Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[jase05]

Yes. SQ and JQ so far but freight will be there on day 1!

We are just hoping Day 1 comes a little earlier. Can’t wait

 

[SYD]

We are just hoping Day 1 comes a little earlier. Can’t wait

TBH, I don’t understand the “delay” (as mentioned a while ago). The physical works are basically complete. Yes, certification takes time but still saying opening in ~2yrs. What the actual…is going on?

The contract for the “Digital” tower was only signed a few months ago. First of its type in Oz. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly, a lot…

 

[SeatBackForward]

TBH, I don’t understand the “delay” (as mentioned a while ago). The physical works are basically complete. Yes, certification takes time but still saying opening in ~2yrs. What the actual…is going on?

The contract for the “Digital” tower was only signed a few months ago. First of its type in Oz. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly, a lot…

Airport commissioning is very very complex, and budle that with all the regulatory requirements. Honestly ine year from end of physical works seems quick if anything.

What may happen is thay they do a "soft opening" of sorts where some aspects of the airport begin operating before others, for example they may start freight operations first, before then allowing passenger flights.

 

[jase05]

for example they may start freight operations first, before then allowing passenger flights.

That is the current plan

 

[moa999]

physical works are basically complete

External works (IE. Waterproof or lockup stage in a house build are complete). Still a lot of internal work to go.

And then you've got to test systems - baggage, security, fire suppression (where Berlin had 10yr issues), tower integration etc.

Plus you kind of need the access roads and railway complete as well

 

[SYD]

External works (IE. Waterproof or lockup stage in a house build are complete). Still a lot of internal work to go.

Most of that is done. Many of news reports of updates on progress say things like “it looks like passengers could arrive tomorrow”.

And then you've got to test systems - baggage, security, fire suppression (where Berlin had 10yr issues), tower integration etc.

Yes, discussed previously. 2 yrs is still a long time. Unless the freight ops start sooner?

BER was literally an unmitigated disaster riddled with corruption, kickbacks etc. They pondered knocking it down and rebuilding…

Plus you kind of need the access roads and railway complete as well

Access roads are built (needed for construction). They’ll tart them up and other roads to improve access in due course.

The metro isn’t needed for freight but yes, I nice to have when passenger ops commence.

 

[jase05]

Unless the freight ops start sooner?

That was/is still the plan

 

[SYD]

That was/is still the plan

But even that has been quoted as ~2yrs post those first test flights back in October.

 

[SeatBackForward]

That was/is still the plan

In terms of taking off and landing any aircraft, I doubt there's much difference in the commissioning of freight vs passenger flights. I assume the passenger terminal and associated systems must be a little more complicated than freight operations.

 

[jase05]

But even that has been quoted as ~2yrs post those first test flights back in October.

Yep, we still have a tentative Sep 2026 starting date but not sure how long after for commercial aircraft

 

[moa999]

Access roads are built (needed for construction). They’ll tart them up and other roads to improve access in due course.

There's a whole new 15km Motorway (M12 non-tolled) being built between the M7 and Northern Rd (roughly paralleling Elizabeth Rd) that will be the primary access to the airport.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/m12-motorway

 

[elanshin]

But even that has been quoted as ~2yrs post those first test flights back in October.

There's probably testing for just about everything and there's only so many tests you can do a day- evacuation drills, fire drills, incident response drills with various outside services, IT testing, baggage system testing etc.

And not to mention if any of them goes wrong or a failure point is identified, they time need to implement a fix and retest.

This is also a political centre piece, so all the politicians would want the optics of launch day to look good.

In terms of taking off and landing any aircraft, I doubt there's much difference in the commissioning of freight vs passenger flights. I assume the passenger terminal and associated systems must be a little more complicated than freight operations.

Depends on how state of the art freight system they want to build. If they want a highly automated freight system that is probably more complex than PAX systems as ultimately we as humans are a lot more adaptable than machines.

 

[jase05]

Depends on how state of the art freight system they want to build.

Will be absolute state of the art.
2 minutes from aircraft to terminal via fully automated loading platforms with direct docking

 

[elanshin]

Will be absolute state of the art.
2 minutes from aircraft to terminal via fully automated loading platforms with direct docking

Yeh in which case i would imagine all of those systems would need some serious testing too and it'd be just as convoluted as the incoming passengers stuff.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Will be absolute state of the art.
2 minutes from aircraft to terminal via fully automated loading platforms with direct docking

Yeh in which case i would imagine all of those systems would need some serious testing too and it'd be just as convoluted as the incoming passengers stuff.

Then yes, commissioning will take potentially longer than they expect