View Full Version : The Silence is Deafening
Xeptu
18th Mar 2020, 19:21
For the Last 5 years a bit before dawn, I have stepped out the back, sat on the deck for my morning coffee and watched at least 4 sets of strobe lights transiting West to East. This Morning not a single one, I waited and waited. An eerie very uncomfortable feeling descended upon me. Are you there.
Edit: In the summer months I live on a houseboat on the River Murray, moored in a location where I can see where those in the upper flight levels are going. Strobes in the morning, contrails in the late afternoon tells me all is well. When all is not well, the Airlines will be the very first to let me know.
Chris2303
18th Mar 2020, 19:54
It would help to know where you are?
Denied Justice
18th Mar 2020, 21:15
At a rough guess - Perth ???
dutch_oven
18th Mar 2020, 21:30
Departing Syd midday was like a ghost town. Arrival Syd mid morning, no holding and track shortening! Unheard of
Southern handler
18th Mar 2020, 22:05
2/3 of QF staff to be stood down, time to start packing shelves
The Bullwinkle
18th Mar 2020, 22:42
Just landed in Brisbane and we still got holding!!! :}
Awol57
18th Mar 2020, 23:55
At a rough guess - Perth ???
Perth has been quite busy the last few days, maybe a 10% dip. Single runway ops though due works so perhaps it still could be Perth.
no_one
19th Mar 2020, 02:32
I took the kids to the beach at Botany Bay this morning for a swim. While there were still some flights heading in and out of Sydney it was noticeably down on normal....
The issue for the airlines will be how long this will last. I work for an engineering consulting mob. In the region it employs about 2000 people and the annual travel bill was about $15m. About a month ago restrictions started and now we can't fly at all. Work is still happening via VC and other means. When this is all over I suspect that peoples habbits will have changed. I am not sure that all of the $15m will go back on travel....
prickly
19th Mar 2020, 07:52
2/3 of QF staff to be stood down, time to start packing shelves
You would be really lucky to get gig like that, applications will only be considered by seniority.
0ttoL
19th Mar 2020, 09:13
Coles advertised for 5,000 roles and had 35,000 applications in 24 hours. So, yes, tough to get.
Bend alot
19th Mar 2020, 11:20
It would help to know where you are?
I guess.
Mallard Lane
Perth
WA
Mitch Vernon
19th Mar 2020, 12:18
Flying from Emerald QLD to Rockhampton last night, it was really quiet. The controller said she had 2000nm of airspace with only 10 aircraft in it.
A Falcon corporate jet HKG-BNE on the same frequency said they flew over the Philippines said they were the only aircraft spoken to for two for two hours!
Really weird
Cheers,
Mitch
I recall being at LGW in April 2010 when the volcano closed the airspace. It was eerie to hear birds singing around the airport. I had never heard that before. They'll be back to do it again soon enough at this rate.
Lead Balloon
19th Mar 2020, 21:15
I wonder when Airservices will start standing staff down. There are probably quite a few ‘coal face’ staff who’d appreciate a break.
morno
19th Mar 2020, 23:06
Flying from Emerald QLD to Rockhampton last night, it was really quiet. The controller said she had 2000nm of airspace with only 10 aircraft in it.
A Falcon corporate jet HKG-BNE on the same frequency said they flew over the Philippines said they were the only aircraft spoken to for two for two hours!
Really weird
Cheers,
Mitch
In the early days of this thing, when it was mainly just China affected, I was flying through Hong Kong airspace during a normally very busy time of the day. This particular day there was hardly an aircraft on frequency!