Originally Posted by
cessnapete
Planning on a forecast that is 17 hours old when you arrive? In my airline on ULR flights plan for somewhere en route that is forecast to be above CAT l and reflightplan if possible with actuals nearest your planned destination?
I think we've already established that for QF9/10 to work - its LHR or LGW only due to the disruption factor of going elsewhere - departing for an alternate and betting the sheep station on an improvement is very different to departing better than CAT1 and running the risk of a deterioration to the point that no CAT3B is possible (I'm not a flyer for a living - out of curiosity, what are the rules if an airfield goes below CAT1 when enroute for a ULR flight? Must re-plan including fuel to an alternate - enough fuel to miss then divert or, if not enough for that, must divert?)
Doesn't explain why it didn't depart though - the good ol'fashion rumour about a new flight planning software sounds pretty Qantas-like also.