Was there a QF A380 to Perth today - 4/4/18

[OZDUCK]

I may be going mad, some people say I am well past the going bit, however I am sure that I saw a QF A380 take off from Perth and head west at about 1300 today. I couldn't get a clear view because of trees but it was definitely a 4 engine plane with a red tail that looked like QF from the angle that I saw it.

Was there a medical, or otherwise diversion, into Perth today? I have looked around this site and a few other ones and couldn't see anything. Thanks

Edit: obviously should be "there" and not "yhere" in the title - perhaps proof positive about my mental condition.

 

[Franky]

I may be going mad, some people say I am well past the going bit, however I am sure that I saw a QF A380 take off from Perth and head west at about 1300 today. I couldn't get a clear view because of trees but it was definitely a 4 engine plane with a red tail that looked like QF from the angle that I saw it.

Was there a medical, or otherwise diversion, into Perth today? I have looked around this site and a few other ones and couldn't see anything. Thanks

Edit: obviously should be "there" and not "yhere" in the title - perhaps proof positive about my mental condition.

Could well be a diversion. I was playing golf out at Whaleback 6 weeks ago, right under the flight path, and a QF 380 landed. I mentioned this to my playing group who all thought that was normal!! Nothing in the press, and I eventually found a site which gave us the story - it was the flight from DXB-SYD which had to divert with a smell of smoke from memory.

 

[JinbaIttai]

I am sure that I saw a QF A380 take off from Perth and head west at about 1300 today.

I run an ADS-B receiver, and I only saw 3 A380s today - the usual scheduled EK420 and two overflights to Melbourne.

I couldn't get a clear view because of trees but it was definitely a 4 engine plane with a red tail

I'm guessing it was the Air Mauritius A340 which left at around 13:15

 

[OZDUCK]

I run an ADS-B receiver, and I only saw 3 A380s today - the usual scheduled EK420 and two overflights to Melbourne.

I'm guessing it was the Air Mauritius A340 which left at around 13:15

Thanks Jinbalttai - you are obviously correct. I could only see it from underneath and through tree cover. The red tail and 4 engines put me off. I had a look at Perth Airport daily flight schedules - but only for tomorrow. And, as Air Mauritius is not daily the A340 was not on the schedule.

Chalk one up for jumping to conclusions.

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s the regular MK440/MK441 service between MRU and PER.

Normally twice weekly with an A330-200 but in Summer an A340-300 operates a third seasonal flight a week using the same times and flight numbers. (IIRC)

The tail logo can deceptively look like a Red Roo from afar.

AFAIK no QFA380 splashed and dashed there recently

 

[OZDUCK]

That’s the regular MK440/MK441 service between MRU and PER.

Normally twice weekly with an A330-200 but in Summer an A340-300 operates a third seasonal flight a week using the same times and flight numbers. (IIRC)

The tail logo can deceptively look like a Red Roo from afar.

AFAIK no QFA380 splashes and dashed there

I must admit that I am a little embarrassed to confuse the two but I haven't seen the MK A340 before.

 

[Quickstatus]

The other 4 engine A340 currently operating into and out of PER is the white tail with blue stripes on charter/wet lease from HiFly (Portuguese carrier) to NZ while it’s 787-9 Trent 1000 engine issues are sorted out.

AKL-PER-AKL

(QF uses GENx for its 787-9 engines)

 

[Quickstatus]

BTW it’s an interesting airline as it can provide a one stop :
PER-MRU-LHR/CDG/GEN/JNB/CPT

It used to 5th freedom PER-MEL/SYD but these were terminated about 5 years ago . Now VA provides the domestic leg to PER.

 

[oz_mark]

It used to 5th freedom PER-MEL/SYD but these were terminated about 5 years ago . Now VA provides the domestic leg to PER.

You do realise that PER, MEL and SYD are all in same country? Not a 5th freedom....

 

[kelvedon]

You do realise that PER, MEL and SYD are all in same country? Not a 5th freedom....

I think Quickstatus was referring to the PER-SYD sector as a fifth freedom tag to the MRU-PER leg when it was flown by MK

 

[RooFlyer]

You do realise that PER, MEL and SYD are all in same country? Not a 5th freedom....

...and that's why its a 5th freedom ... when its flown by a non Australian airline.

 

[mannej]

The other 4 engine A340 currently operating into and out of PER is the white tail with blue stripes on charter/wet lease from HiFly (Portuguese carrier) to NZ while it’s 787-9 Trent 1000 engine issues are sorted out.

AKL-PER-AKL

(QF uses GENx for its 787-9 engines)

I could have sworn I saw the NZ 789 in PER just recently

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes you are absolutely right. NZ175/176 AKL-PER is back to 787-9. Thanks for update!!

 

[TomVexille]

I think Quickstatus was referring to the PER-SYD sector as a fifth freedom tag to the MRU-PER leg when it was flown by MK

...and that's why its a 5th freedom ... when its flown by a non Australian airline.

5th Freedom is specifically between a second and third country. This is closer to 8th Freedom

 

[oz_mark]

...and that's why its a 5th freedom ... when its flown by a non Australian airline.

A 5th freedom flight is between a 2nd and 3rd country.

In the case of the flight under discussion, if they were allowed to fly domestic only passengers it would be cabotage, or 8th freedom.

 

[kelvedon]

A 5th freedom flight is between a 2nd and 3rd country.

In the case of the flight under discussion, if they were allowed to fly domestic only passengers it would be cabotage, or 8th freedom.

I didn't know that. Thanks for adding to my small knowledge bank!

 

[jb747]

If you look at FR24 for QF36 out of Singapore on the 3rd, it did start a diversion to Perth, but didn't complete it.

 

[Quickstatus]

If you look at FR24 for QF36 out of Singapore on the 3rd, it did start a diversion to Perth, but didn't complete it.

I don’t see it
Around Batam it seemed normal

It was further east of CGK than the usual SIN-PER Route which is normally a straight heading SIN overflying CGK to PER?

 

[jb747]

You mean when abeam of Batam?

It was further east of CGK than the usual SIN-PER Route which is normally a straight heading SIN overflying CGK to PER?

The QF36 goes to Melbourne. The kink I was referring to is the track change that occurs just after the dotted line ends, off the coast near Broome.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes I thought that a SIN-MEL usually makes landfall somewhere near Karratha?
The track looks SE

But I’m looking at FA