Aborted landing 34R on 15/6 at approx 07:30
 

I departed off 34R at about 07:30 on 15 June on QF803 to Canberra. As I looked out after our right turn I saw the aircraft that had been on approach to land behind us suddenly turn right at low altitude and continue east crossing the coast still at low altitude - I would estimate at less than 2,000 feet. Instead of us continuing east, we made a sudden left turn and flew north to gain more height before executing a 200 degree turn to the right to set course for Canberra.

I haven't seen any mention of the incident on the board - does anyone know what happened? I know go arounds are not uncommon, but usually they don't involve such a severe low altitude 90 degree turn, or at least what looked like that from my viewing location while we were in a steep banking climb.

I figure there'll be someone on the Board who knows something!

The go-around procedure for RWY 34R calls for an immediate 90deg right turn and level off at 2000ft. Kind of similar as to what you describe.

Sorry I can't help with the aircraft or why.

Helpful
 

Thanks, Radi - I wasn't aware of that and certainly haven't seen one executed. From my viewpoint it was extraordianry to see a 90 degree turn executed at 2,000 feet so I wondered if my perspective and steep bank and climb angles must have created an illusion.

The people of Botany would have been a bit alarmed I'd have thought.

They're probably used to it I reckon!

Hi

Not much on the box tonight, so thought I would look into it for you Phil

The Go Around aircraft was QF118 (ZK-ZQA) from Wellington
Your flight wasnt even over 25/07 when he elected to go around, where he climbed to 2000.

Listening to the ATC archive he said...

Later in the recording I heard He was about 1000ft below to your right when you made your left turn to the North.

Regards
David

Brilliant!
 

Thanks heaps, David!

So a sudden tail wind seems to have been the culprit - my initial thought was that something had fallen from our old 734 as I couldn't see anything else in the vicinity of 34R and taxiways.

For those interested, I've created a webtrak compilation from QF118's go-around decision point at around 500 ft through to its eventual landing around 10 minutes later. The tags show the relative positions of QF803 and QF118. I was sitting in seat 14F on QF803 - just behind the right wing exit rows - and with a line of sight to QF118 as we banked during the tight right turn off 34R:
http://www.argystar.com/pics/QF118%2...-%20074845.pdf

This may not be that uncommon but it was certainly a novel experience for me from that vantage point!

Excellent compilation Phil. Would have been interesting to see.