PPRuNe Forums - What was happening at MEL last night?

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- - What was happening at MEL last night? (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/615430-what-happening-mel-last-night.html)

What was happening at MEL last night?

Early evening flight from ADL > MEL Weds.14th, DEP delayed for an hour, PA announcement "due flight restrictions in Melbourne".

Later, on board announcement from seat 1A "MEL ATC have imposed a 90 minute delay on all flights, and no-one I've spoken to can explain why ...".

If WX holding or something else, one would assume it would be apparent from forecast/TTF or NOTAM.

Code:

ymml 141230z 17006kt 9999 few014 bkn025 13/11 q1019 fm1230 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1230/1500 3000 dz bkn005 inter 1500/1530 6000 -shra bkn012

Code:

ymml 141200z 16007kt 9999 few014 sct025 13/11 q1019 fm1230 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1200/1500 3000 dz bkn005

Code:

ymml 141130z 16009kt 9999 few012 bkn029 14/11 q1019 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1130/1200 bkn015 tempo 1200/1430 3000 dz bkn005

Code:

ymml 141100z 17009kt 9999 few011 bkn013 14/12 q1019 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1100/1200 bkn015 tempo 1200/1400 3000 dz bkn005

Code:

ymml 141030z 17010kt 9999 few011 bkn016 14/12 q1019 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1030/1200 bkn015 tempo 1200/1300 3000 dz bkn005

Code:

ymml 141000z 17012kt 9999 few012 bkn016 bkn021 14/12 q1018 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 1000/1100 bkn015 tempo 1200/1300 3000 dz bkn005

Code:

ymml 140930z 16011kt 9999 few012 bkn016 bkn021 15/12 q1018 fm1200 20007kt 9999 -shra sct010 bkn015 tempo 0930/1100 bkn015 tempo 1200/1230 3000 dz bkn005

Code:

ymml 140900z 15012kt 9999 few012 bkn014 bkn026 15/11 q1017 fm0930 18008kt 9999 sct012 bkn020 tempo 0900/1200 bkn015

Code:

ymml 140830z 16010kt 9999 few012 bkn014tcu bkn025 15/12 q1017 fm0900 18008kt 9999 sct012 bkn020 tempo 0830/1130 bkn015

Flying past I assumed it was staffing issues

Or maybe it was rwy 09

If it was really 90 minutes imposed by ATC, I assumed it was a Eurocat thing and they had metered arrivals.

Chris: your copies of SPECIs are truncated apart from a couple but I see the TEMPO & BKN 005 so I gather it may have been wx related.

Odd then the comment no-one can explain why -

Same as what normally happens when you fly in and out of Melbourne. Its nothing new.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainMidnight (Post 10311511)

It was before the low cloud

No weather there below minima so why the big delays?
ATC “rules” in this country is so far behind the rest of the world it is amazing. :(

Rest of the country goes alright.

Quote:

Or maybe it was rwy 09

There’s a runway 09 in Melbourne???

WTF. That’ll be news to ATC.

09? Landed on it twice in my career. True story.
Prefer white knuckle 27 wet max weight with quartering tailwind.

So who is the most aggressive controller in Australia anyway?

MEL had FID issues last night, may have been a factor.

Found out from someone in a position to know.

In the morning, bad WX in MEL caused the usual knock-on effects to all throughout the day.

Combine this with 1) the onset of more WX from about 0600z 5pm (cloud down to 500ft at one point, mist & reduced vis), 2) the onset of the peak period with arrivals from everywhere all requiring ILS along with ongoing deps meant metering had to be applied.

Airlines were made aware & reasons, something that often doesn't get communicated down to those at the pointy end.

FWIW those met reports listed above start from 0830z (7:30pm local), by which time things had improved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markis10 (Post 10311615)

MEL had FID issues last night, may have been a factor.

What's FID?

Wasn’t there an ILS issue as well?

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderneathTheRadar (Post 10311638)

What's FID?

Flight Information Displays I believe - the system that displays all flight info in the airport; wouldn’t have thought it would affect ATC though