AFF Gathering #15 in NTL on 21 – 23 October 2022

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Newcastle has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2022 (postponed from 2021), occurring over the weekend of the 21st to 23rd October. The average temperature range for October is 14.1ºC – 22.1ºC. The average rainfall is 72.5mm with 11 rainy days. It is NSW's second most populated area and Australia's seventh most populous, representing 1.95% of Australia.

The weekend is likely to take in a wine tour, owing to the proximity of the Hunter Valley. Please make it known if you are interested in attending a wine tour when indicating your interest for the weekend, as this will help organisers make a good start on venues that can cater to our group size.

The lead organiser this year is a member that has turned up to many previous events, @Bindibuys.

Members that have offered help include: @support @Bindibuys @Princess Fiona

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Activities​

Friday 21st October​

The dinner venue is The Landing Bar and Kitchen, located next to the Rydges on the water front. We will have the outdoor marquee all to ourselves, with the sides down for privacy. Menus are available online, and the exact kickoff time will be advised closer to the weekend.

Saturday 22nd October​

During the day will be a wine tour for those who have indicated interest/are booked for the tour and another tour – possibly dolphins – for those not attending the wine tour.

The dinner venue is The Cricketers Arms. There is a cash bar. The special guest is a local Newcastle breakfast DJ.

Sunday 23rd October​

A tour of the city will follow on the last day, ending at Fighter World, located conveniently next to the airport.

Click HERE to Register!!​

Tentative Attendees​

This list simply indicates an interest in attending the event and additionally, the wine tour. Members are in order of response to the thread and are not ranked from silver to platinum (least likely to most likely to attend).

Username	Arrival Details	Accommodation	Wine Tour	Fighter World	Departure Details
Bindibuys	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Bindibuys +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Hvr	21/10 QF1596	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
drron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Limousine
mrs.dr.ron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	23/10 Limousine
Doug_Westcott	21/10 VA1591	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1592
serfty	20/10 QF1598	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
zig	Friday only	Local	No	No
kpc	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
kpc +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
Mattg	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 FC208
samh004	21/10 QF2421	Novotel	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1946
FishFood	21/10 QF1948	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1599
Fifa	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
Fifa +1	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
straitman	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Sue Oz	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
straitman +1	Sat Dinner Only	N/A	No	No	TBA Limousine
kangarooflyer88	21/10 Train	Ibis Budget	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF
Eija	21/10 QF1596	TBA	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
QFWP	22/10 VA1102	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 VA1109
Bundy Bear	21/10 VA932 then Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 JQ455
Matt_01	21/10 QF1948	TBA	Yes	Interested	23/10 QF1949
Jacques Vert	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Gem56	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Sprucegoose	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Exceladdict	Friday only
Aeolus	Friday TBA	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Sunday TBA
sharpinjr	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
sharpinjr + 1	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
admin	21 Oct VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23 Oct VA1594
Princess Fiona	Limousine	Local	No	No	Limousine
CMA222			Yes	No
CMA222 +1			Yes	No
CaptJCool			Yes	Yes
CBR_Flyer	Friday		No	Yes

 

[Hvr]

Am now on the plane so fingers crossed.

 

[justinbrett]

If anyone is still in NTL, just had word that Bonza just landed from MCY. Heading back at 1430. Flying as VH-UJT.

 

[Hvr]

Landed in MEL.

 

[serfty]

If anyone is still in NTL, just had word that Bonza just landed from MCY. Heading back at 1430. Flying as VH-UJT.

Yep,

Saw it there - presumably Famil/Training

 

[straitman]

If anyone is still in NTL, just had word that Bonza just landed from MCY. Heading back at 1430. Flying as VH-UJT.

You mean this one?

 

[serfty]

If anyone is still in NTL, just had word that Bonza just landed from MCY. Heading back at 1430. Flying as VH-UJT.

Just taxied to the West for Departure ...

These are flying around:

 

[justinbrett]

I just landed in NTL from BNE so missed Bonza.


As for the F-35s, dime a dozen down here for locals! Did hear some landing just as I left the terminal.

 

[Sprucegoose]

The 12:45pm flight is yesterdays 5:45pm aircraft that went u/s until it was 'fixed' approx. 10:30pm last night; too late for crew hours. It had initially been scheduled to operate 10:20am, but getting crew to accommodation so as to reset "hours" proved just as problematic as it was for PAX.

I was offered it as well, but was happy with the later flight as I needed to be on deck for work from this morning. My rescheduled flight is a 712 with the 12 J seats - these are being sold as economy. Score !

Serfty I can now rest knowing you will be on your way. I am not sure who in ops couldn’t count simple hours?

Clearly NTL isn’t a high priority for QF? I had one of my best flights in a while, from NTL today ….with VirgIn.

 

[QF WP]

I’ve just caught up with all the news from the delays. Here I thought I was going to be the one delayed or cancelled - yet my VA departed on time and very few bumps (only when turning onto final into BNE).

Grateful to hear @Hvr, @serfty and @FishFood got home eventually today.

I’ll post my photos soon.

@Patrizia, hoping all the travel planning is going well

 

[Aeolus]

Just caught up with the chats and noticed a few here were affected by the flight disruption. Glad to know the ones affected have arrived home safely. The @kpc limo was fantastic and we even detoured to Lake Macquarie Yacht Club for lunch . Flying back tomorrow, fingers crossed and hope my chariot will depart on time

 

[samh004]

I caught the bus back into town and went for a walk back to the QT for a few drinks and some delicious food, then by the time I managed to get back to the airport I was very surprised to bump into @Hvr, @serfty and @FishFood who as you now know, had been delayed. No such issue with my flight home, had an enjoyable flight back in 1A and even landed 10 minutes early.

 

[justinbrett]

Serfty I can now rest knowing you will be on your way. I am not sure who in ops couldn’t count simple hours?

Clearly NTL isn’t a high priority for QF? I had one of my best flights in a while, from NTL today ….with VirgIn.

It’s a NTL thing, for all airlines. It’s been neglected.

Until recently QF (QLK) didn’t fly jets into NTL and the MEL route had been dropped for years.

JQ dumped frequencies when it closed its base.

VA no longer flies its own aircraft on the BNE route.

Actually of the three, QF has grown the most since pre covid. It’s fantastic to have QF jets into NTL, and sometimes even J.

The airport as a whole though has had many setbacks, many failed routes. I think it’s just too close to SYD to grow much more than an East coast commuter airport.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I caught the bus back into town and went for a walk back to the QT for a few drinks and some delicious food, then by the time I managed to get back to the airport I was very surprised to bump into @Hvr, @serfty and @FishFood who as you now know, had been delayed. No such issue witI h my flight home, had an enjoyable flig,ht back in 1A and even landed 10 minutes early.

Sam you are clearly a savvy traveller well capable of negotiating the appalling and incompetent headwinds of others with ease and aplomb! A great asset in unsteady times.

Good luck with your new role.

Best,

Spruce

 

[jumpjam]

Thanks everyone for a great weekend. I enjoyed my first AFF catchup immensely and it was great to meet you all!

PS I have changed my handle to jumpjam from CBR-flyer as I have been using that elsewhere.

Thanks Ken

 

[AFF Editor]

Those of you who attended the Fighter World tour last Sunday will recognise my guest on today's AFF on Air podcast:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/affonair-49-years-coughpit/

 

[straitman]

Those of you who attended the Fighter World tour last Sunday will recognise my guest on today's AFF on Air podcast:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/affonair-49-years-coughpit/

He told me you were very gentle with him.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks everyone for a great weekend. I enjoyed my first AFF catchup immensely and it was great to meet you all!

PS I have changed my handle to jumpjam from CBR-flyer as I have been using that elsewhere.

Thanks Ken

It was great to meet you. See you at the next one ......

Cheers

D

 

[support]

For those interested: AFF Gathering #16 in LST on 13 – 15 October 2023

 

[AIRwin]

Where is the next gathering?

From NTL
Swap N with S and rearrange the remaining letters
To LST