What was happening at MEL last night?

[CaptainMidnight]

Early evening flight from ADL > MEL Weds.14th, DEP delayed for an hour, PA announcement "due flight restrictions in Melbourne".

Later, on board announcement from seat 1A "MEL ATC have imposed a 90 minute delay on all flights, and no-one I've spoken to can explain why ...".

If WX holding or something else, one would assume it would be apparent from forecast/TTF or NOTAM.

[Chris2303]

ymml 141230z 17006kt 9999 few014 bkn025 13/11 q1019 fm1230 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1230/1500 3000 dz bkn005 inter 1500/1530 6000 -shra bkn012
ymml 141200z 16007kt 9999 few014 sct025 13/11 q1019 fm1230 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1200/1500 3000 dz bkn005
ymml 141130z 16009kt 9999 few012 bkn029 14/11 q1019 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1130/1200 bkn015 tempo 1200/1430 3000 dz bkn005
ymml 141100z 17009kt 9999 few011 bkn013 14/12 q1019 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1100/1200 bkn015 tempo 1200/1400 3000 dz bkn005
ymml 141030z 17010kt 9999 few011 bkn016 14/12 q1019 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1030/1200 bkn015 tempo 1200/1300 3000 dz bkn005
ymml 141000z 17012kt 9999 few012 bkn016 bkn021 14/12 q1018 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1000/1100 bkn015 tempo 1200/1300 3000 dz bkn005
ymml 140930z 16011kt 9999 few012 bkn016 bkn021 15/12 q1018 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 0930/1100 bkn015 tempo 1200/1230 3000 dz bkn005
ymml 140900z 15012kt 9999 few012 bkn014 bkn026 15/11 q1017 fm0930 18008kt 9999 sct012 bkn020 tempo 0900/1200 bkn015
ymml 140830z 16010kt 9999 few012 bkn014tcu bkn025 15/12 q1017 fm0900 18008kt 9999 sct012 bkn020 tempo 0830/1130 bkn015

[maggot]

Flying past I assumed it was staffing issues

Or maybe it was rwy 09

[CaptainMidnight]

If it was really 90 minutes imposed by ATC, I assumed it was a Eurocat thing and they had metered arrivals.

Chris: your copies of SPECIs are truncated apart from a couple but I see the TEMPO & BKN 005 so I gather it may have been wx related.

Odd then the comment no-one can explain why -

[Berealgetreal]

Same as what normally happens when you fly in and out of Melbourne. Its nothing new.

[maggot]

If it was really 90 minutes imposed by ATC, I assumed it was a Eurocat thing and they had metered arrivals.

Chris: your copies of SPECIs are truncated apart from a couple but I see the TEMPO & BKN 005 so I gather it may have been wx related.

Odd then the comment no-one can explain why -

It was before the low cloud

[Tankengine]

No weather there below minima so why the big delays?
ATC “rules” in this country is so far behind the rest of the world it is amazing. :(

[Berealgetreal]

Rest of the country goes alright.

[Slippery_Pete]

Or maybe it was rwy 09

There’s a runway 09 in Melbourne???

WTF. That’ll be news to ATC.

[Berealgetreal]

09? Landed on it twice in my career. True story.
Prefer white knuckle 27 wet max weight with quartering tailwind.

[hotnhigh]

So who is the most aggressive controller in Australia anyway?

[markis10]

MEL had FID issues last night, may have been a factor.

[buckshot1777]

Found out from someone in a position to know.

In the morning, bad WX in MEL caused the usual knock-on effects to all throughout the day.

Combine this with 1) the onset of more WX from about 0600z 5pm (cloud down to 500ft at one point, mist & reduced vis), 2) the onset of the peak period with arrivals from everywhere all requiring ILS along with ongoing deps meant metering had to be applied.

Airlines were made aware & reasons, something that often doesn't get communicated down to those at the pointy end.

FWIW those met reports listed above start from 0830z (7:30pm local), by which time things had improved.

[UnderneathTheRadar]

MEL had FID issues last night, may have been a factor.

What's FID?

[Stationair8]

Wasn’t there an ILS issue as well?

[Mr Google Head]

What's FID?

Flight Information Displays I believe - the system that displays all flight info in the airport; wouldn’t have thought it would affect ATC though