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Chile Volcano Plume and NZ Airspace
TV3 is reporting that the ash plume from the Chilean volcano may affect NZ Airspace.
No real details other than that ''The Civil Aviation Authority says ash from the volcano, which began erupting on June 4, is expected to arrive in New Zealand airspace as early as Saturday evening.'' Anyone got anything further on this? Ash cloud may affect New Zealand flights - Story - National - 3 News |
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NEW ZEALAND (NZZC):
NZZC SIGMET 3 VALID 110613/111213 NZKL- NZZC NEW ZEALAND FIR VA ERUPTION MT CORDON CAULLE PSN S4031 W07212 VA CLD OBS AT 0600Z FL200/350 S4430 E16700 - S4600 E17100 - S4815 E16815 - S4600 E16515 MOV ENE 30KT FCST 1200Z VA CLD APRX S4145 E17130 - S4330 E17415 - S4815 E16815 - S4600 E16515= It will affect flights if the lower level drops to FL100 as some flights across the South Island will have to be rerouted or canned. Current forecast for 1200Z is as follows between FL200 - FL350 Great Circle Mapper |
Apparently bee affecting flight over the grea Australian bight today..
Could only assume will affect Hobart in the next day or so, the probably NZ next.... |
Was due to fly on QF46 tomorrow CHC-SYD but got an SMS 30 mins ago saying the flight has been cancelled due volcanic ash. QF calling me back in next hour or so to advise the next step:*
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ash cloud
Nothing from CASA, how can that be?
From CAA (NZ). Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand 11 June 2011 MEDIA RELEASE For further information contact Manager Communications: Bill Sommer Tel: 04 560 9411 or 027 546 8216 Begins Ash Cloud from Chilean volcano entering New Zealand Airspace Volcanic ash from the CordónCaulle volcano in southern Chile is expected to enter New Zealand airspace over the weekend. The CordónCaulle eruption began on 4 June 2011 with the initial ash plume reaching above 50,000ft. Volcanic ash particles come in a range of sizes and while the biggest will fall to the ground quickly, very small particles take a long time to settle out of the atmosphere. This eruption ejected these small particles very high into the atmosphere, where strong winds have carried them great distances to the east. There is potential for ongoing ash plumes to arrive over southern parts of New Zealand as early as Saturday evening, spreading northwards through the remainder of the weekend. The plumes are expected to be at cruising levels for both jet and turboprop aircraft (20,000 – 35,000 ft), but at the moment not below 20,000ft. Given that the volcanic activity is continuing, it is expected that New Zealand airspace may be affected by these plumes for at least a week. New Zealand has a mature Volcanic Ash Advisory System (http://www.caa.govt.nz/Meteorology/Volcanic_Ash_Advisory_System.htm) with inputs from MetService, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, the Airways Corporation, and aircraft operators that ensures that civil aviation aircraft operations can be safely carried out near volcanic ash. The CAA is also communicating with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), to ensure both countries have the latest information available. MetService, on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, operates the Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) as part of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s International Airways Volcano Watch system. MetService will track the volcanic ash plumes and provide warnings to the aviation community here and over the wider VAAC area (roughly Equator to the Pole and mid-Tasman to just west of South America). At this stage the forecast trajectory of the volcanic ash plumes may initially have an effect on air traffic routes over the South Island, the Christchurch to Australia routes, and the great circle routes between Australia and New Zealand and South America. The situation is being closely monitored and other air traffic routes may be affected as volcanic ash forecasts are updated. Based upon information provided by MetService, airlines will adjust their flight routes and altitudes to remain clear of the ash clouds. Safety of the air operations is the primary goal, and flight disruptions will be minimised as much as possible consistent with this objective. Ends |
Qantas or Jetconnect CXing flights?.......sorry had to put that in
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Well Jetstar is now also canceling all services into and out of CHC and Queenstown. Air New Zealand is planning on flying a full program including flights across the tasman from CHC. So it would seem someone is either over reacting or others are under reacting.
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Yes
If SIGMET is from FL 200 - FL 350 what is the problem with operating below FL 200?? Does the Qantas group have more information than say the Air NZ group does?? |
craka,
Thats exactly what I was getting at, I can understand that a trans tasman flight might not be viable due to the massive rerouting required. What I can't understand is why Jetstar wouldn't just fly all the domestic services below FL200. The only reason that I can see is that this has come from Qantas who has instructed Jetstar to not fly due to the risk. |
Don't have a chart in front of me, but isn't FL180 outside controlled airspace?
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in short no.... There is a portion near Mt Cook that is, but would be very easy to operate in NZL airspace below FL200 and be controlled especially between CHC and AKL - may be a bit congested, but that is better than all those cancellations.
It is almost as if Jet* are finding an excuse to cancel flights citing safety reasons - what are those safety reasons if they can "safely" operate below FL200 IAW the SIGMET - doesn't really stack up. Is it cheaper to cancel due to act of god than it is to operate at a lower altitude. |
Just heard Mel airport may close this evening due ash cloud!:ooh:
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Melbourne from 6pm
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All QF Tasmania flights including QFLink are canned for today and tomorrow.
It would appear JQ have done the same. DJ has been stating in news bulletins that they will keep operating but at lower altitude. I must go now. Need to lower the TV antenna and bring in the washing.:} Should be an interesting sunset tonight. The plume is due overhead DPO at 1600 local. Best all EWL |
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This is not an excuse for Jetstar to cancel flights!!! :ugh:
We have had staff communications today since the cancellations that state it is Qantas policy that flights can't operate 'under' forecast ash cloud which has led to the cancellations for both Qantas and Jetstar. It is an interesting situation as obviously the most safe option is to have aircraft on the ground and not risk a ash cloud encounter. Having said that though, I also wouldn't say that operating at lower altitudes is necessarily unsafe. I guess it comes down to a 'gut call'. What is positive is that at the moment the regulators are leaving it up to the airlines themselves to decide unlike in Europe where there was just a blanket ban. Does this mean that Qantas and Jetstar have put 'safety ahead of profit, whereas Air NZ and Virgin have put profit ahead of safety. I know Ryanair copped alot of flak in the UK when they said they would be willing to fly under the ash cloud with lot's of people stating that they obviously were more interested in profit!! |
Any chance this may actually affect MEL? I want to get home tomorrow morning!
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Apparently Virgin may now cancel NZ flights..
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This is not an excuse for Jetstar to cancel flights!!! :ugh: We have had staff communications today since the cancellations that state it is Qantas policy that flights can't operate 'under' forecast ash cloud which has led to the cancellations for both Qantas and Jetstar. It is an interesting situation as obviously the most safe option is to have aircraft on the ground and not risk a ash cloud encounter. Having said that though, I also wouldn't say that operating at lower altitudes is necessarily unsafe. I guess it comes down to a 'gut call'. Yes lets dispense with all manuals and SOP's and operate on "Gut call". Operations: Sorry due to policy we cannot operate under an ash cloud Pilot: No worries mate! Its a gut call, I will blast off and operate low level at night over LSALT's above 10,000ft, I know best, she'll be right mate.... Day VMC may be a suitable day to operate under an volcanic ash plume as was the case today. In IMC or at night it may not be best to trust a prediction of how low the ash cloud particles actually are. Not a nice feeling to get erroneous engine indications and all the other tell tale signs at FL180 at night over the South Island because the prediction was wrong or had changed since the last update. From my information the affected area changes significantly with each 6 hourly update. Good luck with the "gut call". |
What limitedrisk said!
Just heard that Qantas and Jetstar have cancelled EVERYTHING in and out of Melbourne from 6pm today, true?? |
Just heard that Qantas and Jetstar have cancelled EVERYTHING in and out of Melbourne from 6pm today, true?? Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle in Chile, will cause significant flight disruptions on Sunday 12 June 2011. The Australian Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) has advised airspace in Tasmania, Melbourne and New Zealand has been impacted. The following Qantas and Qantas Link services will be affected on Sunday 12 June: Cancelled Flights
http"//www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/flight-status/global/en |
Limited Risk,
What I am saying is there is obviously a difference of opinion here. Air NZ has deemed it safe to operate whereas Qantas has deemed it unsafe to operate, who is right?? I don't really care either way, I am just wondering who has made the policy for both airlines, what was this based on, at some stage it must have been a 'judgement call' as to whether you fly or don't fly. Sorry if the term 'gut call' has offended you but ultimately it does come down to a judgement as shown by the fact that some airlines are flying and some are not. I personally am with you, I would refuse to fly at night, as I don't trust forecasts and predictions that much, but as I type I can still hear Air NZ aircraft operating from the local airport and it is dark, so other Captains must be happy to trust those predictions. Thankfully Qantas took the decision out of my hands. |
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Is the airport closing? Or is that just a QF decision?
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Sandilands reports Tiger has grounded entire operation for the night and that the Qantas decision came from the invisibility of the ash on jet radars making night times flights too risky.
Qantas Melbourne flights cancelled from 6 pm because of ash | Plane Talking |
The risk the airlines have to weigh up is the post encounter maintenance costs; it's not so much about avoiding multiple engine failures like the BA 747 over Indonesia – they were in high density cloud for quite some time.
One post ash encounter schedule I've seen includes: changing engine oil completely, a boroscope of the engines, pitot system tests and many more items within 50 hours. As the cloud density increases from low to medium, there is a lot more to be done – and sooner. It grounds the aircraft for a while and the log-book entry will be used by a future buyer to push the price down. |
2011
Our creator is in a bad mood this year: floods, earthquakes, eruptions. What's next?
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Maybe it's an early rehearsal for December 23rd next year, Hat! :E
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Remember also that the Air NZ group is the only airline in NZ with extensive experience operating around volcanic ash clouds in NZ airspace....although this is admittedly a different case, with a different type of cloud, there were several large eruptions of Mt Ruapehu in the central North Island during the late 90s. From memory, very few flights were cancelled.
Whatever the airline, I'm sure the PiC retains the final call...afterall, the pilots don't want to risk their lives either! |
According to local TV news Virgin has been operating to/from Launceston and Hobart at lower levels presumably until Melbourne closed.
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I see EK has not cancelled any flights in/out MEL:confused:
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Qantas saying its too dangerous to operate flights into Melbourne but jetstar showing Melbourne inbound flights on schedule... How can that be? Do JQ aircraft have volcanic ash radar that QF do not have, or is it that JQ flightcrew are better trained and more experienced and can therefore negotiate the hazard?
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AH,
Understand completely, I'm with you, wouldn't be going after dark. Basically the plume is over the West to East coast and soon to extend up to the far north if the predictions are accurate. Therefore there is no lateral deviation available such as there may be up in Indonesia with a localised erruption for example. So the only option is to fly under it. And how do you guarantee avoiding it based on a prediction that has not been entirely accurate throughout the last 24hrs, after dark or in IMC? Looks like Air NZ is still operating with their amended flightplan tracking after dark...... |
There really is something about Olivia Wirth that is just so grating. She's a terrible spokesperson - even for something as cut and dry as a volcanic ash issue... She always sounds like she's on the defensive - wonder why? :)
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QF26 Los Angeles to Auckland, scheduled to depart at 1140pm local Saturday 11 June 2011 - now rescheduled to depart at 8.00am local on Sunday 12 June 2011. QF26 re scheduled for an 0810 dep ex LAX Nothing to do with ash cloud |
Just wondering if we could all chip in & buy Olivia a hairbrush.....
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Is Rex operating out of YMML today?
What about RFDS out of Essendon? |
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