BNE closed, airport incursion of some type.
At ML at least they have a whole heap of 'crash' gates around the perimeter that are designed for the ARFF to break through if an A/C comes down outside the boundary.
They're designed to be broken through from the inside but I don't see why they'd be any stronger for a sturdy vehicle coming the other way.
They're designed to be broken through from the inside but I don't see why they'd be any stronger for a sturdy vehicle coming the other way.
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We were on SQ245, and all credit to the captain and crew 
It can't be easy trying to get the 'best fit' outcome that causes the least inconvenience to passengers, crew and the airline itself (it can't be cheap diverting to OOL twice and taking on more fuel each time - I am sure the flight deck weren't having fun talking to BNE, HO in Singapore, and juggling alternative options). The crew remained friendly and helpful, even when they ran out of peanuts/snacks/melting ice cream to feed the frustrated masses. I'm very glad it was a good weather night, or we probably would have ended up in Sydney, I guess.
Not being at the airport, nor knowing details of the airport operations, I won't comment on that - just all credit to Singapore Airlines, specially when we had the bad luck of leaving the holding pattern at BNE when being #1 in priority to land, diverting to OOl for the 2nd time for fuel. BNE opened minutes later, but we were already 'back in the queue' at OOL waiting for a gate and fuel.
Also, credit to the Immigration and Customs staff at BNE. When we came through around 2:30 am they were doing their best to be efficient and courteous.
It can't be easy trying to get the 'best fit' outcome that causes the least inconvenience to passengers, crew and the airline itself (it can't be cheap diverting to OOL twice and taking on more fuel each time - I am sure the flight deck weren't having fun talking to BNE, HO in Singapore, and juggling alternative options). The crew remained friendly and helpful, even when they ran out of peanuts/snacks/melting ice cream to feed the frustrated masses. I'm very glad it was a good weather night, or we probably would have ended up in Sydney, I guess.Not being at the airport, nor knowing details of the airport operations, I won't comment on that - just all credit to Singapore Airlines, specially when we had the bad luck of leaving the holding pattern at BNE when being #1 in priority to land, diverting to OOl for the 2nd time for fuel. BNE opened minutes later, but we were already 'back in the queue' at OOL waiting for a gate and fuel.
Also, credit to the Immigration and Customs staff at BNE. When we came through around 2:30 am they were doing their best to be efficient and courteous.
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From what I overheard on the night SQ245 turned up to Bne the 1st time with only 10 min holding when it was notamed for 30 min! After being told they couldn't jump the queue unless they declared a fuel emergency they decided to divert to Cooly, by the sounds Syd was not in the equation.
So basically they could have avoided the **** fight that entailed if they had the mandated holding fuel in the first place.
As a side note the TOD must have been getting up there!
So basically they could have avoided the **** fight that entailed if they had the mandated holding fuel in the first place.
As a side note the TOD must have been getting up there!
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We arrived at BNE with much more than 10 min holding fuel. Our scheduled ETA was 19:30 and we weren't far off that time, but the captain announced that there wasn't a gate allocated/ready so we went into hold for what then developed into a long time - I didn't keep note of the time, but it seemed like 60 to 90 minutes. At one time the captain came back on and announced that there were major delays at BNE and we had been/were way back in a queue (some people said they heard a queue of 18 planes!). This was well before the on-airport incident had started. From news reports the incident started around 21:30, and I guess that when the incident happened we diverted to OOL for the first time - probably getting there around 22:00. At that stage we had been tooling around for probably 120 to 150 minutes. If BNE wasn't suffering delays in the first place we (SQ245) would have been on the ground about 90 minutes before the incident unfolded.
Before we even became aware of anything happening on the ground, at about 20:30 or 21:00, I speculated to my wife that there might be something going on at BNE (more than just not having a gate for us) seeing as we were holding so long. It was shortly after this that the captain said we had been in a queue of 18? planes.
Before we even became aware of anything happening on the ground, at about 20:30 or 21:00, I speculated to my wife that there might be something going on at BNE (more than just not having a gate for us) seeing as we were holding so long. It was shortly after this that the captain said we had been in a queue of 18? planes.
they could have avoided the **** fight that entailed if they had the mandated holding fuel in the first place
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That may well be true Chimbu, but if you don't have the recommended holding fuel you won't be brought forward in the sequence unless you declare an emergency.
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I'm calling BS on the discussion that SQ 245 did nit gave sufficient 'hold' fuel. Specifically, I'm interested to know what we were flying around on from 19:30 until the first diversion to OOL at approx 21:30 if it wasn't 2 hours of holding fuel 
. (I'm more definite about the times now after checking with my wife, who was apparently mire particular about checking her watch than I was in checking the time).
. (I'm more definite about the times now after checking with my wife, who was apparently mire particular about checking her watch than I was in checking the time).
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david1300
You are a little off on the times. From what I heard general delays that night were about 30 minutes when you first arrived.
You departed OOL for BN about 15 minutes before the security incident and the airport was shut down... and were only about 5 minutes from landing when they pulled the pin.
Here are your two flights.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? WSSS / SIN - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? YBCG / OOL - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Really unfortunate timing for you guys, but you might notice you didn't hold into brissy at all on your initial flight, just diverted. The 2nd flight you may have gotten a bit dizzy.
You are a little off on the times. From what I heard general delays that night were about 30 minutes when you first arrived.
You departed OOL for BN about 15 minutes before the security incident and the airport was shut down... and were only about 5 minutes from landing when they pulled the pin.
Here are your two flights.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? WSSS / SIN - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? YBCG / OOL - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Really unfortunate timing for you guys, but you might notice you didn't hold into brissy at all on your initial flight, just diverted. The 2nd flight you may have gotten a bit dizzy.
Our scheduled ETA was 19:30 and we weren't far off that time, but the captain announced that there wasn't a gate allocated/ready so we went into hold for what then developed into a long time - I didn't keep note of the time, but it seemed like 60 to 90 minutes.
you didn't hold into brissy at all on your initial flight, just diverted.
I find it hard to believe both David and his wife could confuse no holding with 60-90 minutes of holding.
Which is it?
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Well one of the two is incorrect.
I find it hard to believe both David and his wife could confuse no holding with 60-90 minutes of holding.
Which is it?
I find it hard to believe both David and his wife could confuse no holding with 60-90 minutes of holding.
Which is it?
I would suggest that I am correct.
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david1300
You are a little off on the times. From what I heard general delays that night were about 30 minutes when you first arrived.
You departed OOL for BN about 15 minutes before the security incident and the airport was shut down... and were only about 5 minutes from landing when they pulled the pin.
Here are your two flights.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? WSSS / SIN - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? YBCG / OOL - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Really unfortunate timing for you guys, but you might notice you didn't hold into brissy at all on your initial flight, just diverted. The 2nd flight you may have gotten a bit dizzy.
You are a little off on the times. From what I heard general delays that night were about 30 minutes when you first arrived.
You departed OOL for BN about 15 minutes before the security incident and the airport was shut down... and were only about 5 minutes from landing when they pulled the pin.
Here are your two flights.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? WSSS / SIN - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Singapore Airlines (SQ) #245 ? 08-Jul-2014 ? YBCG / OOL - YBBN / BNE ? FlightAware
Really unfortunate timing for you guys, but you might notice you didn't hold into brissy at all on your initial flight, just diverted. The 2nd flight you may have gotten a bit dizzy.
I don't wear a watch, but my wife is really punctilious about setting her watch to our destination time and watching the time (see what I did there 
)I see that our planned distance on our original flight was 5,897 km and actually flown was 6,696 km - extra 799 km (13.5%) (Direct: 6,150 km Planned: 5,897 km Flown: 6,696 km) an extra 430 nm actually flown - that would have taken us to Sydney if required (approx 400 nm BNE to SYD)
On our first flight from OOL to BNE we traveled a further 857 km - should I put in a claim for extra Kris Flyer miles, I wonder
When you live....
On our first flight from OOL to BNE we traveled a further 857 km - should I put in a claim for extra Kris Flyer miles, I wonder
Just shows you that in an A330 OOL-BNE having heaps of fuel wouldn't have gone astray......I'd say 30 tonnes to start ( obviously considering MLW at BNE and RTOW at OOL) That should give you heaps of holding. Nothing more embarrassing than having to divert for the second time when you could have easily loaded the gas. Cause when things turn pear shaped........
I guess 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing now though...
I guess 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing now though...
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I worked SIA that night and gave him the hold instruction. He had a hold of 23 mins. He advised he had only 10 mins holding fuel and could we bring him up in the order. We advised this could only be done if he declared a fuel emergency. This option was declined and he chose to divert to CG. Was airborne about 90 mins later and on final when the airport closed. Held as long as he could, diverted back to CG and was on a 5 mile final when BN reopened.
