VH-XFH VA A330 flying from Alice springs today.

VH-XFH VA A330 flying from Alice springs today. Anyone know why?

Seems that the aircraft flew ~20,000ft all the way too...

This was a positioning flight. It went u/s in Perth on Thursday and went PER-ASP-SYD.

Any idea why it went via ASP?

Not sure why. But the VA source claims A330-200 VH-XFH, which has been out of service at Perth since arriving as VA555 from Sydney yesterday, positioned Perth - Alice Springs - Sydney this afternoon as VA9904.

I think the A332 against the tail number is a typo. VH-XFW is a slippers aviation DHC8. Flying at 20000 feet and stopping in Alice en route to Sydney is indicative of the aircraft typical cruising altitude and range. Given its age and 10 years service with Skipper's, I'd hazard a guess it's being returned to the lessor.

Although rare that flight tracker would have a typo.

Not sure why your talking about VH-XFW??? Did you misread the question??

It was a ferry flight. Gear down ferry hence low level flight. A332 indeed!

Are you sure it was a gear down flight? The max speed for gear down is 280kts but it was travelling at over 400kts.

The 280 kts would be indicated airspeed, the approx. 400 kts would equate to true airspeed at that altitude (20,000 ft).

According to Flight Tracker it arrived in Sydney on 20th Aug at around 3PM and has NOT flown since.

There must be quite a big mechanical problem with it unless Flight Tracker are wrong but they are usually quite accurate.

If it is still unservicable then that is not a real good start to the new Business Class seat introduction.

That would be a pity as it all looks so good!!!