Noticed yesterday the crazy flight paths and diversions during the massive storms over south east Quuensland. Virgin 337 Melbourne to Brisbane flew way west over central Queensland and ended up diverting to Rockhampton! Qantaslink Dash 8 from Gladstone made missed approach at Brisbane before diverting to Hervey Bay. Several flights went to Bundaberg. Many flights north went 200 miles off coast or way west. Anybody on a diverted flight? Where did you go to and when/how did you get to your destination?
These storms always or mostly so move from West to East so whenever I had to avoid them it was always to the west where there is clear air. Divert to the East and you will eventually have to fly back through some of it to reach an airport. Having said that you must have sufficient fuel to wait in the West until they pass a suitable airport. These storms were forecast so the aircraft should have sufficient extra fuel on board. Wherever you end up will depend on the speed of the storms clearing a suitable airport and the extra fuel carried for this weather. If you miss out on landing at your scheduled destination then it's usually a logistics nightmare for the Airlines to get you there. Happens every year at this time.
I got lucky and landed just before the closure. There was an PA announcement that all operations would cease until the storms passed. A flight to SYD in the process of being boarded was also suspended with PAX offloaded.
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Queensland Storm diversions
aniljak
aniljak
Member since 15 Sep 2012
Total posts 99
Noticed yesterday the crazy flight paths and diversions during the massive storms over south east Quuensland. Virgin 337 Melbourne to Brisbane flew way west over central Queensland and ended up diverting to Rockhampton! Qantaslink Dash 8 from Gladstone made missed approach at Brisbane before diverting to Hervey Bay. Several flights went to Bundaberg. Many flights north went 200 miles off coast or way west. Anybody on a diverted flight? Where did you go to and when/how did you get to your destination?
Rod H
Rod H
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Mar 2015
Total posts 274
These storms always or mostly so move from West to East so whenever I had to avoid them it was always to the west where there is clear air. Divert to the East and you will eventually have to fly back through some of it to reach an airport. Having said that you must have sufficient fuel to wait in the West until they pass a suitable airport. These storms were forecast so the aircraft should have sufficient extra fuel on board. Wherever you end up will depend on the speed of the storms clearing a suitable airport and the extra fuel carried for this weather. If you miss out on landing at your scheduled destination then it's usually a logistics nightmare for the Airlines to get you there. Happens every year at this time.
MrT
MrT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Aug 2015
Total posts 80
I got lucky and landed just before the closure. There was an PA announcement that all operations would cease until the storms passed. A flight to SYD in the process of being boarded was also suspended with PAX offloaded.