Strategic to Start BNE-GLT Direct Services with A320

[jsd]

Interesting, this should give the Qantas monopoly a big shake up... Strategic advertising fares starting from $59 each way

http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2011/02/15/new-airline-gladstone/

Strategic Airlines, Australia’s newest full service airline today announced Gladstone as its latest new destination with plans for 20 jet flights weekly between Gladstone and Brisbane^ commencing from 18 April, 2011.

Fares for the new flights go on sale from today starting from $59* one-way and Business seats from $399, one-way inclusive of taxes.

 

[markis10]

Memo to Stratejic, you might want to check on the runway width now required for jet operations and what the councils plans are for works to meet them and your operations in the meantime!

 

[Saab34]

They operated a flight into GLT yesterday, its all good markis.

 

[markis10]

They operated a flight into GLT yesterday, its all good markis.

No its not, effective from June 1 GLT will need to have a 45m width as CASA have withdrawn approvals for jet operations from 36m width runways as a result of pressure from ICAO (refer to CASA Regulatory Note DAS-PN014-2010). The council will have to agree to do this in three years if they wish to have A320 ops from that date which means:

1. They will need to find the budget
2. They will need to stop Jet operations while the works take place
3. Council will need to get something designed, tendered, & completed in three years

http://www.casa.gov.au/corporat/policy/notices/DAS-PN014-2010.pdf

 

[anat0l]

Must be an unloaded flight that arrived on the test?

Using Wikipedia (of course which is disputable), some lead references and only my basic deduction skills (which does not cover any part of aviation expertise):

• The GLT runway was extended to just under 2 km (1,965 m). Runway was also sealed and widened to cater for 322 and 738.
• A Dash 8 Q400 at MTOW requires a run of ~1,402 m.
• An Airbus A320-200 at MTOW requires a run of ~2,090 m.
• A Boeing 737-800 at MTOW requires a run of ~2,400 - 2,500 m.

So unless you don't have a 322 or 738 at MTOW (possible I suppose), the runway doesn't seem sufficient to land these planes. I wonder how much you would need to be under MTOW to successfully land at the new GLT runway.

In addition:

• Everyone now needs to go through security screening, since jet aircraft necessitates this.
• The terminal certainly will need to get bigger than what it is. Maybe not ROK size, unless they start a lot more flights going from GLT to regional centres, for example.
• An increase in flight connections may bring about more noise and disturbance than can be tolerated by the local community and/or town as a whole.

It's a rather exciting development, but it seems there are concerns and queries that haven't all been answered yet.

 

[NM]

So unless you don't have a 322 or 738 at MTOW (possible I suppose),

Its most unlikely either type would be operated at MTOW from Gladstone. Its only for flights approaching max distance that MTOW would be needed.

... the runway doesn't seem sufficient to land these planes.

Easily long enough to land ... its the taking off again that may be limited

 

[markis10]

The screening is coming and almost there as of last Friday:

 

[anat0l]

Its most unlikely either type would be operated at MTOW from Gladstone. Its only for flights approaching max distance that MTOW would be needed.

Easily long enough to land ... its the taking off again that may be limited

Fair enough. Basically means not a full tank of petrol but that makes sense. Just trying to get my head around that.

It does mean the airport / airlines will need to purchase some airstairs and possibly a lifting machine (i.e. for disabled passengers), and a pushback tug (unless they do the thing where they just drive a sharp 180 from the parked position). Then there are catering trucks (unless they double-cater out of the first port of call) and waste disposal etc. (unless, again, this is handled back at base).