What does a Jetstar A320 have that a Virgin 737 doesn't?

[day-heg]

Sat here in the VA lounge at OOL watching the foul weather outside that's been here all day - we landed at the 3rd attempt this morning from MEL. I suspect it's had some knock on affects around the country today.

Been here for about an hour and steadily all of the inbound Virgin flights have been diverted, I guess to BNE, but 2 Jetstar flights have landed (at about 1715 and 1730 local).

So I'm wondering what the difference is.... is it totally pilot call? Is there different protocol/"decision altitude" in the Airbus? Could Virgin have made a blanket decision to end the uncertainty at the airport and allow their ground staff to get on with make alternative arrangements?

I'm not being critical... I totally trust the boys and girls up the front as I suppose we all have to given the volume of flights we collectively take. Just wondering...

Maybe some input from JB747 (on the general procedure if not the specifics of Coolangatta in the pissing rain!) or Markis10 from an ATC point of view...

Mods - sorry if this is in the wrong forum, I wasn't sure where to go.

Safe travels you lot.

 

[markis10]

JQ can fly RNP approaches which have lower minima than an ILS, as a result they will get in where those on an ILS will divert.

 

[samh004]

JQ can fly RNP approaches which have lower minima than an ILS, as a result they will get in where those on an ILS will divert.

Article here Jetstar invests in technology to beat the weather

Also Qantas marks eighth year of RNP flights to Queenstown | Australian Aviation Magazine though it mentions giving RNP to 767's and I recall a 767 diverting recently after failed landing, so would RNP have helped in a wild weather situation like we've been having?

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks to all posters above. Worth knowing. Cheers

 

[day-heg]

Thanks to all posters above. Worth knowing. Cheers

What you said.... all interesting stuff.

 

[day-heg]

Update if you're interested... I have a seat on the last flight of the day to SYD, but with only a 25 minute margin to make the curfew.... I dread to think where we'll end up if we don't make it!!

 

[RooFlyer]

They say the view of the night stars at the old Tennant Creek airstrip is lovely. MAybe you can post a pic on de-planing?