Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

ZL681 (Wednesday 29 May, the scheduled evening 1900 hours SYD down to WGA that was in the sky at 2035 with VH-ZLV) should arrive at 2133 tonight, 78 late.

The 1910 hours shorter flight from SYD across to OAG (VH-ZRY) took off at 2048. Its arrival looks to be 2128, 88 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 30 May 2019 finds ZL821 (VH-EKH), the 0630 hours early morning DBO across to SYD that did not become airborne until 0811 arriving at 0917 hours, 97 late.

This is because yesterday, it was 105 minutes late arriving in SYD at 2000 hours mid evening on ZL179 from OAG, and then obviously had to proceed to DBO on ZL836, arriving at 2146, 91 late. The crew then would require a minimum rest period at their motel or other accommodation, so there was no way this morning's flight to SYD could be punctual.

ZL211 from BNK to SYD (SAAB 340B VH-KRX) is the 0630 hours that took off at 0759, so arrival is 0929, 69 late. This aircraft was 65 minutes tardy arriving in SYD on ZL629 ex BHS yesterday, and then had to go to BNK, arriving an hour late at 2110 hours on ZL236. Similar to the DBO story.

The NRA - SYD ZL456, the 0705 hours, was airborne at 0829 with VH-ZRC, arriving SYD at 0935 hours, 70 late. It had takenj off from GFF at 0720, an hour after scheduled blocks off, but unlike the other two the flight into GFF had arrived last night a minute early at 1904, so no need for the fatigue regulations to kick in.

The GFN - SYD ZL311 (VH-ZXQ) is the 0730 hours airborne at 0849, with suggested arrival 1012, 72 late. On its initial leg from LSY, it arrived GFN only 10 late at 0720 this morning so this delay, like the BNK one, was unrelated to fatigue management.

ZL434 from GFF to SYD is the 0650 hours airborne at 0907. VH-VNA should arrive at 1024, 134 minutes tardy. It was badly late last night on ZL477, the scheduled 1855 hours from SYD that took off at 2056, arriving GFF at 2224 hours, 119 minutes late.

It isn't practical (or cost effective) for airlines to base staff at 'outstations' in every instance (although Rex if I recall has pilots based in Albury and Wagga, and probably Tamworth as well). This is a contrast to surface modes such as rail or bus whose operators can much more easily have staff based in country towns of they so choose. Unfortunately this can make connecting to international flights problematical on the same morning from some (say) NSW rural airports.

For these turboprop flight crew, what is the minimum time off required i.e. sign off to sign on? 10 hours?

 

[Melburnian1]

Adding to the numerous Thursday 29 May 2019 delays shown above is southbound ZL767 from SYD down to ABX that took off at 0956 hours. SAAB 340B VH-ZRY should arrive at 1105, 105 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Melburnian1

The CAO part 48 section 48.1 will apply in terms of rest hours.

A minimum 9 hours applies if the rest period encompasses 2200 to 0600. Otherwise 10 hours.

Additional to that an arrival slot will have to be allocated to a delayed aircraft to SYD which may also delay proceedings further.

 

[Quickstatus]

Obviously the rest hours assume that the same crew will operate the returning flight.

Additionally I don't think that the type of aircraft (turboprop or jet) changes the rest period.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 30 May 2019, ZL853 from BHQ to SYD (the 0630 hours in the sky at 0827) is arriving at 1102, 102 late with VH-PRX. It was 12 minutes early arriving in BHQ last night at 1958 hours ex ADL (ZL4842) so not sure why the delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3257 (Friday 31 May, the early morning 0645 hours WGA down to MEL, VH-ZLV) was in the sky at 0731. Arrival should be at 0856, 56 late.

ZL767, the 0755 hours SYD - ABX (VH-ZRY) was airborne promptly at 0806 hours but has been at an extensive hold and may then have had a missed approach at ABX. The general (not aviation) forecast did not mention 'fog' but it's very cloudy. As at 0945 the aircraft was again holding so it will be more than half an hour late (timetabled arrival is 0920) if it manages to arrive.

UPDATE: ZL767 landed at 1002 so should arrive at 1007, 47 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 31 May, ZL3557, the 0845 hours MEL down to BWT that took off at 0949 with VH-TRX is arriving at 1049 hours, 54 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 3 June 2019, ZL3752 from MGB across to MEL, the 0630 hours took off at 0653 (SAAB 340B VH-KDQ) but with a lot of rain in MEL, it did not arrive until 0843, 38 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-ZRC on ZL762, the 0630 hours ABX to SYD (Tuesday 4 June 2019) was in the sky at a delayed 0753 so arrival should be 0906, 71 minutes tardy.

The ARM - SYD ZL953 has VH-ZRL and is arriving at an estimated 0853, 68 minutes behind the schedule. Much rain in Sydney, as forecast.

ZL720 from BNK (VH-ZRI) is the 0630 hours in the sky at 0748. Arrival should be at 0925, 65 late.

ZL824, the 0815 hours SYD across to DBO should depart 65 late. The SYD - GFF - NRA ZL463 is forecast as 40 minutes tardy. The 0845 hours SYDF down to WGA, ZL661 has a worse anticipated delay of 75 minutes while ZL166 (0850 hours SYD across to OAG) is predicted to depart 45 late. ZL518, the 0900 hours SYD to PKE is similar with a 50 minute delay forecast.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on an extremely wet Tuesday 4 June 2019 in Sydney, ZL456 (Vh-ZNA, the 0705 hours ex NRA that took off at 0829) should arrive at 0938 hours, 73 late.

ZL463 (0830 hours SYD - GFF) took off at 0938 with VH-ZRY, somewhat later than predicted in the previous post.

The 0815 hours SYD - DBO (ZL824, VH-ZXG) was in the sky at 0951. Arrival looks to be 1044, 79 late.

The 0910 hours OAG - SYD (ZL165, VH-ZXQ) took off at 1005 with suggested arrival 1044 hours, 44 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL773, the 1145 hours SYD - ABX was in the sky at 1236 with VH-ZRC. A 36 minute late arrival at 1346 is expected.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 11 June 2019, ZL3258 (VH-ZLF, the 0900 hours MEL - WGA) was still taxiing at 0941 so arrival will be more than half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL718, the 1110 hours late morning MIM - SYD (SAAB 340B VH-RXX) did not become airborne until 1533 hours on Monday 17 June, so arrival in SYD should be 1635 hours, 250 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3152 (0825 hours morning MEL - ABX) did not take off until 1020 on Thursday 20 June so arrival for VH-VNA becomes an estimated 1106, 101 minutes tardy.

The MQL - MEL ZL3653 (VH-KDQ) is also badly delayed, with this 0630 hours early morning flight not in the sky until 0955, so arrival is 1119 hours, 209 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 21 June's 0650 hours GFF to SYD (VH-ZXF) was not in the sky until 0830, so arrival is at 0947, 97 late for ZL454.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 22 June has ZL3752, the 0630 hours early morning MGB - MEL having become airborne at 0701 with arrival suggested as 0838, 33 late for VH-ZXU.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 24 June finds ZL517 (VH-SBA, the 0630 hours PKE - SYD) forecast to arrive at 0755 hours, half an hour behind the timetable.

VH-ZLV on ZL3151, the 0640 hours ABX - MEL has had a shocker of a morning with takeoff at 0805, but then an extensive hold over Beechworth that was still teh case at 0908. Arrival is showing as 0951, 131 minutes late but it may be beyond this. Driving or using the often reliable XPT train of NSW TrainLink is often preferable on this route.

ZL3653 (0630 hours MQL down to MEL) was in the sky at 0717. VH-ZLA should arrive at 0916 hours, 86 late as it had to hold west of Kerang.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3557, the Monday 24 June 0845 hours MEL down to BWT was airborne at 1132 hours. SAAB 340B VH-OLL should arrive at roughly 1228 hours, 153 minutes tardy.

The 1105 hours MEL - KNS (ZL3871, VH_VNA) was in the sky at 1156 so will be at least 35 late arriving.

 

[Melburnian1]

With fog earlier in Sydney on Saturday 29 June 2019, ZL953, the 0630 hours ARM - SYD (SAAB340B VH-ZLJ) took off at 0721 with arrival suggested as 0937, 112 minutes late as the aircraft had to hold near Cessnock for a considerable period.

ZL353 on the rather pointless NTL - SYD route (rail is a suitable alternative for this short journey) has VH-OLM and is the 0630 hours airborne at 0832, so arrival has become 0958 hours, 163 minutes late.

ZL766, the 0830 hours ABX - SYD took off at 0945 hours with SAAB340B VH-VNA. Arrival is suggested as 1055, 65 late but this may be an underestimate as a holding pattern is still possible.