airports Archives - Waking up in Geelong https://wongm.com/tag/airports/ Marcus Wong. Gunzel. Engineering geek. History nerd. Wed, 27 Apr 2022 11:10:54 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 23299142 Pilots confusing Essendon Airport for Melbourne Airport https://wongm.com/2021/11/wrong-runway-essendon-airport-confused-melbourne-airport/ https://wongm.com/2021/11/wrong-runway-essendon-airport-confused-melbourne-airport/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2021 20:30:46 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=18668 Over the years there have been many examples of pilots confusing one airport for another, and Melbourne has seen more than it’s fair share – thanks to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport being located near Essendon Airport. Google Earth 14 January 2014 Air India flight AI301 Boeing 787-8 VT-ANM Photo by byeangel from Tsingtao, China, via Wikimedia […]

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Over the years there have been many examples of pilots confusing one airport for another, and Melbourne has seen more than it’s fair share – thanks to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport being located near Essendon Airport.


Google Earth

14 January 2014
Air India flight AI301
Boeing 787-8 VT-ANM

From the Carry-on blog.

Operating AI301 from Sydney to Melbourne VT-ANM approached and crossed Melbourne from the east following usual tracking paths for aircraft inbound from the north-east to YMML’s active Runway 34.

The flight crew initiated a right turn to lining up for Essendon’s Runway 35 mistaking it for YMML’s Runway 34.

Sources in Airservices Australia confirm the flight crew discontinued the approach at roughly 1,050 ft after being notified by Melbourne Approach, made a left turn, climbed to 1,500 ft and re-established a second approach this time to Runway 34.

The missed approach is easy to see on the flight track.


FlightAware flight tracking log

31 March 1994
Australian Airlines
Boeing 737-300 VH-TJA

Note: not the same 737 as this incident

From the ATSB investigation.

At about 18 NM from Melbourne, the crew were requested by air traffic control to report when the Melbourne runway was in sight. The crew reported they had that runway in sight and were cleared to track to join final inside 8 NM from Melbourne.

The crew requested and were given further track shortening until they were instructed to make a visual approach for runway 34 and to call Melbourne Tower. The Approach Controller then diverted his attention to other duties for a short period.

On rechecking the progress of the aircraft it appeared, to him, to be on final for runway 35 at Essendon. The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 1500 feet. The Approach Controller advised Melbourne Tower who instructed the aircraft to turn left for Melbourne. The aircraft subsequently landed without further incident.

The flight crew subsequently advised that when they were given the visual approach they believed they had the Melbourne Airport in sight and its position was confirmed by checking the map displayed on the aircraft flight management computer. However, they had not used any other aircraft navigational systems to confirm their position in relation to Melbourne.

24 February 1991
Lufthansa
Boeing 747-400 D-ABTC

From the ATSB investigation.

The aircraft, which was approaching Melbourne Airport from the west, was radar vectored onto base leg and descended to 3000 feet.

At 1704 hours Melbourne Approach Control advised the crew that their position was nine miles south-west of the field. They were asked to advise when they had the runway in sight and also to say when the runway 34 lead in strobe lights were sighted.

Shortly after, the crew responded that they had the runway and strobe lights in sight. Approach Control gave the crew their position as six miles south-west of the field, told them to make a visual approach and not to descend below one thousand five hundred feet until established on final.

At 1706 hours the controller told the crew they were approaching the runway extended centre line. The Approach Controller noted that the aircraft was passing through the extended centre line and had not turned to line up with runway 34. He promptly issued instructions to the aircraft to climb to 2000 feet. At about the same stage the crew realised that the runway they had been looking at was too short for their operations and also decided to go around. Further radar vectors were given and the aircraft subsequently landed normally on runway 34 at Melbourne without any other problems.

Runway 35 at Essendon Airport was the runway sighted by the pilots. It does not have lead in strobe lights. The crew indicated they must have seen reflections near Essendon which they mistook for strobe lights.

On the approach the crew had seen a runway from a long way out, which they thought was the north/south runway for Melbourne Airport, but was in fact runway 35 at Essendon Airport. In the lighting conditions at the time they did not see Melbourne Airport, until on the go around.

On the approach the minimum height descended to was just over 1000 feet above the elevation of Essendon Airport.

8 August 1987
Singapore Airlines flight SQ31A
Boeing 747-200, 9V-SQM

From the ATSB investigation.

On arrival in the Melbourne area the aircraft was vectored by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to a left base position for an approach to runway 34.

At a point 5 nautical miles (9.2 kilometres) south of the airport, and 1 mile (1.7 kilometres) to the left of the extended centreline of the runway, the aircraft was instructed to turn left to take up a north-easterly heading. The crew reported at this time that “we have the field visual.”

The aircraft was then instructed to make a visual approach, and to turn further left for a direct approach to the runway. The crew acknowledged this instruction, but the aircraft was observed to pass through the extended centreline. ATC advised the aircraft that it was now to the right of the centreline, and instructed it to turn left onto a north-westerly heading to intercept this line. The aircraft landed without further incident.

The Captain of the aircraft later advised that he was familiar with the Melbourne/Essendon area. Appropriate navigation aids had been selected to monitor the approach.

The Captain reported that he had initially mistaken Essendon for Melbourne, because the latter had been obscured by rain and low clouds. However, the crew became suspicious when the navigation aids did not confirm the visual indications. They were in the process of correcting the situation when ATC instructed the aircraft to turn to the left as it had passed the extended centreline. The crew had then sighted the Melbourne runway complex and had proceeded visually.

13 May 1987
Air New Zealand
Boeing 767-200ER, ZK-NBC

From the ATSB investigation.

The aircraft was radar-vectored for an approach to Melbourne (Tullamarine) Runway 34. The flight crew reported they were “visual” when at 2000 feet and about 17 kilometres (9 nautical miles [nm]) south east of Melbourne.

The Approach Controller advised the flight of its radar position in relation to Melbourne and requested confirmation that the crew had Runway 34 in sight. When this was acknowledged, instructions were given for the flight to take up a heading of 320 degrees; to intercept the extended centre line of Runway 34 from this heading; and to make a visual approach.

Shortly afterwards the Tower Controller at Essendon Airport (5 nm south east of Melbourne) called the Melbourne Approach Controller and reported that a heavy aircraft was on approach for (Runway 35) Essendon.

The Approach Controller called the aircraft, requested its present altitude and, on being advised it was “through fifteen hundred” (feet), instructed the flight to climb to 2000 feet and turn left onto a heading of 320 degrees. He also advised that the aircraft was 7 nm south east of Melbourne and still two miles to the right of the runway centre line.

Shortly afterwards, the flight crew reported they were at 2000 feet and had “Runway 34 Melbourne in sight”. The aircraft was then cleared for a straight in approach and for transfer to the tower frequency. The aircraft landed without further incident.

The flight crew have confirmed that they initially turned towards Essendon but detected their error at about the time the Approach Controller instructed them to turn (back) to 320 degrees and to climb.

30 December 1985
Qantas flight QF36
Boeing 767-200, VH-EAJ

From the ATSB investigation.

Air Traffic Control of the aircraft was being exercised by Melbourne Approach, which was directing the aircraft for a landing on Runway 27 at Tullamarine. The controller obtained approval from the Essendon controllers to vector QF36 through Essendon airspace.

The aircraft was progressively descended and when clearing the aircraft to descend to 2000 feet the controller advised the crew that the aircraft was 4 miles to the left of the runway extended centre line. The crew advised that they had visual contact with the ground and were then cleared to continue a visual approach.

Shortly afterwards, the crew sighted a runway and commenced a turn to the left, during which visibility reduced as the aircraft entered a rain shower.

On passing through the shower, the crew immediately realised that they had turned towards Essendon, and a right turn was carried out to continue tracking towards Tullamarine.

When the premature turn was commenced, it was observed on radar by the Approach controller and visually by both the Melbourne and Essendon Tower controllers. The Approach controller queried the aircraft intentions at about the same time as the crew commenced the turn back towards Tullamarine.

A normal landing was carried out about 3 minutes later.

19 June 1985
Garuda flight GA898
Boeing 747-200, PK-GSB

From the ATSB investigation.

Garuda Flight 898, was being radar vectored by Melbourne Air Traffic Control (ATC) for a landing on runway 34 at Tullamarine Airport. Shortly after the pilot acknowledged an instruction to call Melbourne Tower the aircraft was seen to turn and descend as though making an approach to runway 35 at Essendon Airport.

The Melbourne Tower controller instructed the aircraft to climb to 3000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), and a few seconds later the aircraft was seen to be established in this climb. After further radar vectors were given, an uneventful landing was carried out at Melbourne.

It was subsequently determined that the aircraft had descended to a minimum height of approximately 350 feet above the level of Essendon Airport, and was about 1.5 kilometres from the runway threshold before the climb was commenced.

So why is it confusing?

Until the 1960s Essendon Airport was Melbourne’s main international gateway.

But today it is mainly used by business jets and light aircraft.

DC3 among parked planes at Essendon Airport

But mid-sized jets such as the Fokker F70 can also safely operate into the airport.

Light plane passes over parked Alliance Airlines Fokker F70 VH-QQR

From the 1,921 metre long east-west and 1,504 metre long north-south runways.


Google Earth

Which just so happen to be a similar orientation to the 2,286 metre long east-west and 3,657 metre long north-south runways at Melbourne Tullamarine.


Google Earth

This similarity has been noted by ATSB investigators.

There have been a number of instances where Essendon has been mistaken for Melbourne. The two airports are in close proximity and have similar runway configurations. In this instance the flight crew members were not very familiar with the Melbourne area or with the approach to Runway 34.

Who recommended the following back in 1987.

It is recommended that consideration be given to the following

– 1 Operators briefing the relevant flight crews on the real possibility of misidentifying the two airports.
– 2 Operators instructing flight crew to make full use of available radio aids on visual approaches to Melbourne.
– 3 The Department of Aviation providing visual and/or radio aids to assist ready identification of Runway 34, such as sequenced strobe lights leading to the threshold and/or an instrument approach facility to the south of the airport.

The largest aircraft ever to land at Essendon Airport were a handful of Boeing 707s back in the 1960s – I’d hate to see what would happen to a Boeing 747 that tried to do the same.

Spot the difference

One spotting feature is the different strobe lights pattern at each airport – Essendon Airport’s beacon flashes white every four seconds – Melbourne Airport’s beacon flashes alternate white/green.

While the aerodrome charts also feature a warning – “WARNING: Secondary airport (Essendon) 5NM south-east”.


Airservices Australia – Aerodrome Charts

And Melbourne Airport runway 34 now has a distinctive identifier – three sets of sequenced white strobe lights commencing 485 metres from the end of the runway, and aligned with runway 34 centreline.


Airservices Australia – Aerodrome Charts

Footnote: freeway confusion

A hazard for pilots landing at Essendon Airport at night is the freeways that surround the airport.

Tullamarine Freeway at English Street

An issue raised by the ATSB in a 2017 investigation.

The airport has two runways aligned 17/35 and 08/26, and it is bounded on two sides by freeways with substantial amber lighting and well-lit residential areas. At night, the lights around the airport present a complex picture. The published aerodrome chart had a caution note describing that amber freeway lighting may confuse flight crews when attempting to identify runway 08/26 lighting.

Computer confusion too

On 10 March 2015 an AirAsia flight from Sydney to Malaysia ended up having to divert to Melbourne when the pilot entered the wrong initial coordinates into the inertial navigation system.

And some unsourced stories

I found this story online referring a supposed incident around 1996.

About 5 years ago I was flying in the circuit in a little PA-28 at Moorabbin. It appeared to me that there was a B747 on long final. My flight instructor flicked the freq to Melbourne International, and sure enough, Alitalia 747 was lined up on the Moorabbin runway (which is less than 1.6 km long!) and complaining that he had visual but his navaids were all wrong. Melbourne Airport cleared him for a visual landing but then cancelled the clearance when they saw where he was on radar!

And this one from the 1970s.

They were also aware of anecdotal accounts of a DC-10 lining up to land on the Essendon runway sometime in the 70s, and being warned off at the last minute.

Further reading

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What is the biggest aircraft to land at Essendon Airport? https://wongm.com/2021/10/what-is-the-biggest-aircraft-to-land-at-essendon-airport/ https://wongm.com/2021/10/what-is-the-biggest-aircraft-to-land-at-essendon-airport/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2021 20:30:08 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=18752 Today Essendon Airport? is mainly used by business jets and light aircraft, but it was once Melbourne’s main international gateway. But what was the biggest aircraft to land there? Some history Until the 1960s Essendon Airport was Melbourne’s main airport, seeing a wide range of piston-powered airliners. Photo by Peter Hough, via Wikimedia Commons But […]

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Today Essendon Airport? is mainly used by business jets and light aircraft, but it was once Melbourne’s main international gateway. But what was the biggest aircraft to land there?

DC3 among parked planes at Essendon Airport

Some history

Until the 1960s Essendon Airport was Melbourne’s main airport, seeing a wide range of piston-powered airliners.

But today mid-sized jets such as the Fokker F70 can also safely operate into the airport.

Light plane passes over parked Alliance Airlines Fokker F70 VH-QQR

From a 1,921 metre long east-west and 1,504 metre long north-south runway.


Google Earth

And the candidates

Boeing 727 jets were the largest aircraft to operate normal passenger services into Essendon Airport during it’s heyday.

Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB) postcard - 1960's
Essendon Airport postcard

With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 76,700 kg, length of 40.59 m, and wingspan of 32.92m.

The first 727 flew into Essendon Airport in 1964.

Australia’s domestic airlines entered the jet age on October 16, 1964 when a pair of Boeing 727-100s landed at Melbourne’s Essendon Airport.

As both airlines were required to bring their aircraft into the country at the same time, a coin was tossed to determine which airline should have the right to land first at Melbourne’s Essendon Airport, the headquarters of both airlines. Ansett-ANA won. VH-RME under the command of Capt A. Lovell landed first, with T.A.A.’s VH-TJA under the command of Capt D.A. Winch arriving a few minutes later.

A few years later Lyndon B. Johnson flew into Essendon onboard Air Force One – a Boeing C-137 Stratoliner – first on his 1966 tour of Australia, and again in 1967 for the funeral of Australian Prime Minister, Harold Holt.


Fairfax Media photo

It had MTOW of 148,325 kg, length of of 46.61 m, and wingspan of 44.42 m.

The press corp following the tour was transported onboard Boeing 707s operated by TWA and Pan Am.

With a MTOW of around 142,000 kg, length of 46.61 m and wingspan of 43.41 m.

And a US Air Force Lockheed C141 Starlifter also assisted with the tour logistics.

With a MTOW of 147,000 kg, length of 51.3 m and wingspan of 48.8 m.

And finally another odd move – in November 1984 Ansett flew Boeing 767-277 VH-RMH into Essendon Airport for an open day, but had to tow it to and from the runway!

With a MTOW of 142,900 kg, length of 48.51 m and wingspan of 47.57 m.

So who is the winner?

With a MTOW of 148,325 kg Air Force One was the heaviest aircraft to land at Essendon, but the Lockheed C141 Starlifter was the longest and widest to visit.

Footnote: Qantas 707s

Despite the “Boeing 707s were not permitted to operate from Essendon Airport” factoid that does the rounds, Qantas did fly into Melbourne’s old airport on a handful of occasions.

The first being a training flight with 707-138 VH-EBB from Sydney to Essendon Airport on 6 July 1959, the other being VH-EBA on 18 July 1964 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the first Australian Air Mail flight.

And an oddball

In 1962 a Sud Aviation Caravelle VII flew into Essendon Airport on a sales tour of the Asia Pacific region.

With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 51,000 kg, length of 32 m, and wingspan of 34.3 m.

Further reading

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Essendon Airport then and now https://wongm.com/2020/11/essendon-airport-then-and-now/ https://wongm.com/2020/11/essendon-airport-then-and-now/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2020 20:30:05 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=16956 Here we are at Essendon Airport back in 1969, when jet planes were only just new, and Ansett and TAA were your options for domestic air travel. Photo from The Age archives And here is the same spot in 2013. Pole 18 might still be there, but plenty of things have changed. Melbourne Airport replaced […]

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Here we are at Essendon Airport back in 1969, when jet planes were only just new, and Ansett and TAA were your options for domestic air travel.


Photo from The Age archives

And here is the same spot in 2013.

Check in counters for Sharp Airlines and Alliance Airlines

Pole 18 might still be there, but plenty of things have changed.

But there the story ends – the terminal has since undergone a $4 million renovation completed in 2019, that converted much of the main arrival hall into office space.


Essendon Fields photo

It’s a sympathetic nod to the past, but the time capsule from the 1960s is now gone.

Further reading

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Photos from ten years ago: October 2010 https://wongm.com/2020/10/photos-from-ten-years-ago-october-2010/ https://wongm.com/2020/10/photos-from-ten-years-ago-october-2010/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2020 20:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=16277 Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is October 2010. Down in Docklands We start down in the windswept streets of Docklands. Where I had a look over the last remaining part of Melbourne Yard – the heritage listed No. 2 Goods Shed completed in 1889. And looked […]

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Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is October 2010.

Down in Docklands

We start down in the windswept streets of Docklands.

No. 2 shed sitting all alone in the middle of Docklands

Where I had a look over the last remaining part of Melbourne Yard – the heritage listed No. 2 Goods Shed completed in 1889.

All that remains of Melbourne Yard:  No. 2 shed and the loading shelter for Loading Track 'D'. Four shunting necks ran along what is now Wurundjeri Way

And looked across to 67 Spencer Street – the former Victorian Railways head office.

Western side of the Victorian Railways head office, showing the 'U' shape

Then walked home past the ‘Wailing Wall‘.

Looking east along the Flinders Street retaining wall: 10 sections were removed in 1999 to allow the construction of Wurundjeri Way

None of these views are possible today – the Melbourne Quarter development covers the block bounded by Wurundjeri Way and Collins Street, the retained wall partially demolished to provided vehicle access.

Taking off

October 2010 saw me pay a visit to Essendon Airport.

Outside the terminal

Where the terminal looked much the same as when it served as Melbourne’s international gateway.

Looking down the terminal: still looking very 1960s

But the scene is different today – a $4 million renovation completed in 2019 has converted the main arrival hall into office space.

An even more dramatic transformation was at RAAF Williams in Laverton.

Sun sets on the abandoned control tower

Once empty paddocks between the Princes Freeway.

MA2 down the line at Forsyth Road, Hoppers Crossing

A decade later the airfield is gone, turned into the suburb of Williams Landing.

Big road spending

Work on the $371 million West Gate Bridge Strengthening project was well underway, with scaffolding covering the bridge while work was completed to add a fifth traffic lane in each direction.

Work continuing on the West Gate Bridge upgrade project

Another road project was the $48.5 million Kororoit Creek Road duplication, which removed a level crossing on the Werribee line.

Looking east towards the railway crossing

And Laverton station received yet another car park extension, taking it all the way to the Princes Freeway overpass.

Extended car park along the northern side of the line, all the way to the freeway overpass

At the rate the car park is being extended, it will soon join up with Aircraft station!

New trains

Delivery of more X’Trapolis trains was starting to ramp up during 2010, the imported body shells waiting outside the Alstom plant in Ballarat awaiting final fitout.

X'Trapolis body shells still in factory wrapping at UGL Ballarat: six cars all up, all with bogies fitted

And a new stabling yard had just opened at Newport to park all of these extra trains.

New stabling yard, tracks 3 through 8, located south of the Tarp Shop

A decade later the new HCMT fleet is being built at Newport, the Alstom Ballarat plant mothballed due to with no work, the workers redeployed to the V/Line maintenance workshops down the road.

Forgotten heritage

I made my way up to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre.

T357 with a hidden T413 in the loco depot, N467 in the other road

Where I found a tine capsule from the 1980s.

Old-school Amex card swiper in buffet car Tanjil

Buffet carriage ‘Tanjil’.

Looking down the buffet counter of 'Tanjil' / 3VRS / 233VRS

The carriage remains in storage today, awaiting a future restoration to service.

Meanwhile in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, the Preston Workshops was a dumping ground for retired W class trams.

SW5.842 stored in the open having been used as a parts bin, alongside rotting SW5.848

But the scene today is different – in 2014 the old trams were moved out and given away to new homes, making way for the ‘New Preston Depot‘ that opened in 2016 for the fleet of brand new E class trams.

Meanwhile Flinders Street Station was a dank and crumbing place.

Missing tiles and exposed electrical cables: Centre Subway to platform 4/5

The only upside being a dance party happening in the Campbell Arcade subway.

Bouncer on the Degraves Street exit from the station, as some confused commuters look on

A decade later the tiles have finally been fixed, part of the $100 million Flinders Street Station upgrade project, but for the Campbell Arcade the future is not as rosy – half the shops are due to be bulldozed by the Metro Tunnel project to provided a connection to the new Town Hall station.

And things that never change

Promotional crap blocking access to Melbourne Central Station.

Another pile of promotional crap blocking access to Melbourne Central Station

It just keeps on happening.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Transiting through Doha’s old airport https://wongm.com/2015/08/transiting-former-doha-international-airport-qatar/ https://wongm.com/2015/08/transiting-former-doha-international-airport-qatar/#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2015 21:30:42 +0000 http://wongm.com/?p=5698 On my 2012 trip to Europe I flew with Qatar Airways - one of many Middle East based carriers who fly from anywhere to everywhere via their petrocurrency funded airports. At the time of my flight the current Hamad International Airport had not yet yet opened, so I passed through Doha's original international airport - and it was quite the avgeek's paradise.

Qatar Airways A330-200 rego A7-ACF at Doha

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On my 2012 trip to Europe I flew with Qatar Airways – one of many Middle East based carriers who fly from anywhere to everywhere via their petrocurrency funded airports. At the time of my flight the current Hamad International Airport had not yet yet opened, so I passed through Doha’s original international airport – and it was quite the avgeek‘s paradise.

Qatar Airways on final approach to Doha

Opened long before Qatar Airways became a player on the world stage, Doha International Airport had only a single runway and no jet bridges – air stairs and buses were used to transfer passengers between terminal and plane.

Qatar Airways A330-200 rego A7-ACF at Doha

On arrival to Doha my plane was met by two sets of mobile stairs and a fleet of air conditioned buses.

Air stairs approach the rear door of our plane after arrive at Doha

Down the stairs and into the desert heat we went.

Heading down the stairs at Doha to our waiting transfer bus

With the last passengers onboard the bus, we left our 777-200LR behind on the tarmac.

Leaving behind our plane at Doha after a 14 hour flight from Melbourne

Out on the apron, there were dozens more jets waiting for their next load of passengers.

Qatar Airways A321 rego A7-AID and A320 rego A7-ADI on the eastern apron at Doha

The bus weaved our way around the apron, passing tugs towing ULD containers full of freight.

Cargo containers and transfer buses pass Qatar Airways jets at Doha

We also watched as aircraft trundled past on the parallel taxiway.

Qatar Airways A320 rego A7-AHE taxis past the access road at Doha

Unlike any other airport I have passed through, Doha’s baggage handing system was housed in open air sheds alongside the aprons.

Open air sheds house the baggage handing system

Inside the staff were trying their best to avoid the desert heat.

Baggage handlers avoid the harsh desert heat

Our bus continued the long drive around the runway and back to the terminal.

Aircraft level crossing on the eastern side of the Doha International Airport perimeter road

Navigation equipment could be found between the road and the runway.

Navigation equipment on the eastern side of the runway

I also spotted an aircraft level crossing, necessitated by the heavy road traffic crossing the taxiways.

Aircraft level crossing on the eastern side of the Doha International Airport perimeter road

We didn’t get held up by any planes, but we did have see a number of jets take off from the parallel runway.

Qatar Cargo 777-F rego A7-BFA takes off from Doha

As we got closer to the terminal, the amount of road traffic grew heavier.

Transfer buses and ULD cargo containers on the move around the perimeter road

Our first stop was the Arrivals Terminal – destination for the handful of passengers who are entering Qatar. Since I was just transiting through, I stayed on the bus.

Airside of the Doha International Airport arrivals terminal

Next we passed the Emiri terminal – VIP gateway for the Royal family, high government officials and visiting dignitaries to Qatar.

Airside of the Emiri terminal at Doha International Airport

But our final destination was the main departures terminal.

Gate lounges at the lower level of the departure terminal at Doha

Duty free shopping is how the airport management would like passengers to spend their time (and money!)

Looking down on the duty free store in the departure terminal at Doha

However recharging their mobile phones is what many opt for instead.

Passengers sit on the departure terminal floor, seeking out power outlets

The food options were rather poor – the main food court consisted of just four fast food restaurants.

The only restaurants in the Doha International Airport departure terminal

I opted to do some planespotting – with no jetbridges, the view out the window was wide open.

Action out on the north-western apron at Doha

When my flight was called, I made my way to the ‘gate’ – in reality an escalator to the bus bay on the ground floor.

Gate 9 at Doha International Airport - the escalator to the downstairs bus bay is behind

There we queued for the next bus out to our plane.

Waiting to board buses out to the plane at Doha

The buses have six doors per side and plenty of standing room, but there was only one other passenger on my bus.

Onboard a transfer bus to our plane at Doha International Airport

We left the terminal and headed back onto the apron.

Passing taxiing jets on the western side of Doha International Airport

Where our plane was waiting for us to board.

Finished unloading via the rear stairs

Qatar Airways uses a “banked hub” model for their operations in Doha, so there was a long line of jets waiting to take off ahead of us. We slowly made our way to the southern end of the runway.

Qatar Airways jet taking off from runway 33 at Doha

There were at least four more Qatar Airways jets in the departure queue behind us.

Four more Qatar Airways jets in the departure queue at Doha

Eventually we made our way to the threshold of runway 33, but we had to wait for an arriving jet to clear.

Waiting for an arriving jet to clear runway 33 at Doha before we take off

It was now our turn to take off.

Takeoff from Doha International Airport

Moments later we were up in the air.

Looking down on Ras Abu Abboud Street

As we bid farewell to the city of Doha.

Looking down on the Al Shamal Road

Footnote

A full set of aeronautical charts for Doha International Airport can be found on the website of the Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar. Charts of particular interest are:

The January 2015 edition of the Qatar ‘Electronic Aeronautical Information Publication’ has the full details.

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Delays at Melbourne woeful international airport https://wongm.com/2015/08/international-arrival-incompetence-melbourne-airport/ https://wongm.com/2015/08/international-arrival-incompetence-melbourne-airport/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:30:52 +0000 http://wongm.com/?p=5634 When arriving into Melbourne Airport on an international flight, it isn't Australia's famous scenery that greets visitors, but massive queues. So what the hell is going on?

The queue to exit stretched around the entire baggage carousel!

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When arriving into Melbourne Airport on an international flight, it isn’t Australia’s famous scenery that greets visitors, but massive queues. So what the hell is going on?

The queue to exit stretched around the entire baggage carousel!

This week industrial action was to blame:

Passengers at international airports across the country can expect delays due to a customs and immigration staff strike during peak flying periods on Monday.

Airports are asking Australians due to travel abroad to arrive as early as they can.

The four-hour protected industrial action will hit international airports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.

But even when customs and immigration staff are all on duty, Melbourne Airport is woefully underprepared for the number of passengers who pass through it.

The problem is caused by multiple factors, of which the simultaneous morning arrivals of three A380 aircraft (Qantas, Emirates and Singapore Airlines) is one.

The first hurdle when arriving into Melbourne is a the ‘last chance’ duty free store that every passenger is forced to weave their way through.

Negotiating the duty free store in the arrivals terminal that blocks the way out

Provided you avoid knocking over any bottles of duty free booze, it is time to clear customs and immigration. While holders of Australian passports can use the automated ‘SmartGate’ barriers, there is still a line to use them.

Once past that barrier, it is time to pick up your bags. Again, this is where the inadequate facilities at Melbourne Airport shine – there are seven luggage carousels in the international arrivals, but only two of them are large enough to fit an A380 load of bags.

When I last arrived into Melbourne my flight was assigned to carousel 7 – the second largest carousel available, but still too small to hold all of the bags being unloaded from the Singapore Airlines A380 I had arrived on.

Waiting for our bags to emerge on the carousel

Bags of non-Australian citizens began to pile up on the carousel, as the owners were still stuck in the line to clear immigration. Once the carousel fills up to a second level of bags, the sensors prevent any new bags from being dumped onto the belt.

An entire A380 load of luggage dumped onto an undersized carousel

Meanwhile everyone else has to twiddle their thumbs.

No more bags coming out onto the carousel because it is already overloaded

Eventually my bag came out, so it was time for the customs and quarantine line, which snaked around the baggage hall – it took 20 minutes to reach the *actual* queuing area.

Long wait to clear customs and quarantine formalities

By that point, customs and quarantine staff had given up on processing three A380s loads of passengers, so they just carried out a cursory inspection of our ‘anything to declare’ cards, and sent the low risk passengers straight out the exit.

Queue to exit zigs and zags around the baggage hall

There are many things I miss when I head out of Australia, but our piss-poor excuses for airports are not one.

More on baggage carousels

Melbourne Airport has seven baggage carousels in the international arrivals hall – a diagram can be found here. Carousels 1 through 4 date back to at least the 1990s-era overhall of the terminal, with the first 90-metre long A380 carousel being added in 2006. This was followed by a sixth and seventh carousel in 2008-12 as part of the expansion of the international terminal.

More stories of incompetence

Here are the 2011 experiences of Peter Clark, an aviation commentator based in Auckland:

To top it off after this day of problems I have been told that the airport managers intend directing airlines to hold passengers on board arrived flights when the facilities can’t cope with peak loads.

And from Reddit in January 2014.

TheKayMan

First time flying into Melbourne airport from overseas? This seems like a typical day. Its always like this everytime I fly in. Its compounded by the fact that international flights tend to land in groups.

Spyders_web

Yep, nothing unusual here. Happens many times (last time I was there, I came in on an A380, Another 747 landed straight after us. Was packed for ages).

And finally a video in February 2015 from Will Horton, an analyst at CAPA – Centre for Aviation.

Incredible!

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