Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 16 January 2023, QF2 from SIN (and before that, LHR) arrived SYD at 0707 hours, 57 minutes tardy with A388 VH-OQD.

This morning (17) OQK arrived 36 late at 0646 hours. It is epxcted to depart on the 1120 hours SYD-LAX long haul (QF11) at the odd, specific time of 1243 hours - shortly.

Tonight in SIN, VH-OQG is expected to arrive SIN 45 late at 1815 hours as another QF2 from LHR.

A333 VH-QPH is on the Tuesday 17 QF87 (0935 hours SYD-ICN) that often runs on time, but today it took off at 1123 hours so a 1940 hours arrival (80 late) is the expectation.

QPG is on another normally reasonable runner, QF23 (1030 hours SYD-BKK) that today wasn't in the sky until 1223 hours. Arrival in the Thai capital should be about 1725 hours at its designated gate, so the return redeye QF24 can expect to be similarly late pushing back.

 

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-VZJ on the Tuesday 17 January 2023 QF1002 (1145 hours PER-HBA airborne at 1215 hours local time) is normally due at the Tasmanian capital's airport gate at 1835 hours but when it had reached Bass Strait a few nautical miles west of the former mining town of Zeehan (Tasmania), it diverted to Melbourne where it landed at about 1904 hours.

Does it have a person suffering serious medical problems on board? There are storms approaching MEL but at this stage only lightish rain on the way to Tasmania so it's unlikely to be weather-related.

This will badly delay QF1003 from Hobart Tas. back to Perth WA.

 

[tomlee1986]

B738 VH-VZJ on the Tuesday 17 January 2023 QF1002 (1145 hours PER-HBA airborne at 1215 hours local time) is normally due at the Tasmanian capital's airport gate at 1835 hours but when it had reached Bass Strait a few nautical miles west of the former mining town of Zeehan (Tasmania), it diverted to Melbourne where it landed at about 1904 hours.

Does it have a person suffering serious medical problems on board? There are storms approaching MEL but at this stage only lightish rain on the way to Tasmania so it's unlikely to be weather-related.

This will badly delay QF1003 from Hobart Tas. back to Perth WA.

Actually there is thunderstorms in the east of Melbourne at the moment as at 8pm… I assume it will impact the airport

 

[milehighclub]

Don't think it was medical, as the continuing flight has had an aircraft change.

 

[789nerd]

Wednesday ...

Tuesdays QF27 SYD-SCL (B789 VH-ZND) operated on about a 30 minute delay. The return QF28 from Santiago was also delayed about 25 minutes, however all sites show it arriving on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Media reports that QF144 (B738 VH-XZB, the 1330 hours AKL-SYD airborne at 1435) is due to land at 1531 AEDT (timetable at gate is 1510 hours) but has issued a mayday call as it's lost one of its two engines. Hopefully nothing to worry about (though concerning for passengers, especially if first-time flyers).

UPDATE: The flight landed at approximately 1527. The aircraft stopped on a taxiway, but by 1632 was moving again, although it didn't appear to be close to an international gate.

 

[tomlee1986]

Media reports that QF144 (B738 VH-XZB, the 1330 hours AKL-SYD airborne at 1435) is due to land at 1531 AEDT (timetable at gate is 1510 hours) but has issued a mayday call as it's lost one of its two engines. Hopefully nothing to worry about (though concerning for passengers, especially if first-time flyers).

UPDATE: The flight landed at approximately 1527. The aircraft stopped on a taxiway, but by 1632 was moving again, although it didn't appear to be close to an international gate.

Glad the passengers are safe - better to only have a scare... Of course no scares are better, but with the crew from Qantas, I have faith they are in safe hands

 

[Melburnian1]

Glad the passengers are safe - better to only have a scare... Of course no scares are better, but with the crew from Qantas, I have faith they are in safe hands

From News Corp site:


https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...e/news-story/b0c5f86aebd5f54c03e5083c10d82cfe
Qantas passengers described hearing a “bang” as one of the engines failed mid-air during a flight from Auckland to Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

A couple of photos on the News site show damage to the engine of VH-XZB. If I am using the correct term, some of the cowling is missing.

The plane may be inoperable for a while. No indication yet if the ATSB will investigate and slowly compile a report. There were no reported injuries, so it's not a 'given' as I understand it.

 

[tomlee1986]

A couple of photos on the News site show damage to the engine of VH-XZB. If I am using the correct term, some of the cowling is missing.

The plane may be inoperable for a while. No indication yet if the ATSB will investigate and slowly compile a report. There were no reported injuries, so it's not a 'given' as I understand it.

the damage looks bad but not the worst... the ones like QF32

 

[milehighclub]

If I am using the correct term, some of the cowling is missing.

It is the reverse thrusters and someone in the media having no idea what that is.

You can see here it’s clearly intact before landing

 

[Dr4manyspecies]

Not exactly sure what happened (seemingly a large # of passengers needing assitance delayed offloading then loading?) but Monday's QF888 PER-ADL was scheduled 17:10 and departed at 17:41. Expected delayed arrival was 22:52 and was pushing curfew but arrived at 22:50. Does anyone have any idea what would've happened if they ran later? Would they divert from Adelaide to somewhere else?
Happy that my son arrived safely.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not exactly sure what happened (seemingly a large # of passengers needing assitance delayed offloading then loading?) but Monday's QF888 PER-ADL was scheduled 17:10 and departed at 17:41. Expected delayed arrival was 22:52 and was pushing curfew but arrived at 22:50. Does anyone have any idea what would've happened if they ran later? Would they divert from Adelaide to somewhere else?
Happy that my son arrived safely.

"It depends". Often 'the delegate' (an officer of the Federal Government's DEpartment of Transport IIRC who is authorised by the Minister) will grant an exemption. Every so often, a report is tabled in Federal Parliament re exemptions granted and any denied.

There are three preconditions that must supposedly be met before an exemption is granted. A few times, reading the report, I've struggled to see how these have been met but I am but a mere mortal.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF19 (1225 hours SYD-MNL, Wednesday 18 January 2023) has just arrived at 2148 hours with A332 VH-EBM, 78 ,minutes late. QF20 will (at least in departure) be similarly delayed. It may pick up some time on its tour of duty down overnight to Sydney.

Earlier, A388 VH-OQB on QF11, the 1120 hours SYD-LAX was not airborne until 1316 this afternoon. Estimated arrival is 0733 hours, 88 minutes tardy.

The redeye SYD-HNL QF103 (A333 VH-QPA) should arrive this morning local time about an hour late, approximately around 1030 hours.

 

[789nerd]

Thursday : this mornings QF63 SYD-JNB (B789 VH-ZNH) was 43 minutes late pushing back, and is expected into Jo'Burg at 14:57 SAST, 22 minutes late. This should not affect the return QF64.

Overnight, both QF9 & QF10 pushed back late, but are not expected to be more than 15 minutes late at their respective London & Perth arrivals.

 

[tomlee1986]

QF101 to Nadi had returned to Sydney - mechanical issue - arrived at 1050 in Sydney… it’s VH-VZQ - Boeing 737-800

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 19 January, QF1 (ex SYD 18 Jan., A388 VH-OQG) arrived LHR at 0713 hours, 58 minutes late as it had taken off from SIN at 0052 hours local time.

Today's (19) QF1 from SYD, the 1705 hours, is showing as delayed until 1845 hours in pushback but that time was a few minutes ago. It's not showing on FR24 so may not yet have done that. This flight has a less than wonderful timekeeping record, with many mornings at LHR seeing it more than half an hour late. Is this still to do with the rerouting to avoid sensitive regions?

Last night's QF2 (OQJ) from LHR should arrive SIN tonight at 1810 hours, 40 down. It is unlikely to be within half an hour of the schedule tomorrow morning in Sydney.

A333 VH-QPA on perennial late runner QF104 from HNL to SYD should arrive 86 minutes behind schedule at 2006 hours in the early evening.

Colleague VH-QPC is on the often punctual QF35 (a lunchtime 1250 hours timetabled departure that wasn't up up and away until 1614 this afternoon). Arrival is estimated at 2044, 179 late. As one of the four QFi flights arriving in SIN overnights there, perhaps this won't result in any unpunctuality on a redeye tonight. The aircraft had been in Melbourne since 0606 hours, only six minutes late and ironically as QF36 ex SIN, so no standout reason for the tardy pushback today.

A332 VH-EBN is on 'the 69' from MEL to DEL with its estimated at gate time becoming 1727 hours, 57 late, with QF70 back down overnight likely to be similarly tardy.

UPDATE: QF niw states QF1 should depart Sydney tonight at 2030 hours, 205 minutes late. A388 VH-OQD appeared on FR24 at 1900 hours but may be just moving form a maintenance bay/stabling area. OQD arrived in Sydney at 0653 hours this morning on QF2, 43 late and then between 1300 and 1600 hours did a couple of training or proving flights lasting 45 minutes to an hour each. I've seen a few others like this lately.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 20 January 2023, B738 VH-VXP (QF430, 0930 hours MEL-SYD) took off at 0941, if anything a few minutes early.

However a few nautical miles slightly northeast of Yarck (a locality on the former Tallarook-Mansfield rail line), the aircraft returned to Melbourne due to what QFd claims was a 'minor engine issue'.

Then QF1516 (the 1010 hours MEL-CBR aiirborne basically on time at 1027 hours with B717 VH-NXI) proceeded to just south of Broadford (on the Hume Freeway and the Sydney-Melbourne rail line) before also returning to MEL, due to what QFd suggested was an issue 'with its flaps.'

Both landed safely (as did the two other aircraft involved in incidents this week).

To have four such occurrences in three days may be dismissed by some as a fluke.

Many others (especially those who fly less regularly or not at all, unlike many AFF stalwarts) may condemn the airline for what they perceive as a drop in safety standards from claimed lax maintenance. I'm not suggesting the latter is necessarily true, but consumers' purchasing decisions (when they have a choice) are based upon price, value and perceptions, including what they think of reputations. Why do so many middle to upper income consumers purchase Miele products? The latter is an important factor.

If QFd is perceived by a greater percentage of the adult population as a carrier with an increasingly questionable maintenance record, this may deter some from booking. Perhaps such individuals ignore the overall excellent safety record of commercial airlines in most developed and many emerging nations, but negative media generates a lot of views and readers, so QF as an organisation can't ignore it.

I've not seen a unionist emerge and criticise QFd but that'll be on the cards. It must be grist for the mill of ex TWU official who's now an Australian Senator, Labor's Tony Sheldon. He can say what he likes in the Senate (subject only to maintaining his reputation among colleagues) without worries about a defamation action.

Again, it's not guaranteed the ATSB will launch an investigation, though it has for at least one of the two previous incidents. The ATSB has finite resources but most importantly, on occasion it believes that a complex investigation won't turn up any safety concerns of sufficient interest so it elects not to proceed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 January, A388 VH-OQD on the 1120 hours SYD-LAX QF11 took off at a much delayed 1301 hours with same day arrival predicted for 0713 hours, 68 minutes late at gate. This is the third consecutive '11' to be about this tardy.

B789 VH-ZNK on QF27 (1235 hours lunchtime ex SYD for the long haul across to SCL) was in the sky at 1342, so same day arrival should be around 1139 hours, 44 minutes late.

The 0930 hours SYD to India's tech centre of BLR took off at 1014 with gate arrival for A332 VH-EBM suggested as 34 behind at 1619 mid to late arvo.

A333 VH-QPA on the almost always delayed QF104 from HNL should arrive tonight in Sydney at 1943 hours, 63 late. Redeye 'the 25' from SYD to HND is suggested to depart 40 late at 2215 late this evening.

A388 VH-OQG on QF2 from LHR should arrive SIN tonight at 1808, 38 late as last night local UK time this 2040 hours flight did not take off until 2137 hours. This flight usually has difficulty in arriving SYD less than half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Are some of these QFd incidents a type of (covert?) industrial action where pilots are quietly trying to demonstrate their view that 'two pilots are required' rather than one?

IF ICAO and 40 nations plus airlines are allegedly looking at enabling single pilot flights where currently two crew members are mandated, presumably the proposed policy has an enormous amount of research behind it., including by those who've worked as senior pilots. To introduce would require a lot of public education as the initial reaction of those who fly may well be like Hanrahan from the famous poem "Said Hanrahan":


"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
In accents most forlorn,
Outside the church, ere Mass began,
One frosty Sunday morn...