Virgin flight declares emergency after fog diversion

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

I'm no expert, I was just asking questions.

Then if everything is above board, then why is the ATSB investigating it???

Also, given that the QF aircraft also arrived, then departed later to Adelaide, Why did the VA passengers (according to the media) then ferried to Melbourne, before being put on other flights to Adelaide?

Why couldn't they simply continue their journey later direct to Adelaide?

Sorry about these questions, just trying to understand the reasons.

Stuart

[Hugh Jarse]

There is no requirement in the regs for "unsuccessful approaches" fuel.

Companies usually stipulate outside of fuel policy on the maximum number of approaches that should be made before taking an alternate course of action (returning to the hold or departing to an alternate). However, this is guidance and is separate to fuel policy.

Nonetheless, a captain might choose to carry fuel for a couple of attempts (as discretionary fuel) depending on the circumstances, just as he or she may decide to carry alternate fuel (as discretionary fuel) when there are no weather requirements at the destination. There are too many variables involved in the decision making process to get into it here.

[Craig Lindsay]

And going around does go through the fuel a little bit

[Jacob L]

I always thought that MQL's runway wasn't 737 proof, is this true or not??

Did the aircraft leave Brisbane with enough fuel even if it didn't have to make a landing at MQL.

Jacob

[Steve S... 2]

On occasions Virgin has used 737-800's in place of E190's on the MEL-MQL-MEL route.

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by Stuart Trevena

Hi All,

Why couldn't they simply continue their journey later direct to Adelaide?

Stuart

Probably due to downline operations or similar.

[Steve S... 2]

Probably because they look after their operational requirements, staffing or whatever, first.

[Rowan McKeever]

I stand corrected re fuel for unsuccessful approaches. Thought I'd heard / read that somewhere but must be mistaken. Sorry folks!

[Rob R]

Below is what the ATSB are saying re the event, based on FACTS! Importantly it says there were NO weather requirements on Adelaide when the aircraft departed Brisbane. This should stop everyone saying they should have had fuel for Melbourne.

The ATSB will also be looking at other aircraft and interview those flight crews.

Summary
Update 19 June 2013
At about 1015 EST on 18 June 2013 air traffic control advised the ATSB of a fuel related occurrence involving a Boeing 737-8FE (B737), registered VH-YIR, at Mildura Airport, Victoria. The aircraft, operated by Virgin Australia, was en route from Brisbane, Queensland, to Adelaide, South Australia, with five crew and 86 passengers on board when the crew diverted the aircraft to Mildura.
The aircraft had departed Brisbane at about 0630 that morning and carried sufficient fuel for the flight to Adelaide. On the basis of the weather forecasts at the time the aircraft departed Brisbane, there was no requirement to provide for an alternate airport to Adelaide. As the aircraft approached Adelaide, fog reduced the visibility at the airport to below the minimum required for landing. The crew diverted to Mildura and the aircraft landed safely at Mildura Airport at about 1010*following two instrument approaches.
The fog at Adelaide was not forecast when the aircraft left Brisbane. A number of other aircraft, in addition to the B737, returned to their departure airports or diverted to alternate airports as a result of the reduced visibility at Adelaide Airport.
The ATSB commenced an investigation at about 1100 on 18 June 2013 and the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were removed from the aircraft and forwarded to the ATSB’s facilities in Canberra for download. The investigation is continuing and will involve:
examination of the recorded information
interviews with the flight crew of this and other affected aircraft
examination of the operator’s procedures
review of the relevant radio and radar data
examination of the relevant weather observations and forecasts.
It is anticipated that the investigation will be completed in March 2014.

One final thing, go and have a look at both VA1384 and QF735 flight tracks/times on Flightradar 24 and other aircraft tracking sites. You will find QF735 did a few holding patterns in the Adelaide area and VA1384 did none. VA1383 turned around and headed for Mildura first. QFA735 followed VA1384 about 6-8mins behind. Yet at Mildura QF735 lands first, now to make up 6-8 mins over such a short time would indicate they were in a hurry and needed to get on the ground ASAP. Ask you're self this question, if VA1384 was so fuel critical when they arrived at Mildura, why didn't they land first?

[Mick F]

Thanks Rob. Finally, someone with hard facts.

I appreciate this is a forum for enthusiasts and some debate is always going to happen with any incident, however, what annoys me is when people criticise the crews or anyone else involved, for not doing this or not doing that, when they have no knowledge on the technicalities and legal requirements of things like this.

To say any airline or crew in this country would carry out such operations with the intent of cutting corners and skimping on legal requirements, is bordering on defamation.

Rant over.

Mick