I (am guessing, but correct me if I'm wrong) the ACARS system for VH-OJG probably did not have the correct flight number - there was a QF32 for yesterday (23/4) from Singapore operated by VH-OJC, which arrived in the evening. There is another QF32 from Singapore today (24/4) which is arriving this evening operated by VH-OJU. There can't have been another QF32 arriving in the morning, and hence, I deduce that VH-OJG was really operating the QF158.

Yep... I think there is a bit of a discrepancy going on with the flight board presumably because these are unusual times...

Wenglock.

You are probably correct, as my ACARS usually picks up the flights 20-30 minutes out. This would make VH-OJG as QF158 about right time wise.

Those QF301 / 302 / 319 / 320 flights are not actually QF metal - they are the codeshares on BA10 / 9 / 16 / 15.

It seems SQ have a few spare Aircraft (and crews) - for they are operating a heap of extras to/from London, Manchester, Frankfurt and Zurich over the next few days.

BA meanwhile dont seem to have any extra flights to/from Sydney.

Thanks Michael, there was nothing on ACARS for these flights so I thought there must be another reason.

FYI - Channel 7 is now showing a replay of the Air Crash Investigations episode on the BA 009 that flew through volcanic ash now

Parts of Irish airspace will be closed Tuesday due to volcanic ash. Shannon and Dublin airports are likely to be closed.

Why no props?
 

If only jet engines are susceptible to flame out, why can't propellor driven aircraft fly near volcanic ash clouds? Is it only the windscreen abrasion that makes it dangerous for them or are there air intake clogging vulnerabilities with piston engines as well?

What about rotary winged aircraft?

I'm just curious that air space shutdown seems to be the step taken rather than grounding of susceptible aircraft - are there really no aircraft with the ability to fly safely through volcanic ash. or is it that we're not sure so no-one's willing to take the risk?

I wonder if any wind tunnel testing has been (or is planned to be) done with volcanic ash to explore options in case this volcano in Iceland is going to continue erupting for months or years.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports closed at the moment.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...ml?autostart=1

Phew...look like I just got out of there in time!

Heathrow and Gatwick were closed until at least 0700 today. QF9 (A380)diverted to Dubai and will be there all day today due to crew hours. QF1 and 31 diverted to Frankfurt and then made the short hop across to heathrow around 0900. The outbound QF32 has been rescheduled from 1205 today to 1000 tomorrow morning. No info yet on this evening departures but at the moment there is a restriction of 30 aircraft movements per hour while the ash is still around.