Today's Weather Diversions Underway

[Grahame Hutchison]

VH-VOO operating VOZ741 was tracking normally from YMML to YBCG, then just short of Mudgee made a 90+ degree left turn towards Dubbo, descending
to FL080 initially then climbing to FL110. They then made a right turn and continued to track back towards TBCG. The diversion was due to the storm front
heading in from the west. The tower made mention of possible 41kt winds as the front passes through Sydney.





This is what the front looked like over the Airport Runways at 1412-AEDT.



1416-AEDT The front just hit, 35kts of crosswind and some missed approaches, namely QLK39D VH-QOF, ANZ719 ZK-OJB. The Tower just confirmed the
wind as 250 @ 35kts all crosswind.

1418-AEDT Departures now closed.

Plenty of aircraft waiting to depart ...


1423-AEDT Tower advised they will probably stay with the 34 direction, once the front has passed.



1433-AEDT The decision is to change runways to the 16 direction, this will be fun for ATC and
the 15+ Aircraft involved ...


1437-AEDT The Runway 34R traffic is now backtracking down the Runway to T2 for a 16R/L departure,
depending on destination - musical aircraft. The 34L traffic looped back onto Alpha via Alpha 5.



Form a circle !


1453-AEDT Departures underway again.

And then there are the arrivals to process ...