Originally Posted by
phil170258
But here's what I want to achieve plotwise - I want my plane to attempt to land in Australia, but for the authorities to not allow this. And, of course, because it's a novel, I'd like this to happen in an exciting and dramatic way!
There are some examples of UK radio procedures denying access to an aircraft in the radio comms manual CAP 413 (google for a pdf).
eg
BIGJET 347, I am instructed by Her Majesty’s Government to refuse entry into United Kingdom airspace. What are your intentions?
BIGJET 347, I am instructed by Her Majesty’s Government to inform you that landing clearance has been refused for any air eld within the United Kingdom. What are your intentions?
BIGJET 347, I am instructed by Her Majesty’s Government that you are to hold at KTN at FL270. Acknowledge
I imagine the Oz version is similar and that the Oz version of CAP413 is available online. Maybe ask in the Australian forum here.
Not sure how exciting and dramatic that is! If the reason for denying entry was 'legal', then an emergency such as low fuel would presumably take precedence, the pilot would have to formally declare an emergency and would be optimistic that permission would then be granted. But that implies turning-up unexpectedly which may or may not be possible depending on the intervening airspace.
If the plane is hijacked, CAP 413 says a dialog like this might be expected:
I AM INStRUCtED BY HER MAJEStY’S GOVERNMENt tO REFUSE ENtRY INtO UNItED KINGDOM AIRSPACE/tO INFORM YOU tHAt LANDING CLEARANCE HAS BEEN REFUSED FOR ANY AERODROME WItHIN tHE UNItED KINGDOM. WHAt ARE YOUR INtENtIONS?
or
I AM INStRUCtED BY HER MAJEStY’S GOVERNMENt tHAt YOU ARE tO HOLD At ( x or GPS position) At (level). ACKNOWLEDGE.
If a hijacking was suspected (and the pilot can indicate this by setting the transponder code to 7500) then declaring an emergency will probably not give the pilot freedom to land anywhere, a rather tense dialog would probably follow with the aircraft being directed somewhere remote with consequences to not following instructions.
May I add that I applaud you for making an effort to get this stuff right. Flyers, sailors or others get very frustrated when a plot hinges on something that is wrong or impossible, or even if a detail is nonsensical. We will allow you some artistic licence :-) but even for the non specialist I think a solid, consistent, technically-accurate narrative makes it much more compelling and convincing.