Missed approach SYD Mon 22nd June

[pblackm]

This morning I was on QF108 - JFK/LAX/SYD. Coming into SYD, Air Traffic Control had delayed the slot a few minutes due to heavy traffic. After a bit of naffing around for 20 minutes or so, we were on final approach and I'm guessing somewhere around 1500-2000 feet, when the plane was put into a steep climb under full power. I was in 12J, and everyone in the cabin started to look at each other. This was the steepest climb that I can remember. After a couple of minutes the pilot announced that as a tug had broken down on the main runway and there had been one plane in front of us, he had initiated a missed approach. Not sure why a tug was on the runway. Always nice to land back in Oz after a big trip, but this was a bit too exciting.

 

[pblackm]

BTW - he said that both planes had to do the go round.

 

[NM]

Was the tug maintained off-shore?

 

[Evan]

Was the tug maintained off-shore?

:shock:

 

[Nigelinoz]

Was the tug maintained off-shore?

More importantly was it an Airbus tug? and does it have Qantas painted on the side..
Probably a computer glitch.

 

[pblackm]

More importantly was it an Airbus tug? and does it have Qantas painted on the side..
Probably a computer glitch.

Could not have been a Qantas tug otherwise it would be all over the news!

 

[NYCguy]

More importantly was it an Airbus tug? and does it have Qantas painted on the side..
Probably a computer glitch.

Tugs don't have pitot tubes, do they?

It's always impressive when a large aircraft goes around, because even some seasoned FFs haven't encountered many.

My record so far is three missed approaches on a very windy winter afternoon at NRT. And attempt number four was perhaps a little... How should I put this... Marginal?

Anyhoo, the aircraft was a Boeing, and not operated by Qantas, so it would have been perfectly safe in any weather conditions, at any airport in the world.

 

[FlyboyAl]

I think we need to check the ACARS data from the tug before we make any assumptions:mrgreen:

I had the joy of a go round in Alice Springs about 15 years ago. We were in a QF 737 which was forced to make an emergency go round as a light aircraft had landed in front of us, but had failed to move onto a taxiway and get out of the way.

The captain explained what had happened to everyone once we were up and going around again.

The captain was also the first off the aircraft after we landed, and when I asked one of the FA's where he was going, she said he was going to have a "discussion" with the pilot of the light aircraft!!!!!!!

We also had a "moment" landing in Las Vegas last year when we powered up and around again due to very strong cross winds. I'd also describe the 2nd landing as somewhat marginal in that we bounced from one wheel to the other when we were down, and it was a VERY heavy landing.

The funny thing was that a mate who had arrived earlier was sitting in his spa in his hotel room and watched the whole thing. he didn't know we were in the plane until later that night at drinks!

 

[DTM1]

And attempt number four was perhaps a little... How should I put this... Marginal?

reminds me of a fairly rough landing last year on a flight from PHE to PER.

Landing was really hard - I was sure we were going to burst a tire when we stopped bouncing down the runway, but the best part was the flight announcement as we approached the gate, when the CSM announded that passengers should be careful when opening overhead lockers, as "there is no doubt that their luggage will have moved after that landing".

Hilarious in the cabin, but not sure the pilot didn't have something nasty to say afterwards....

 

[oz_mark]

FWIW, QF94 had a missed approach into MEL this morning due to changing wind conditions.

 

[djfuzz]

Damn - I landed at both SYD and MEL last night.

Don't know whether to be grateful or envious!

 

[Batesy]

I have been on two go-arounds, one on a DJ 737 many years ago at MEL, not that exciting.

Big one was on a QF 747-300 at PER a few years back, very low probably less than 1000 feet, went back up again, big noisy old engines went screaming loudly, many worried expressions on that plane. Captain explained what was going on not long after and we tried again sucessfully, but with a few bumps.

 

[munitalP]

Yep - 2 go arounds for me...

2002- LHR/SIN/MEL- 2 shots at the runway (fog) then parked at ADL for about 8 hours!

2007- MEL/SIN/FRA - flaps didn't extend fully, got down next attempt

I saw a good one a few years back - real windy day, Mrs!at the window (767) waiting to cross runway 1 (SYD) at the second from the runway end, a 747 coming in quite low and a small commuter (from memory REX) pulled onto the runway - up up and away went the 747!

Mr!

:shock:

 

[Chicken or Beef]

Ah, it reminds me about the time . . . . Yes these things happen!

The plane in front was QF128!

Funnily enough the tug was an Airbus A377, so NOT AT ALL all 'related' to the AF incident, that was an A330.

 

[pblackm]

Ah, it reminds me about the time . . . . Yes these things happen!

The plane in front was QF128!

Funnily enough the tug was an Airbus A377, so NOT AT ALL all 'related' to the AF incident, that was an A330.

Were you on QF128? Did you have the chicken or beef?

 

[Walter Plinge]

I've only had one go round, in Adelaide a few years ago in blustery conditions. The pilot made sure the second time -- he put it down so hard the oxygen masks deployed.

 

[dmasnick84]

This morning I was on QF108 - JFK/LAX/SYD. Coming into SYD, Air Traffic Control had delayed the slot a few minutes due to heavy traffic. After a bit of naffing around for 20 minutes or so, we were on final approach and I'm guessing somewhere around 1500-2000 feet, when the plane was put into a steep climb under full power. I was in 12J, and everyone in the cabin started to look at each other. This was the steepest climb that I can remember. After a couple of minutes the pilot announced that as a tug had broken down on the main runway and there had been one plane in front of us, he had initiated a missed approach. Not sure why a tug was on the runway. Always nice to land back in Oz after a big trip, but this was a bit too exciting.

Bloody hell, that'd be an absolutely nerve-racking re-introduction to our soil. Glad you pulled through! I've never had a bad flying experience, touch wood..

 

[Evan]

<..>
Hilarious in the cabin, but not sure the pilot didn't have something nasty to say afterwards....

OT but do pilots hear cabin announcements normally ? (I assume they could patch in but would they normally listen to them ?)

 

[harvyk]

Most interesting one I have been in was coming in to WEL, we left AKL about an hour late (the original plane had a mechanical fault so they swapped planes) and the pilot wanted to make up missed time. We came in hard and fast, the pilot then changed his mind and went missed. Needless to say I'd never felt G forces like that in a plane before (and this included after the go around had happened as the pilot was lining up for a second go).

It was annoying as I missed my connecting flight to CHC. Also Evan, I'd imaging that they could listen to cabin announcements if they wanted to, but they have more important things to think about such as flying the plane and listening to ATC, that cabin announcements would not be high on their list of things to tune into.

 

[Dee Thom]

I have only had one missed approach, at MCY on an East West F-28 in the late 80's. Comming in from the north over Marcoola Surf Club on finals, a Piper from one of the flying schools decided to taxi onto the main runnway without control tower permission. Our captain, probably an ex Korean war meteor pilot, put on a real show of two engine power to get us up above the strip, and out over the Pacific Ocean for a go around. It took Mrs Dee Thom a week to wash out the stains in my jeans.
Cheers Dee