Divert

[Splitpin]

Just watched a QANTAS 747-400 divert into chc (via flightradar) wonder what that's about ?
QF28.

[NZ255]

where to/from

[emfrat]

Santiago - Sydney. Seems to have spent a lot of time down at FL290...so maybe unseasonable headwinds making fuel marginal?

[Ian Warren]

Were the hell is an aircraft carrier when ya need one !

[Lindstrim]

Fuel stop due weather at SYD

[emfrat]

Fuel stop due weather at SYD

There you go, Marty - the real gen...
Wonder if they made enuff on the exchange rate to cover the cost of the stop?

[Ian Warren]

They do it all the time around CHCH these days ... they can't figure weather they are coming or going !

[JoeM]

As far as I understand it (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong)! Christchurch is a tech stop for the SCL-SYD route - in essence, this allows Qantas to leave Santiago with only the bare minimum required fuel (often less than is actually calculated as required to make it to Sydney safely), and employ tactics such as step climbs, finding tailwinds/lesser headwinds and the general lightening of the aircraft due fuel burn to use less than planned, and end up with a build up of unused fuel.

Somewhere out off the coast of the South Island on the track thru to SYD, they have their Diversion Decision Point (DDP) where they make a final decision as to whether or not what fuel they have accumulated is enough to now meet the FUEL REQ. (required) figure to the destination.

So, on Thursday, with the inclement weather in Sydney, there would have most likely been an extra requirement for holding in place (due to the backlog of traffic trying to get in). This would have taken the FUEL REQ. above the remaining quantity in the tanks - hence the lob into Christchurch to pick up some Jet A1

Why do they use this procedure in the first place? Well, if they were to put the required amount in to ensure there was enough fuel in the tanks to reach SYD, the service would be uneconomical as they would be unable to carry any real payload of Pax/Cargo with the sheer weight of fuel on board.

Hopefully this clears up why they dropped in? And if someone with more practical experience wants to correct me, please do so! Qantas 28 sure did look spectacular on approach Thursday evening in the sunset light as I was driving back South

[Ian Warren]

Hey yo Joe , thanks for the info , I do see them regular on specific days when looking up as we all do .

[emfrat]

Thanks Joe, that makes perfect sense...the wind patterns showing on earth.null would have been very unhelpful in any case. There was a strong easterly flow, about as wide as NZ is long, almost from The Chathams right to Valparaiso.
http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wi ... -34.12,640

[Splitpin]

Fuel stop due weather at SYD

Thanks for that Lindstrim .

[Ian Warren]

After all the compared to the Atlantic which is considered a mill pond to the Pacific , Spose you could level out a good runway at Pitcairn Island maybe build a holiday resort.

[NZ255]

And the pics

http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2 ... as-28.html

[Ian Warren]

Would have good to a 'Q' 747 back in Christchurch ..

[Splitpin]

And the pics

http://www.mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2 ... as-28.html

Great shots ..... there must be some 24/7 spotters out there.