The Impromptu Qantas Tour

[Charl]

QUOTE (Daniel @ Jul 23 2008, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...As for QF's Tour of ZQN it is part of the approach I think.
They overfly slopehill then do a big turn around in the area before landing...

Yes, Qantas does let down in a clockwise spiral for the Rwy 23 approach, but we were treated to a little more than that, when we left Queenstown.
We loaded up for a sunny 12:45 departure (Remember this time for later) to Auckland, strapped in to our seats, and then waited.
And waited.
The weather was getting a little unsettled too, due to a very large front rolling in over the Alps.
I watched the clouds start to lap at the western mountains and wondered if we were going to spend another night in Queenstown…

Eventually the captain announced over the intercom that there was a "Passenger configuration" problem, or words to that effect.
For that, read:
Qantas has screwed up the passenger manifest, and there is nothing we can do here until Melbourne clears up our paperworkâ€￾.
Eventually we pushed back, started engines, and sat on the apron for a few minutes more.

It was now raining, I realised the pilot was eying the weather, and perhaps trying to get a little encouragement from the tower.
Eventually we taxied off to the Rwy 23 end, turned for takeoff and sat there, for what felt like a very long time.
By now I was distinctly uneasy, and around us other passengers were starting to mutter, too.
Abruptly, the 737 started rolling and took off, much to everyone's relief.

But wait! ( as they say in the infomercials)

At maybe 4,000ft the engines throttled right back, the climb stopped, and we made a steep banking turn, back toward the airport.
At that point I knew we were going to die in that aircraft.

See, the cloud had closed in below the mountain tops, and being VFR, the 737 could not gain the required altitude to set course over them.
Here started the impromptu Qantas Tour of the McKenzie Basin and surrounds:

We were over landing weight, and so cruised the lazy eight maybe half a dozen times to burn off fuel (Ka-CHING!)

We got to know the airport and environs quite well

Note the ANZ A320 holding as we crossed for the last time.
The landing back at NZQN was textbook, and as we taxied in, the sun came out and made a rainbow over the A320 as it taxied out and took off!
I swear the pilot gave us a cheery thumbs-up as they passed.
We then had to refuel of course, but were made to stay on board for the duration, and no cellphones thankyou.
(Y'know, to tell the connections at the other end that we were, well, kinda late)
An uneventful takeoff at 3:35 (remember the original departure time?) by which time the skies had cleared a little.

Here's a quick screenshot of Peter Lohr's NZQN scenery. It's still brilliant, even though things have moved on a little at Queenstown.
Did I fly the lazy 8 in flight simulator? With RW weather? At the right time of day? With the correct takeoff weight?
Is the Pope Catholic?

We were back in Auckland before dark.
It was a very long day, but you know what they say:
"If you've time to spare, go by air".
Hope you enjoyed looking at the Impromptu Qantas Tour.

[Ian Warren]

CHARL , NOW THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY FUN WAY TO FLY , not knowing were too or if your going , but for a tour , equally showing the latest airport tarmac layout ! now thats COOL

[Daniel]

Figure 8's over Queenstown in a 737
Man that sounds like fun. I wish I had of been on board
Nice pics of you eventful day

[Anthony]

Nice pics Charl. Sounds like fun.
The screenshot looks pretty good right at the end too.

[HardCorePawn]

Thats what happens when you don't have RNP!

[Daniel]

QUOTE (HardCorePawn @ Jul 25 2008, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats what happens when you don't have RNP!

Exactly Qantas have it on there 738's but Jetconnect doesn't on the 733's.
Qantas really should invest in the system as it could quite easily make up for all the delays and cancellations.
But right now it might not be worth putting it on the 733's as they are on there last legs (the jetconnect one's)
with some already going out of the fleet.

[Anthony]

I wouldn't bother with RNP for the 733s as they're on their way out (slowly, but almost steadily) if I was Jetconnect.
It would be good to have it on the 733s, but the cost outweighs the benefits which would be quite temporary.
It was with help from Qantas and Air NZ that the RNP in ZQN was launched, would be nice to have it on all the ZQN aircraft.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

You can always trust Jetconnect to screw up!