SYD ATC Radar Failure 25/9/17

[jamesatfish]

Looks like it's going to be an interesting morning in Sydney - apparently the entire ATC radar system has gone down and the airport is on ground stop.

I can't find any other information online at this point, only what the lounge staff here in CBR have announced - anyone else affected?

 

[robtemt]

No Chaos on the arrivals/departures board except the usual delay here and there.

 

[jamesatfish]

No Chaos on the arrivals/departures board except the usual delay here and there.

Thanks - the 3 early morning CBR-SYD flights are all still sitting in Canberra without even a firm departure time, so I assumed Sydney would have been chaotic.

Update: ABC News is reporting the issue as only affecting domestic flights, though I’m not sure if that’s accurate.

 

[Himeno]

Just got to QF J lounge.

Came in on JL771. Landed normally just after airport curfew ended. There were long haul flights going into T1 while I was on the connection bus, and enough domestic arrivals first thing to fill up the next bus over to T1.

Things are starting to move again. 2 flights were called just after I got into the lounge.

 

[jamesatfish]

Here in CBR they just started boarding the 6:30am 717, but for some reason not the 6:05am Dash 8 which has dropped off the display boards (my flight). Plenty of confused people here as a result.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Has appeared as breaking news on ABC. ATC radar fail according to the pic.

Domestic flights out of Sydney delayed

SHH claims some flights cancelled

Sydney Airport flights grounded by air traffic control outage


Cheers skip

 

[AviatorInsight]

The departure radar is down and so they're restricting departures. Start approvals are required with delays on all frequencies.

 

[Himeno]

Here in CBR they just started boarding the 6:30am 717, but for some reason not the 6:05am Dash 8 which has dropped off the display boards (my flight). Plenty of confused people here as a result.

QF1424?
For some reason, FR24 thinks its in CBR and Google things it's landed in SYD...

 

[jamesatfish]

QF1424?
For some reason, FR24 thinks its in CBR and Google things it's landed in SYD...

1424 is definitely here in Canberra.

They’ve now boarded 1510 and 1464, but not 1424. No announcements or explanation as to why the later flights are leaving before ours.

What was an understandable delay is quickly becoming a frustration at how this is being handled.

 

[Himeno]

1424 is definitely here in Canberra.

They’ve now boarded 1510 and 1464, but not 1424. No announcements or explanation as to why the later flights are leaving before ours.

What was an understandable delay is quickly becoming a frustration at how this is being handled.

I'm waiting for 1513 back to CBR. Not showing as delayed yet, meant to start boarding in 10 mins, but no gate assigned.

The screens here just said to go to gate for 1513, but no gate to go to. Waiting on one of the 717s coming up from CBR.

Lounge staff said that SYD is under a 15 per hour flow control.

 

[jamesatfish]

I'm waiting for 1513 back to CBR. Not showing as delayed yet, meant to start boarding in 10 mins, but no gate assigned.

Assuming that’s operated by the same aircraft as 1510, your plane is still on the ground in CBR awaiting several passengers who might have decided to go home rather than wait it out.

 

[Himeno]

They've just said people on 1463 to CBR to come to desk for new boarding pass. I guess 1463 is cancelled.

 

[jamesatfish]

They've just said people on 1463 to CBR to come to desk for new boarding pass. I guess 1463 is cancelled.

Yup, 1462 cancelled here.

1424 now scheduled for 9:00, though the Qantas app just sent me a push notification that it had been cancelled contrary to the lounge announcement just made.

 

[RooFlyer]

ABC in its 7:45 radio news bulletin reported that it was a "departure planning software" failure ... which apparently feeds into the live radar systems, bringing it either 'down' or ineffective. 'Manual' ops underway, they said.

 

[maggies1]

Passengers at OOL have been on aircraft since 0530am. No service from Jetstar. Passenger spoke with Steve Price on 2GB.

 

[Denali]

My friend boarded at 5.40am and was still sitting on the tarmac at 7.20. I believe they prepared for takeoff at 7.30-7.40 as thats the last I heard from him/he was online.

 

[Himeno]

QF417 to MEL just cancelled.

 

[jamesatfish]

And after 5 hours waiting in Canberra I'm back home again, day trip to Sydney cancelled.

In the end 1424 was cancelled but no announcement was made in the lounge - I didn't find out until I made my 3rd trip to the lounge entry desk and was told I'd been moved to an afternoon flight. Given the purpose of my trip was an 8am meeting that wasn't the most useful outcome.

I fully appreciate the delays were not Qantas' fault, but the lack of information provided to passengers in the lounge was a huge disappointment.

 

[Hvr]

So does SYD ATC pay compensation to the airlines for this incident? Or is it considered a force majeure?

 

[OzEire]

And after 5 hours waiting in Canberra I'm back home again, day trip to Sydney cancelle

That is no way to enjoy your public holiday in CBR.

I particularly noted that you saw two ther flights leave bound for SYD. I sure hope there were no seats empty on them while pax from your flight languished in CBR.