Probable MEL delays due to runway works

[Melburnian1]

One of our most esteemed contributors has posted this important information today (fourth and fifth paragraphs below.) The comment about possible diversions is concerning. It may be best to travel on morning flights to minimise the chance of being adversely affected.

Anyone who lives in Victoria, or visits Melbourne, knows how variable our weather can be, arguably far more so than say Brisbane. While 'four seasons in one day' may be a slight exaggeration, the weather can 'turn' quite quickly. Sometimes even the BOM fails to predict such changes, although these days it is very good in predicting temperature.

I hope that contributors will tell us between what dates these works will occur:

Your arrival and departure tracking from Melbourne (for all airlines) will be very busy over the next few weeks. Runway works involving the replacement of the approach and touchdown zone lights on 16 are happening, and the touchdown threshold is being moved about 400 metres. So, no lights, ILS or PAPI.

Expect more delays and diversions if the winds are southerly, especially if there's any low cloud.

 

[Melburnian1]

Is there any more exact update as to dates and times?

 

[Boris spatsky]

Is there any more exact update as to dates and times?

The Melbourne Airport Method of Works Plan 2016-1 details the runway 16 HIAL replacement project. It states that the project will take 4 months to complete after commencement. It commenced about 3 weeks ago.

Expect delays and disruptions until late May. I have already been affected a few times in poor weather and i don't expect it to improve in the immediate future.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Boris spatsky. This will be handy to know for many travellers.

Am I correct to assume that any delays you (and your passengers) have suffered to date have been relatively minor, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes due to being placed on hold?

Some 'poor' (as in 'rainy') weather - though it is much needed and will be welcomed by urban gardeners and (rural) farmers provided it is not a flood - is forecast in the next couple of days. On Friday 18 March the Bureau forecasts morning thundery rain together with southwesterly winds for Melbourne.

If I am not mistaken the punctuality of flights into and out of MEL deteriorates in such conditions without runway works, so these works will be an added hindrance to getting passengers to their destination on time.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Thank you Boris spatsky. This will be handy to know for many travellers.

Am I correct to assume that any delays you (and your passengers) have suffered to date have been relatively minor, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes due to being placed on hold?

Some 'poor' (as in 'rainy') weather - though it is much needed and will be welcomed by urban gardeners and (rural) farmers provided it is not a flood - is forecast in the next couple of days. On Friday 18 March the Bureau forecasts morning thundery rain together with southwesterly winds for Melbourne.

If I am not mistaken the punctuality of flights into and out of MEL deteriorates in such conditions without runway works, so these works will be an added hindrance to getting passengers to their destination on time.

Melbourne gets delays on a normal day as soon as the weather gets bad (wind/cloud/fog, you name it). These conditions are just making it more noticeable. I have noticed that slot times into Melbourne are now more delayed (so you will be delayed at your departure point before even taking off by ATC) and airborne holding is a little more common now. I expect most domestic flights to be delayed by 10-15 mins either on the ground or in flight at peak times, but it is impossible to forecast. That doesn't necessarily mean that you will be late, however, depending in a number of variables like schedule, traffic density etc.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Boris spatsky: excellent summary.

We previously discussed it but it is worth a quick mention that some pushback times are now occasionally (and rather unpredictably) shown on airport websites as 'odd' times: by that I mean '2.01pm, 2.03pm' and so on which appears to be an attempt by ATC to sequence flights more accurately. The standout jurisdiction where this has been practised for many years is the good ol' USA.

From what I can see though some of this effort comes to nought because flights do not necessarily depart at the appointed time.

 

[Boris spatsky]

In Australia the random times are normally due to a departure slot given by ATC if you are going to a destination that is a major airport (SYD/BNE/MEL/PER etc). Note that they are pushback slot times, not takeoff.

Slots are given to the minute. I am not aware of how slots work domestically in the US.

 

[Melburnian1]

Recently when departing from MEL at 0930 hours on a weekday there were about 10 aircraft lined up (eight in one position, two in another) to take off with the time from pushback to being airborne half an hour, a fair bit longer than is sometimes achieved at MEL for international flights. 0930 is on the fringe of one of MEL's peak periods so one might normally expect to see fewer aircraft positioned for takeoff at such a time.

Coming back home, the captain of my flight announced that he would depart 10 minutes late and expected to be 15 minutes late arriving due to Melbourne ATC advice. However in the end we ran early due to a tailwind pushing us along.

 

[badseed]

I had a nice long landing on RW16 a few weeks back, returning from HBA on a QFLink 717. I'd forgotten about the displaced threshold and was almost wondering if we were going to go around, but then the old memory kicked in ;-) We still made the high-speed exit though, so nice work from the pilots!