Qantas flight from Auckland to Sydney makes mayday call

[Hvr]

Still enough for ARFF to be deployed.

And AFF.

 

[SeatBackForward]

130k viewers on FlightRader24. QF getting some good marketing "Qantas, still same number of landings as takeoffs!"

 

[QF WP]

330 listeners on SYD Tower frequency at present. More than normal

 

[Quickstatus]

No significant weather in AKL

 

[QF WP]

Would love to be listening to the discrete frequency now between aircrew and ARFF.

 

[Hvr]

Would love to be listening to the discrete frequency now between aircrew and ARFF.

Wouldn't we all, but there's a reason they keep it discreet.

 

[Quickstatus]

Are we certain it was a "mayday" call from the aircraft?.

Journalists are known for clickbaity headlines

330 listeners on SYD Tower frequency

Was over 1000 listening on LiveATC at one point.

 

[milehighclub]

Are we certain it was a "mayday" call from the aircraft?.

It’s possible initially it was, but if so, it was then downgraded to a PAN.

 

[dajop]

Interesting choice of language in the first article that was posted (nine news) …. “A Qantas flight travelling across the Pacific Ocean… “ whilst technically correct conjures up more emotion than the perhaps more accurate “Tasman Sea” . Still both big bodies of water and long way between airports but they are different in magnitude.

 

[mrsterryn]

Ok educational lol .
Learned about PAN
Edited to have correct term eg PAN PAN

 

[Andz]

That’s why I fly with Qantas

 

[Quickstatus]

PAN

In more than one environment calling a "PAN" is like an emergency

 

[mrsterryn]

In more than one environment calling a "PAN" is like an emergency

Ummm should I ask ?

 

[QF WP]

Ok educational lol .
Learned about PAN

Here's a good YT video on the difference:

 

[ajobbins]

It’s possible initially it was, but if so, it was then downgraded to a PAN.

From The Age:

A Qantas spokesperson said the aircraft experienced an issue with one of its two engines about an hour from Sydney and issued a mayday alert in line with standard procedures.
“Mayday” is the word used by aviators to signal a life-threatening emergency.

The mayday alert was later downgraded to a PAN (possible assistance needed).

I'm guessing an hour out of Sydney they would have been out of VHF range and made the call over HF

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

An hour out from SYD is a lot later than the initial descent to 20k feet. So presumably there was a problem early that then worsened.

 

[QF WP]

Started descending about 40 mins after take-off. Wonder why they didn't return to AKL?

Weird because they weren't past the point of no return? Guess we'll find out in due course

 

[mrsterryn]

@QF WP that was a really informative YT
Thanks

 

[QF WP]

Ones done by pilots generally are the best source.

 

[justinbrett]

Still enough for ARFF to be deployed.

Sounds like it was originally a Mayday then downgraded to a PAN so legitimate media interest as aircraft in AU don't do this on a daily basis (thankfully).

For one, a PAN PAN and a MAYDAY have no direct corelation with the airport response. That being said, PAN PAN usually results in a local standby, a MAYDAY results in a full emergency (level 1-3). It's not out of the question for the airport to declare a full emergency for a PAN PAN if they think it's warranted.

ARFF will usually deploy on a local standby as well.

And yes - it's PAN PAN. A pan is what you cook bacon on.

This link explains it all:

https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Safety-Bulletin_What-happens-when-I-declare-an-emergency.pdf