JQ Diversion RAAF Tindal 17/12
 

A few friends in Katherine report a Jetstar flight (A320?) just landed at YPTN. I suspect due to WX in Darwin, but BOM radar is currently down. Hopefully nothing more sinister. Can anyone in the know shed some light?

"but BOM radar is currently down."

Can't shed any light on the aircraft but it seems the BOM Radar has been
down on and off for a while.

Does DRW not have two runways?

RWYs 18/36, 1524m x 30m, PCN only 18.

And there are those among us who deem it not necessary to carry an alternate for single runway ops......:ugh:

Say it again Banjo, we're singin' from the same hymn sheet! :ok:

Exactly how long does it take to move a "light aircraft" off a runway?

I'm with you Banjo! It's not necessary. :uhoh:

Guess that depends on how much damage was caused to the runway. Hopefully it hasn't damaged any of the new lights!

Light aircraft apparently had a "landing gear problem"... If my source is to be believed it may take a little while to move it.

As long as it takes.

And I've never known the aerodrome operator to bulldoze and aeroplane off the runway to allow another aeroplane to land. Nor have I ever heard ATC clear an aeroplane to land on the parallel taxiway. Nor have I ever heard ATC clear an aeroplane to land over the top of the disabled aircraft, or land in the opposite direction and stop short.

All suggestions that have been made to me over the years in vain attempt to encourage the carriage of minimum fuel. :rolleyes:

Claret, a devil's advocate might say that what ATC can and can't clear you for is different to what the PIC can and can't do :}

When atsb says they can move it

Agreed Lancer, and answering the devil, last time I recall a lightie blocking R29 at DRW, a QF Mainline, a JQ, and an "Aussie" troop carrier all diverted to Tindal. Obviously all 3 captains were pussies (just like me) and wouldn't take those steps.

They all also avoided explaining to the inevitable enquiry "why did you elect captain, to land on a taxiway"?

Wheels up in Darwin today?
 

Runway 29 closed this afternoon, anyone have any details?

Because "Chief Pilot" I carried flight plan fuel at the companies direction/preference and HAD NO CHOICE but to land on a straight bit of concrete ( taxyway ) or ditch in the water.......I chose the former...

Unfortunately a lot of companies push you to take the minimum for the conditions on the day. Single runway ops?? Nah not a worry because statistically it will be ok most of the time........and we'd rather save fuel now...... ( that's what they think, not me )

Luckily my outfit always carry an Alternate.

Ah yes, but they usually tie it in with a little gem in their ops manual stating that although it is not encouraged to take excessive amounts of fuel it is still the PIC's responsibility to ensure they take the right amount of fuel for any given scenario.

So you are damned if you do (by the company) and damned if you don't (by CASA, the company and no doubt a lot of upset passengers and their families).

I think I'd like to stick to the first option and be damned only by the comany for carrying "excessive" fuel which my ops manual allows for because at the end of the day it is deemed the PIC's fault if you don't.

While I was living in Darwin an RPT 737 landed on 36, (gear up blocking the main rwy), I don't know if it's the only time it has ever been done.

usually there would be a mad scramble to locate a crane with enough capacity to lift the disabled aircraft clear.
then there would be some pressured negotiations to get the crane to leave the site they were working on and make the trip out to the airport.
then there would be a mad scramble to locate sufficient lifting strops.

all easy really. no delay to anyone. :rolleyes: