Cunderdin ticks all the Perth Alternate boxes...
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Cunderdin ticks all the Perth Alternate boxes...
trying to keep up with everything...
$200m plan for backup WA airport
By Geoff Thomas, The West Australian, 4Feb17
A $200 million airport that could eventually become WA’s second international airport is being planned for Cunderdin in WA’s Wheatbelt.
The internationally rated airport will initially be a diversion airport for Perth.
It will cut airline fuel costs while attracting new airlines to the State because of the operational safety benefits it will offer.
WA-based Ascent Aviation’s plans to redevelop Cunderdin Airport with a 2600m runway with full international landing aids to meet diversion standards are well advanced.
The facility, expected to initially cost between $40 million and $60 million, will have the capacity for up to four A380-sized planes.
The cost benefits to airlines are significant because most international flights carry extra fuel in case they need to divert to Adelaide or Exmouth and beyond.
But some of those sites are up to three hours from Perth, whereas Cunderdin is a little more than 15 minutes away and it is not affected by the same weather that affects the coast.
One international airline told The Weekend West it would look at services to Perth once the airport was operational. Ascent Aviation’s founder and managing director Benjamin Reid said the first phase of the redevelopment was as an emergency alternative to Perth Airport, as outlined in the State Government’s State aviation review.
The second phase would be the development of a pilot training college, and the third phase the handling of cargo freighters.
Phases two and three would take the cost to $200 million.
The final phase could be as Perth’s second airport.
Cunderdin is 158km from Perth but is located on the Perth to Kalgoorlie rail link, thus a highspeed connection is possible.
“Airlines have to compensate for Perth’s isolation, and weather, by loading significant reserve fuel allowing the aircraft to carry on to the next suitable airport if they can’t land at Perth,” Mr Reid said.
“From the outset, we achieved superb in-principle support from major international airlines.
“We secured our foundation international airline customer and are in advanced discussions with the remainder of the key airlines.”
Mr Reid said the Shire of Cunderdin and the Wheatbelt Development Commission had been very supportive as had the WA Department of State Development.
By Geoff Thomas, The West Australian, 4Feb17
A $200 million airport that could eventually become WA’s second international airport is being planned for Cunderdin in WA’s Wheatbelt.
The internationally rated airport will initially be a diversion airport for Perth.
It will cut airline fuel costs while attracting new airlines to the State because of the operational safety benefits it will offer.
WA-based Ascent Aviation’s plans to redevelop Cunderdin Airport with a 2600m runway with full international landing aids to meet diversion standards are well advanced.
The facility, expected to initially cost between $40 million and $60 million, will have the capacity for up to four A380-sized planes.
The cost benefits to airlines are significant because most international flights carry extra fuel in case they need to divert to Adelaide or Exmouth and beyond.
But some of those sites are up to three hours from Perth, whereas Cunderdin is a little more than 15 minutes away and it is not affected by the same weather that affects the coast.
One international airline told The Weekend West it would look at services to Perth once the airport was operational. Ascent Aviation’s founder and managing director Benjamin Reid said the first phase of the redevelopment was as an emergency alternative to Perth Airport, as outlined in the State Government’s State aviation review.
The second phase would be the development of a pilot training college, and the third phase the handling of cargo freighters.
Phases two and three would take the cost to $200 million.
The final phase could be as Perth’s second airport.
Cunderdin is 158km from Perth but is located on the Perth to Kalgoorlie rail link, thus a highspeed connection is possible.
“Airlines have to compensate for Perth’s isolation, and weather, by loading significant reserve fuel allowing the aircraft to carry on to the next suitable airport if they can’t land at Perth,” Mr Reid said.
“From the outset, we achieved superb in-principle support from major international airlines.
“We secured our foundation international airline customer and are in advanced discussions with the remainder of the key airlines.”
Mr Reid said the Shire of Cunderdin and the Wheatbelt Development Commission had been very supportive as had the WA Department of State Development.
Cunderdin ticks the boxes as alternative airport
Comment by Geoffrey Thomas
Of all the proposals for new airports in WA, the redevelopment of Cunderdin airport ticks all the boxes.
If WA is to reach its full potential it must have a vibrant aviation sector with the necessary supporting infrastructure and Cunderdin is the missing piece.
Perth is the world’s second most isolated capital after Honolulu and arguably the most isolated, when a suitable alternative airport is taken into consideration. This poses major operational problems for airlines which are costly and disruptive and that makes Perth a less attractive destination.
One Emirates diversion from Perth to Adelaide cost $500,000.
Perth presents particular fuel planning challenges and the airport’s location at the foot of the Darling Range can lead to weather problems such as severe turbulence off the hills and dense fog.
In 2012, air traffic controllers were forced to suggest Virgin Blue pilots use Rottnest as an alternative because of severe turbulence at Perth.
Airlines have to compensate for Perth’s isolation, and the weather, by loading enough reserve fuel so the plane can carry on to the next suitable airport if it can’t land at Perth.
Kalgoorlie is not suitable for the bigger sized planes that make up the bulk of international flights so the typical options are Learmonth or Adelaide and in some cases, Melbourne or Sydney.
Its proximity to Perth is just one advantage of Cunderdin.
When international flights divert to Adelaide, the crews are over their flight-hour limits, causing huge delays and inconvenience.
The president and chief executive of Cunderdin Shire believe there would be major benefits from this project, such as more jobs with follow-on benefits to schools, colleges and businesses.
They believe the redevelopment would boost the region — in the initial stages there is the flying school, maintenance and freight opportunities — as a potential second airport for Perth in the longer term.
With an international key airline aboard, the developers Ascent Aviation are now moving to the final phase of the project, converting that in-principle support into customer contracts.
Cunderdin as a diversion airport is a win-win for airlines, as they can load more passengers or freight in place of the fuel saved, not to mention the environmental benefits of the reduced carbon emissions.
Comment by Geoffrey Thomas
Of all the proposals for new airports in WA, the redevelopment of Cunderdin airport ticks all the boxes.
If WA is to reach its full potential it must have a vibrant aviation sector with the necessary supporting infrastructure and Cunderdin is the missing piece.
Perth is the world’s second most isolated capital after Honolulu and arguably the most isolated, when a suitable alternative airport is taken into consideration. This poses major operational problems for airlines which are costly and disruptive and that makes Perth a less attractive destination.
One Emirates diversion from Perth to Adelaide cost $500,000.
Perth presents particular fuel planning challenges and the airport’s location at the foot of the Darling Range can lead to weather problems such as severe turbulence off the hills and dense fog.
In 2012, air traffic controllers were forced to suggest Virgin Blue pilots use Rottnest as an alternative because of severe turbulence at Perth.
Airlines have to compensate for Perth’s isolation, and the weather, by loading enough reserve fuel so the plane can carry on to the next suitable airport if it can’t land at Perth.
Kalgoorlie is not suitable for the bigger sized planes that make up the bulk of international flights so the typical options are Learmonth or Adelaide and in some cases, Melbourne or Sydney.
Its proximity to Perth is just one advantage of Cunderdin.
When international flights divert to Adelaide, the crews are over their flight-hour limits, causing huge delays and inconvenience.
The president and chief executive of Cunderdin Shire believe there would be major benefits from this project, such as more jobs with follow-on benefits to schools, colleges and businesses.
They believe the redevelopment would boost the region — in the initial stages there is the flying school, maintenance and freight opportunities — as a potential second airport for Perth in the longer term.
With an international key airline aboard, the developers Ascent Aviation are now moving to the final phase of the project, converting that in-principle support into customer contracts.
Cunderdin as a diversion airport is a win-win for airlines, as they can load more passengers or freight in place of the fuel saved, not to mention the environmental benefits of the reduced carbon emissions.
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Keep on dreaming. The "plan" is just like Ascent Aviations website, half-baked and only one-twentieth the way to completion. Who is going to go 150kms East of Perth to deliver freight, and how many people do they think will "catch a train to Perth". The current average pax load for the Prospector train is 32 pax, each trip!
How will this struggling rail network cope with hundreds of pax just off a couple of flights??
The 2-car Prospector train set can only carry 100 pax maximum, luggage is limited to 1 x 20kgs and 1 x 7kgs hand luggage, no bikes, and strict restrictions on any other freight or luggage.
There's not enough Prospector car sets available at present, to meet any major increase in demand without a huge investment in more and larger car sets.
Even the traincar storage at East Perth is incredibly restricted at present, with little room for expansion.
A "high speed" rail link would have to involve a totally new rail line, the current rail line was installed at huge cost in the late 1960's, and involved substantial numbers of deep cuttings through solid granite - and with many curves, a lot of which are incapable of high speed.
There are quite a number of speed-restricted curves on the line from Perth to Northam. It's not until the line straightens out and flattens out beyond Meckering and Cunderdin that speeds of 160kmh can be attained.
Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class railcars
If YPPH is fogged in, YCUN normally will be, too. In fact, I'll wager a tenner that YCUN gets more fog more often than YPPH.
I'm speaking from extensive experience of having lived and worked in Perth and the Wheatbelt for many decades, and having to put up with many pea-soup fogs on many mornings.
You can get some pretty turbulent weather in the W.A wheatbelt, too - and if it's turbulent in Perth, it will very likely be just as turbulent at YCUN.
The bottom line is, how many major diversions from YPPH have taken place over the last, say 2 decades - and how are the savings going to appear in the above plan.
This plan is classic "float a balloon and see now many go 'ooh-ahhh!'" stuff, just to see if the company can suck in a pile of loose investor monies, so directors can keep themselves in new Beemers and Mercs and plush offices in West Perth, with all the "ancillary benefits" of long boozy lunches in prime restaurants, along with substantial other "company perks".
Believe me, I've been around the mining and corporate scene in WA long enough to spot any amount of dodgy "blue sky" proposals that never flew (excuse the pun!).
How will this struggling rail network cope with hundreds of pax just off a couple of flights??
The 2-car Prospector train set can only carry 100 pax maximum, luggage is limited to 1 x 20kgs and 1 x 7kgs hand luggage, no bikes, and strict restrictions on any other freight or luggage.
There's not enough Prospector car sets available at present, to meet any major increase in demand without a huge investment in more and larger car sets.
Even the traincar storage at East Perth is incredibly restricted at present, with little room for expansion.
A "high speed" rail link would have to involve a totally new rail line, the current rail line was installed at huge cost in the late 1960's, and involved substantial numbers of deep cuttings through solid granite - and with many curves, a lot of which are incapable of high speed.
There are quite a number of speed-restricted curves on the line from Perth to Northam. It's not until the line straightens out and flattens out beyond Meckering and Cunderdin that speeds of 160kmh can be attained.
Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class railcars
If YPPH is fogged in, YCUN normally will be, too. In fact, I'll wager a tenner that YCUN gets more fog more often than YPPH.
I'm speaking from extensive experience of having lived and worked in Perth and the Wheatbelt for many decades, and having to put up with many pea-soup fogs on many mornings.
You can get some pretty turbulent weather in the W.A wheatbelt, too - and if it's turbulent in Perth, it will very likely be just as turbulent at YCUN.
The bottom line is, how many major diversions from YPPH have taken place over the last, say 2 decades - and how are the savings going to appear in the above plan.
This plan is classic "float a balloon and see now many go 'ooh-ahhh!'" stuff, just to see if the company can suck in a pile of loose investor monies, so directors can keep themselves in new Beemers and Mercs and plush offices in West Perth, with all the "ancillary benefits" of long boozy lunches in prime restaurants, along with substantial other "company perks".
Believe me, I've been around the mining and corporate scene in WA long enough to spot any amount of dodgy "blue sky" proposals that never flew (excuse the pun!).
Last edited by onetrack; 4th Feb 2017 at 09:03. Reason: addendum
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C'mon Maggot, CTAF "R"s are so... old!! Dick got rid of those when about 3/4 the way round on the/his 30 year roundabout.
I think this is a plot by the resident gliding club to get an upgraded clubhouse!
I think this is a plot by the resident gliding club to get an upgraded clubhouse!
Well.if the joint isnt going to really be used much otherwise whats the point in having a tower?
Ive been carrying kgi and lea on and off for 20 years now and neither have a tower. (Unless kal has been upgraded lately? Dont get that way much now)
With low vis capacity in per coming, with a judicious fuel order, cun should rarely be used.
Ive been carrying kgi and lea on and off for 20 years now and neither have a tower. (Unless kal has been upgraded lately? Dont get that way much now)
With low vis capacity in per coming, with a judicious fuel order, cun should rarely be used.
How is the gliding?
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What is YCUN used for at present ?
At full strength in 1941, YCUN was home to 34 officers, 500 airmen and 51 aircraft.
Later in WW2 it was used as heavy bomber base for forays into the NEI, mostly with Liberators. All military activities at YCUN ceased in 1947.
After 1947 it was utilised as a temporary camp for migrants (displaced persons) from Europe (around 1000 migrants). This went on until 1957 when WW2 refugee intake slowed to a trickle, and the camp was no longer required.
The Commonwealth Govt of Australia then started to dismantle and sell off the many useable buildings around the aerodrome.
In 1959 the Gliding Club of W.A. moved into the aerodrome and made it the Club HQ, and gliding is still undertaken there on a regular basis.
In 1992 the Commonwealth Govt transferred ownership of YCUN to the local Shire of Cunderdin. The township of Cunderdin is only 3kms away from the aerodrome.
Cunderdin Shire has had a steadily declining population since 1933, when the population peaked around 2700 people.
The Shire population currently stands at about 1000 people in the Cunderdin townsite and the balance of about 400 scattered around farms and surrounding smaller towns such as Meckering.
Cunderdin has a thriving business population, and a modest number of light manufacturing industry businesses, mostly centred around rural clients and products.
Cunderdin Shire Council - Cunderdin Airfield
Gliding Club of W.A. - Cunderdin
Cunderdin wartime use
Onetrack - Cunderdin was an all-over field until 1944, when the present runways/taxiways were built to accommodate 25 Squadron's B-24's.
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Nothing to do with Oz mates wanting to fly PER-LHR-PER with the sardine can nightmareliner ? ...come to think of it probably not as they dont file alternates like the rest of the industry.
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Nothing to do with Oz mates wanting to fly PER-LHR-PER
Cui bono...
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Quote from the article -
Any details on this one???
"In 2012, air traffic controllers were forced to suggest Virgin Blue pilots use Rottnest as an alternative because of severe turbulence at Perth."
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Any details on this one???
Mr Reid said the Shire of Cunderdin and the Wheatbelt Development Commission had been very supportive as had the WA Department of State Development.
In reality the money would be better spent on building a viable alternate in the Margaret River Region which would probably get more use as an airport rather than spending it on a place noone has ever heard of that's never going to see a jet otherwise.
https://thewest.com.au/news/busselto...-ng-b88325008z
If only we had a group of people running the place, you know, like a government or something. Instead of a group of sycophants who do what their friends in business want so that when they leave office they get a cushy job.
What about a cohesive PLAN that last more than one year. State government bullied by Q and PAPL into spending tax dollars to support their business plan.
WA Government appeals to private sector in search for new Perth airport sites - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Government plans second airport for Perth
Third runway, more terminals, on-site hotel and driverless train planned for Perth Airport | Perth Now
If only we had a group of people running the place, you know, like a government or something. Instead of a group of sycophants who do what their friends in business want so that when they leave office they get a cushy job.
What about a cohesive PLAN that last more than one year. State government bullied by Q and PAPL into spending tax dollars to support their business plan.
WA Government appeals to private sector in search for new Perth airport sites - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Government plans second airport for Perth
Third runway, more terminals, on-site hotel and driverless train planned for Perth Airport | Perth Now
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In reality the money would be better spent on building a viable alternate in the Margaret River Region which would probably get more use as an airport rather than spending it on a place noone has ever heard of that's never going to see a jet otherwise.