QF4 JFK-AKL diversion to Fiji (4/10/24)

[henrus]

One person even said pilots get the weather forecast from other planes!

I mean it’s half there, they can get weather reports from other pilots but that’s just one of many tools they’ve got to tell the weather.

 

[markis10]

Had a look at the TAFs and could not see anything requiring an alternate.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I heard from Bruce, whose wife Helen works at Pan Am that one of the crew had a blow-up with his wife so all 7 crew took and vote and decided that stopping in Hawaii for the night would give her 24 hours to calm down.

Edit: sorry, this post was supposed to be on Facebook.

 

[p--and--t]

I heard from Bruce, whose wife Helen works at Pan Am that one of the crew had a blow-up with his wife so all 7 crew took and vote and decided that stopping in Hawaii for the night would give her 24 hours to calm down.

Edit: sorry, this post was supposed to be on Facebook.

I thought it was Bruce's second cousin Helena who once applied for a job at Pan Am?

 

[jb747]

Based on the comments on Facebook it seemed weather was an issue but given all other flights landing on Auckland around the same time weren’t impacted it’s possible it could be the weather along the way?

The fact that other aircraft were landing is completely irrelevant. All that tells you is that the weather was above the minima, and it tells you nothing about how it relates to the alternate criteria. In very simple terms, the minima might be a cloud base of 500', but the requirement for an alternate might kick in at 1,000'.

If I recall correctly NZ has a rule that any aircraft arriving from outside of NZ must have an alternate if the destination only has one runway. So, if that's still the case, you'll need to have a look at the weather at the possible alternates.

And we don't ask other aircraft for the weather. That's what ACARS is for.

 

[cambriamarsh]

The fact that other aircraft were landing is completely irrelevant. All that tells you is that the weather was above the minima, and it tells you nothing about how it relates to the alternate criteria. In very simple terms, the minima might be a cloud base of 500', but the requirement for an alternate might kick in at 1,000'.

If I recall correctly NZ has a rule that any aircraft arriving from outside of NZ must have an alternate if the destination only has one runway. So, if that's still the case, you'll need to have a look at the weather at the possible alternates.

And we don't ask other aircraft for the weather. That's what ACARS is for.

Thanks JB, would CHC be an alternate?

 

[bjhearne]

Simple flying is reporting Qantas have confirmed it was due to fog.

Double-Detour: Qantas Flight From New York JFK To Auckland Diverts To Fiji And Sydney Due To Fog

A foggy morning in Auckland meant the inbound Qantas flight was diverted to Fiji and Sydney.

simpleflying.com

 

[jb747]

Thanks JB, would CHC be an alternate?

There aren't all that many choices before you start looking for RNZAF bases. We did, at one stage have approval to use one of them, but I have no idea if that's still the case (or if it would even have been helpful). The problem with Christchurch is that it's 480 odd miles in the wrong direction. The 787 could probably use Wellington, but that always required an alternate.

 

[justinbrett]

There aren't all that many choices before you start looking for RNZAF bases. We did, at one stage have approval to use one of them, but I have no idea if that's still the case (or if it would even have been helpful). The problem with Christchurch is that it's 480 odd miles in the wrong direction. The 787 could probably use Wellington, but that always required an alternate.

NZOH?