A380 diversion airport

[Stumpy]

A thought has been in my head for some time now. What will the A380's diversion airport be in New Zealand? Will it be Christchurch? Ohakea? I can't see Sydney as a logical diversion lol... I thought I'd ask the people who would know.
Thanks
James

[benwynn]

Christchurch has been A380 capable for a while now.

[LMerraine]

Really? Man, that was my home airport for ages. I think I'm going to have to deliver my Flight Experience plane from there, to Perth.

cr@p, I need to remember how to fly the 737 - thankfully it's got the L plates.

I think my closest international airport is now (Perth) 380 capable, but not sure if we will see one in the near future. I know it doesn't have the double gates for fast unloading or not.

But certainly a good question about diversion.

Has there ever been a situation where ChCh and Akl are closed at the same time?

[Alex]

QUOTE (LMerraine @ May 9 2008, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Has there ever been a situation where ChCh and Akl are closed at the same time?

Yep, in 2006 due to fog, see here.

Unlikely to happen now/in future due to the Cat. III ILS system in place at Auckland.

Alex

[NZ255]

What happened when that united? 747 landed at wngt

[Alex]

I think they managed to depart? Probably by transferring the passengers/freight to other aircraft, or by land. It's probably possible, just very unpractical to have regular services because of the load limits needed to operate on a runway of that length (not enough people/freight to make the flight worthwhile).

They had a BA 777 in for the last Royal visit (I think?), so the runway is capable of taking them, but not long enough to give them enough room to take off with a useful load.

Alex

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (NZ255 @ May 9 2008, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What happened when that united? 747 landed at wngt

Auckland was fogged out I think, so they decided to go to Christchurch, but then haflway down decided they didn't have enough fuel to make it, so did an emergency landing at Wellington. Blew a few tyres etc on landing I think.

[LMerraine]

Damn I love this place, instant information, amazing what you learn. Thanks guys. Is ChCh looking at going Cat III?

[benwynn]

Probably in the future, but it does seem unlikley with CHC not having the same capacity of aircraft like Auckland, and with Auckland being CAT IIIC and within diversion range, possibly not.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE

Blew a few tyres etc on landing I think.[/quote]
No it was a perfectly normal landing. I was in the office that day and when the skipper came in he asked if he could ring Denver to tell United ops where he was, when he got through they didn't believe him.
The aircraft departed a few hours later minus a few passengers that were destined for Wellington anyway.

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (LMerraine @ May 9 2008, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Damn I love this place, instant information, amazing what you learn. Thanks guys. Is ChCh looking at going Cat III?

They'd be better off waiting for GBAS to become certified and starting from there I reckon. One GBAS transmitter could serve all 4 runway thresholds at CH, and could even do Wigram if they really felt like it. Only problem is, at this stage they only have design criteria for GBAS approaches to Cat I equivalent, even though it will eventually handle up to Cat III. Avionics will not be a problem with the A380, since they shot a GLS approach on the operational trial system during their visit to Sydney so they are definitely capable.

Regarding the diversion airport situation, I'll have to read up on the runway and taxiway requirements of the A380 then compare those to Ohakea to see if it would be feasible. At under 2.5Km in length, the runway is good but not great for that purpose. Although A380 compatibility is also based on runway and taxiway widths.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (SA227 @ May 10 2008, 09:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No it was a perfectly normal landing. I was in the office that day and when the skipper came in he asked if he could ring Denver to tell United ops where he was, when he got through they didn't believe him.
The aircraft departed a few hours later minus a few passengers that were destined for Wellington anyway.

Oh ok, of course I wasn't there, obviously there was some 'exxageration' in the story I was told.

[yak52dude]

well last time i went to aussie i was at chch and they were widdening the runway and taxi way and also putting in a bigger gate so it looks like they may be going to chch as well as auckland so yeah one would think chch

[greaneyr]

For those interested, here is a paper released by the CAA regarding NZ's interim A380 runway requirements. It definitely sounds like both Auckland and Christchurch are covered.

http://www.caa.govt.nz/aerodromes/a380paper.pdf

[Ian Warren]

Other than recent goings with upgrade to CHC domestic terminal , the airport aurthuitory are planning the extension of 29/11 , taking land from the Harewood golf course , in planning stage or consult of course, example couple years back had an emergency with SIA777 ( first time not sure we can put a 777 incident) not an issue , putting down on that runway , todays aircraft type of this size only limited to how they handle there ground movement and pax and load . The only hurdle is time and money .

[SA227]

I just wish they would repaint the centreline on 02/20. It's getting hard to find when the vis is down!