, that’s pretty obvious, but it becomes attractive to the Melbourne flights if the Sydney weather is poor.

......so the airline plans a splash and dash in BNE. There is enough crew- hours to spare for this to happen.

Actually there are not enough crew hours for a planned diversion. If it is preplanned, a crew will be moved from Sydney (or they’ll ask the Brisbane commuters very nicely). The flight time rules are quite different for planned duty versus unplanned. Extensions are available in unplanned, but not planned.

The QF9 PER-LHR has not done a splash and dash yet. However if it ever does - wherever it lands, the aircraft will be stranded because the crew will not have enough hours to complete the journey. I’m not sure what contingency the airline has in place for this.

It will simply be a diversion. There will be no dash attached. Once you divert within Europe, you are subject to Eurocontrol, and will need to be allocated a slot to continue. This will not be for any time soon. If the planned weather is really poor, a diversion outside of Europe would probably be the best bet. Dubai might work, but it would need to have been planned days ahead.

But how do you preposition a 787 crew into say SIN 2 days ahead of the affected flight. Likely the weight would be reduced further by offloading passengers.

Singapore would never be used for the 9. Dubai perhaps. Istanbul. Most of the airports have curfews which will also be an issue. Weight won’t be an issue if you offload all of the passengers. I understand that they’ve already offloaded all of the luggage on a number of occasions.

 

[Captain Halliday]

QF8 is back in BNE today.

@jb747 is the 8 still load restricted?

I ask because I overheard lounge staff (therefore educated speculation at best) say that “they’ve started sending it out full and diverting here (BNE) if necessary, terminating it and rebooking them.”

Seems neither cost effective nor passenger friendly if accurate.

 

[jb747]

QF8 is back in BNE today.

@jb747 is the 8 still load restricted?

I ask because I overheard lounge staff (therefore educated speculation at best) say that “they’ve started sending it out full and diverting here (BNE) if necessary, terminating it and rebooking them.”

Seems neither cost effective nor passenger friendly if accurate.

Lounge staff would have no idea of flight planning issues.

Load restrictions would vary, but if they made a habit of planning full, then they’re going be caught out any time the weather in Sydney isn’t perfect. The only time I flew it, we were very comfortable for fuel, with a very full load. But, about 10% were staff passengers, who were not approved until I’d had a look at the paperwork.

The crew would have to get off it the flight departed with any plan to divert to Brisbane...extensions are only available on an unplanned basis.

Flight planning is not an exact science, contrary to what the fuel fairies would have you believe. It’s not at all uncommon to have a couple of tonnes of fuel just disappear. Held lower than planned, a wind slightly stronger, or from a different direction, or even a coughulative couple of tonnes of excess cabin luggage, will all have an effect.

 

[Fergo747]

I understand that they’ve already offloaded all of the luggage on a number of occasions.

In this situation I would assume that the luggage then comes back on the 1/2 as one would think that if the entirety of the luggage has been offloaded it wouldn't be possible to put it on 9/10 the following day?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Lounge staff would have no idea of flight planning issues.

Load restrictions would vary, but if they made a habit of planning full, then they’re going be caught out any time the weather in Sydney isn’t perfect. The only time I flew it, we were very comfortable for fuel, with a very full load. But, about 10% were staff passengers, who were not approved until I’d had a look at the paperwork.

The crew would have to get off it the flight departed with any plan to divert to Brisbane...extensions are only available on an unplanned basis.

Flight planning is not an exact science, contrary to what the fuel fairies would have you believe. It’s not at all uncommon to have a couple of tonnes of fuel just disappear. Held lower than planned, a wind slightly stronger, or from a different direction, or even a coughulative couple of tonnes of excess cabin luggage, will all have an effect.

Sorry off - Topic but.. gee its awesome having @jb747 on our forum

 

[jb747]

In this situation I would assume that the luggage then comes back on the 1/2 as one would think that if the entirety of the luggage has been offloaded it wouldn't be possible to put it on 9/10 the following day?

I would expect that it would go on a ‘worldwide discovery tour’, probably with EK.