Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

There are still storms around SYD at 1710 on Friday 17 February with it looking as if some areas are still to receive heavy rain. VA1142 (the 1500 hours BNK - SYD that was pretty much on time taking off at 1513) should arrive at roughly 1716 hours, 51 minutes late after B738 VH-VUV had some lengthy holds to Walcha's south and then a shorter duration one over the ocean to Sydney's southeast.

The TMW - SYD VA1092 (ATR72 VH-FVP) is also about 51 minutes tardy with arrival suggested as 1726.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 2100 hours AEDT on Friday 17 February, many aircraft are in holding patterns trying to get into SYD with VA970, the 1705 hours BNE - SYD (E190 VH-ZPI) that took off at 1847 (about 87 late) likely to arrive at roughly 2121 hours, 161 late. Note how much time has been lost on the gate-to-gate journey.

VA667 (the 1830 hours CBR - SYD that took off at 2017, VH-FVP, the usual ATR72) should arrive at roughly 2123 instead of 1930, a deficit of 113 minutes.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA146 (1650 hours Friday 17 February 2017 SYD - AKL, B738 VH-YIR) was still queued at 2207 for takeoff on runway 34R, meaning it will be about five hours late.

The 2100 hours MEL - SYD VA897 (E190 VH-ZPQ) is cutting it fine for the Sydney 2300 hours curfew with an estimated landing time of 2256, while from the north VA544 (1905 hours OOL - SYD that took off at 2036, E190 VH-ZPO) is predicted to land at 2254.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 17 February, VA993 (B738 VH-VUJ, the 2030 hours mid evening SYD up to BNE) does not appear to have begun pushback by 2255. Unless it has an exemption it might not be proceeding northwards tonight.

UPDATE: VA897 (see above) landed in SYD at 2258 - cutting it very fine.

 

[andyhui01]

Yes. Live from897. Very fine. Felt like the e190 was on thrust throughout the entire descent.

Just curious. What happens if we missed curfew? Back to Mel?

 

[Melburnian1]

VA898, the 2200 hours SYD - MEL must have an exemption as it took off on Friday 17 February at 2304. Aircraft was B738 VH-VOM.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes. Live from897. Very fine. Felt like the e190 was on thrust throughout the entire descent.

Just curious. What happens if we missed curfew? Back to Mel?

andyhui01, thank you for the excellent on the spot report: nothing beats it.

Yes, if your flight 'missed curfew' and lacked an exemption from the appointed delegate to the Federal Minister for Transport Darren Chester, it would be a case of the Captain deciding whether it was a case of back to MEL, or to CBR. That might depend on fuel, duty hours and numerous other considerations. I assume the Captain would confer with his operations department as obviously it's a major decision affecting not just say 150 passengers on board but potentially others in the morning who suddenly find flights badly delayed (or as occurred tonight) cancelled.

VA892 took off at 2313, well past curfew, but to the south as recommended (in fact from memory it's mandatory.) This is the 2030 hours SYD - MEL with B738 VH-YFS.

 

[Melburnian1]

With Sydney experiencing mid afternoon storms for the second consecutive day on Saturday 18 February 2017, VA1153 (1435 hours LST - SYD that took off about 10 late at 1458, B738 VH-YFC) should arrive at about 1654 after being held over Wombeyan Caves, NSW.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 19 February, VA341, the 1700 hours MEL - BNE has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 20 February will see VA809, the early morning 0645 hours MEL - SYD cancelled.

On Sunday 19, VA981 (1900 hours SYD - BNE that was airborne at 2027, B738 VH-VUG) should arrive at 2119 instead of 1930 hours, 109 minutes tardy.

VA985, the 1930 hours SYD - BNE has B738 VH-VUL undertaking the task and snuck out of SYD (in the sky) at 2049 so arrival should be at roughly 2121, 81 minutes behind schedule.

Southbound VA546, the 2005 OOL - SYD managed to take off at 2043 (about 20 - 25 late) but VH-VUX is predicted to lose a little time with SYD arrival likely at 2310, 35 minutes late. With touchdown suggested as 2305, this flight may have a dispensation from 'the (mysterious Federal public servant who is the all powerful) delegate.'

VA892 (2030 hours SYD - MEL) took off at 2130 and hence with B738 VH-VUP is expected to arrive at around 2240, 35 late. Preceding flight VA888 (the 2000 hours) is tasked to VH-YFH and is worse, with arrival at 2225 to be 50 minutes behind the eight ball.

The 2010 hours MEL up to OOL (VH-YIA) was not in the sky until 2149 so arrival is not predicted until 2233, 78 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 0630 hours VA807 (0630 MEL - SYD, B738 VH-YVA) was nor airborne until a late 0734 on Monday 20 February so arrival is predicted as 0844, 49 late.

 

[Bundy Bear]

On Sunday 19, VA981 (1900 hours SYD - BNE that was airborne at 2027, B738 VH-VUG) should arrive at 2119 instead of 1930 hours, 109 minutes tardy..

Spent 1 hour on the run way and then did a massive detour



Pretty choppy for the first 40 minutes the pilots did a good job that we didn't have any major bumps, the cabin was very quiet during climb.

 

[Boof1]

VA892 took off at 2313, well past curfew, but to the south as recommended (in fact from memory it's mandatory.) This is the 2030 hours SYD - MEL with B738 VH-YFS.

I'm pretty sure that as long as the flight has received airways clearance prior to 2300 they are able to depart. There was something in either the "Ask the Pilot" thread, or maybe one of the pilots commented in another thread about how it all works.

Should be interesting day today for delays ex SYD with gusty westerly winds and 20 knots of Xwind on the 34/16 pair.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'm pretty sure that as long as the flight has received airways clearance prior to 2300 they are able to depart. There was something in either the "Ask the Pilot" thread, or maybe one of the pilots commented in another thread about how it all works.

Boof1, thanks: it was previously discussed but unfortunately AFF is not easy to search because one needs to remember the thread, or use correct search terms.

My memory of it was that a time of '2245' not '2300' for ATC clearance was mentioned. One of our pilot contributors said in another very recent thread (about SYD wanting to remove the curfew and increase the number of permitted aircraft movemnts per hour and per quarter hour) that this 'rang a bell.'

The good thing about a takeoff at say 2313 is that it eliminates (or minimises) inconvenience and delays to passengers, and it is to the south to minimise noise emissions.

The bad thing is that there are rules for a reason and local residents (in Kurnell, or elsewhere) could use the post-2300 hour takeoffs as another example of how 'give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile' is the airport and airline attitude prevailing, rather than adherence to the agreed curfew times of 2300 hours to 0600 hours, with the limited 0500 to 0559 exceptions for three or four international flights landing during the northern winter half year.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the strong westerlies in SYD to which Boof1 alluded above on Monday 20 February (gusting to 46kmh as at 1015 AEDT), although there were some movements on one of the north-south runways a few minutes ago, as at 1015 it looked as if operations may have shifted to Mode 13: use of runway 25 for arrivals from the east and departures to the west.

1000 on a Monday is fairly busy, but once the international departures crank up at around 1100 that is when things may get more interesting and delays may increase somewhat.

VA181 (0830 hours SYD - NAN) had not departed by 1030 with B738 VH-YIU its aircraft.

The 0910 hours VA511 from SYD to OOL did not take off until 1023, so arrival should be an hour late at roughly 1030.

VA555 (0935 hours SYD - PER, A332 VH-XFE) was about third in the queue for departure as at 1024, so may be about 40 minutes late on takeoff.

B738 VH-VUS on VA819 (0800 MEL - SYD that was not airborne until a late 0924) looks to be arriving at around 1045, 80 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 20 February, VA1519 (E190 VH-ZPT, 0955 hours SYD - TSV) was not airborne until 1217 meaning predicted arrival in the city with large military barracks at about 1344, 124 late.

E190 VH-ZPQ on VA1163, the 1040 SYD - CFS had not departed by 1232 this afternoon.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Monday 20 February, VA1354 (1330 hours early afternoon DRW down to SYD that took off at 1441, B738 VH-YFH) is arriving at about 2012, 42 late.

The 1705 hours late afternoon VA970 from BNE down to SYD has B738 VH-VUE and is arriving at around 2017, 37 minutes behind schedule.

VH-FVR (ATR72) on VA670 (1905 hours SYD - CBR that did not take off until 2008) is arriving at 2104, 59 minutes late.

The ex-MEL CBR-bound VA287, teh last scheduled for the day should arrive at approximately 2038, 48 late with E190 VH-ZPO.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 23 February sees VA8 with B774ER VH-VOZ from LAX to BNE an expected 66 minute late arrival at 0816 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 25 February, VA8 from LAX to BNE should pull in at roughly 0824 hours, 74 minutes late. VH-VOZ is the B773ER.

UPDATE: VA837 (the 1100 MEL - SYD, albeit amended by ATC to 1101, E190 VH-ZPQ) took off at 1158; arrival is expected at 1321 hours, 56 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 25 February, VA1138 (1155 hours BNK down to SYD that was in the sky at 1325) should arrive at 1440, 80 minutes tardy.

VA736 (B738 VH-VUR, the 1155 OOL down to MEL that took off at 1236) should arrive at roughly 1553, 38 minutes behind schedule.