Some flts. arriving
 

I see by " Flt Radar " that quite a few flights are getting into Denpasar quite easily, mind you all are Asian Carriers.
I suppose the difference between Australian Airlines and the ones from Asia getting in is that it is only 2hrs from Jakarta to Denpasar where most of the flights are originating but a lot further from OZ.
Given the volatility and uncertainty of the Volcano the WX could change from OK to bad fairly quickly so being close would give Asian Airlines much better options and able to make changes rapidly.
It would be a much bigger problem to divert from Denpasar after a 5 hour flight and have to go elsewhere than the relatively shorter Asian sectors.
Chaos reigns again for stranded OZ tourists.

A1423/15 NOTAMN
Q) WAAF/QFALC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0845S11510E005
A) WADD B) 1507120230 C) 1507120800
E) AD CLSD DUE TO RAUNG MT ACTIVITY


All inbounds currently in the process of bugging out to Surabaya.

That sure confirms my statement that the WX/ Viz can change rapidly and the Airport closes quickly.
What a dilemma for the Australian Airlines.
Do they fly to Denpasar when the airport is open but could close at any time because there is still active Volcano activity or wait a while until it settles down ? Seems like the latter could take weeks.
I'm very glad I am not in Bali right now!!!

I'd rather be stuck in Bali with this balmy weather than stuck in Melbourne trying to get here....!

Air Asia departing even though airport closed. Will divert if need be when they get there :)

GA715 trying the same trick.

GA719 overhead DPS FL400 100 mins before notam expiry bugging out elsewhere. CGK perhaps? The Sheraton Bandara might get busy tonight.

AirAsia and Garuda got in. Looks like they are recommencing ops.

Qatar And Cathay 777s on finals now.

Will this stop them? http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDD65290.shtml

The Aussie airlines - no doubt. The rest - based on this weeks behaviour - nup.

BA,

If you look at the graphic and text it's been downgraded to orange which means watch, it is no longer at the warning level (red).

UTR,

Maybe other airlines have more experience in dealing with these events. Earlier in the week it was easy to get in and out without going near ash, it's easy to see during the day.

Will the Australian carriers fly if the colour code is orange and the plume being over the airport?

Virgin has already cancelled all services for the 13th so i guess not.

Escape from Bali
 

Arrived back in Melboune yesterday 12th. I went via Sydney on JQ38 and family direct on JQ36. Just very lucky! Thank you to JQ crew who I understand were also trapped for five days or so with 24 hour layover luggage.

Very stressful for those still stuck or planning to travel to Bali. Accurate infomation is scarce as is accommodations. I had travel insurance but was unsure how it could be activated or if it would continue past my expected return date. ( there was a very informative guy speaking on ABC news radio this morning about travel insurance.). Once your holiday is interrupted by an event (ash cloud) the policy kicks in, and continues until you leave with a warning to seek advice before spending large dollars on alternative travel/airlines.

If we had not got on a flight, I planned to travel by rail to Surabaya and fly out probably to KL ( Singapore flights very busy), and return to OZ.

Putting my 20 cents in as an airline pilot and knowing nothing about Jetstars operational or fuel policies, ( probably comes down to liability anyway).i would suggest they retime inbound flights to arrive at midday ( even if airport is NOTAMed closed or ash forecast). Carry island reserve fuel ( 2 hours), or ash free alternates. Over last few winters in the U.S. many airlines depart for JFK with the runways closed requiring clearing, expecting this will be done by actual arrival time. Doesn't always work but beats not trying.

Also Jetstar refund policy is cheap! Only allowing the same airports on a rebooked ticket when it is the airport which is the problem ? Come on !

Funny ol' world - when this started, JQ were more cautious, now it seems the opposite.

VA cancelled all of todays flights but JQ (their update being several hours later than they said it would) are operating daylight services with, for the first time, a sensible explanation of why they are making the decisions they are.

VA on the phone and website this morning with silly statements like 'the weather has deteriorated' starting to look silly when everyone here has the Ash advisories on their phones/ipads.

In terms of PR, VA had been streets ahead, JQ starting to catch at a rapid rate....

JETSTAR AND QANTAS WORK TOGETHER TO BRING AUSTRALIANS HOME - Qantas News Room

Brings a tear to the eye :}

Hmmm

All flights that departed today from mel were JQ

A 787 and a330 @ approx 8am, empty a330 and full 787.

Funny the a330 departed 5min earlier but the 787 passed it and left the a330 in its wake...

335pax off to a holiday for a week, or two... or... LOL

Yes but QF operated the JQ HNL flight today to free up the aircraft for DPS.

Also, 2 x QF 737s operated PER-DPS charters

Waiting this afternoon for my daughter to get her hair braided in a well known part of Bali, not far from the crew hotels and got talking to lady who owns the shop . She was saying the Virgin pilots where in earlier for a 4 hour massage . Sounds like a tough day at the office .

BS alarm going off here. The crew hotels are not even close to each other, a shop can not be close to both of them. And what's the big deal about getting a massage in Bali?

couldn't travel insurance companies/airlines charter turbo props to fly DPS/SUB & then have jets at SUB ?


Would surely save insurance companies lot of $$$.