QF10 Interesting routing tonight
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d090bf1ea6.png
Long way home tonight.

ZNB was struck by lightning enroute MEL-DRW on Sunday.

So scared to go direct tonight ? Or checking out the GAFA ?

YBAS not a good enough diversion aerodrome?

Non-ETOPS (or whatever it's called these days) with Alice unavailable? We did some convoluted tracks like this on the 767 from Japan to Cairns when Port Moresby wasn't available and only 120 mins ETOPS. Mind you there was no ADSB 'watching' either so a few corners might have been straightened out…..avoiding weather of course.:)

FL260 via a scenic route would suggest a fuel burning exercise.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6cf74ab460.png
A330 PER-BNE non-EDTO route with YBAS closed. Approx 6.5 hrs😣

Why is everyone flying around non-EDTO?

Aircraft was filled with fuel for London but had to go to Melbourne for maintenance after lightning strike. So yes it was purely a fuel burning exercise.

Thanks for that - was the lightning strike before or after it got to Darwin ?
I would presume before - so why fill it up ?

if struck enroute to Darwin why the need for the unusual routing back to Melbourne? Did they land at Darwin and fuel up for London before realising the aircraft would be required to return to Melbourne?

I’m no expert but wouldn’t it have been prudent to assume the worst and not put on London fuel in Darwin I assume until they knew that would be the destination?

Can the aircraft defuel? Is Darwin setup for Defuel ?

The B787 can be defuelled; however, fuel that is removed from an aircraft must be stored in a separate tanker. It cannot be mixed with other fuel to reduce the risk of contamination that might affect other aircraft. They would not have been able to defuel the aircraft unless they had an empty tanker or two on hand. Many years ago, I had to defuel a B777 after a refuelling error at a Middle Eastern airport. It took the engineers several hours to find a single empty tanker.

Just pump it straight into another aircraft.
I am sure plenty of local operators would have welcomed some free fuel.

Probably went on a kangaroo sight seeing tour knowing you Aussies :O

The only sight seeing we do with roos is through a telescopic one, a gun sight.

run that one past legal….
And that’s a lot of 44’s.

Haha amen brother!

Weather radar inop and it routed around areas with thunderstorm predictions?

As mentioned in an earlier post…….