Sydney weather

[Adrian B]

Tower just asked for volunteers for take off clearance...

[George G]

I love it!!

All that action...and again i'm stuck at work!

[Grahame Hutchison]

This is what my southerly panorama looked like after the first storm cleared, and the second storm started to form to the south (minutes later things got very dark again). The poor guys in ATC were just starting to clear things up when the second storm hit. The rain was much heavier, just minor hail here, but very strong winds. Visibility was reduced to almost zero at the height of the second storm.

Airport Runways are to the right and Maroubra to the left. A lone VA B737 at Tango 6 Runway 34R and three holding at Alpha 6 Runway 34L


1432-AEDT Aircraft are still going into holding patterns on approach into Sydney

[Ian Gains]

SIA231 9V-SNB and GIA712 PK-GPS both came to MEL, & RP-C3343 went to CBR.

[George G]

SQ 252 & SQ 232 leaving one behind the other SYD - SIN

[Grahame Hutchison]

BK117 Lifesaver 21 (LIFE21) is operating over the Kurnell area in support of the storm damage clearance work being done
on the ground. They are infringing the extended centreline of Runway 16L, and are in constant Comms with ATC re the
aircraft departing. They had to declare Priority Work in order to operate there. They have now changed to 34L operation,
and ATC are advising LIFE21 of each arrival passing overhead, with a "Wake Turbulence" warning.

The other at the Botany Bay Heads is Bk117 VH-VRQ belongs to the Rural Fire Service.

1548-AEDT LIFE21 has completed their first pass of the storm damage area and are now back on the ground at Kurnell.
They will be departing again in 5-10 minutes.

[Grahame Hutchison]

With all the departing aircraft on 34L/34R looking directly at this weather to the
north, they are all negotiating their departure heading with ATC.

ATC actually said "Pick A Heading" to one aircraft.

REX982 VH-ZRC asked for a 30 second line-up so they could take a look at the
weather first, and then nominate a departure heading.

[Grahame Hutchison]

QF447 just reported a Bird Strike on departure from Runway 34R - identifying it as a Hawk or Kestrel.

ATC asked JST813, who was arriving on Runway 34R immediately after QF447 departed, if they would like to continue. JST813 confirmed they would continue the approach, and ATC then said the bird was on the centreline, do you still want to continue ? JST813 confirmed Yes again.

ACR-3 is now doing a Runway inspection

CAR-3 reported nothing sighted - the Bird lives to hunt another day maybe !

[Grahame Hutchison]

Here are a few images of BK117 LIFE21 operating at 200ft over Kurnell. The overflying aircraft on approach are directly above at 1000ft, so ATC were
understandably cautious. Range to the BK117 is 7km.

Channel 7 AS.355F1 chopper VH-SEV is now operating in the same area, and ATC are asking them to move east with each approaching arrival.







This is a Jetstar A320 overhead the same point where LIFE21 was operating

[Grahame Hutchison]

ATC advised an arriving aircraft of the helicopter (Channel 9 I think) operating at Kernell, stating that the chopper would maintain separation.

The aircraft replied, "We have him on the fish finder".