Storms, Dust & Gust in Sydney (Sep 22-23, 27)

[Davd D]

UA839 & UA863 on the ground in BNE along with QF6, QF2, QF74, QF12, QF20, BA9,
JL771 also heading up the coast now.

[Mike S]

By the looks of my car, the planes on the ground might need a wash today

[Sarah C]

Micheil's pic sums it up. I have arrived at work and the dust is beyond amazing. You can't see beyond 100 metres! Any car washing businesses will do well in the coming days thats for sure!

Someone from SYD airport said the BA15 arrived, as well as the VS from HKG and he said many of the domestic departures are getting away.

Would the wind be causing most of the problem or the dust?

[Chris W]

From my place just after 0600 this morning:



It was an incredible red colour as the sun was rising.

[Andrew C]

Is YSSY open ATM?

[Michael Mak]

It is open according to ATIS:

ATIS ATIS YSSY S 222156
APCH: EXP ILS APCH
RWY: 25
SFC COND: DUST PATCHES ON RWY
+ OPR INFO: RUNWAY VISIBILITY 1500M RWY 25 IN DUST
+ WND: 270/25
XW MAX 19 KTS
+ TMP: 18
+ QNH: 997
+ SIGWX: EXP TURB IN CIRCUIT AREA

[Davd D]

Looks like most morning flights from NZ (Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch) have been cancelled.

QF130 div BNE
QF128 div BNE
EK418 div MEL
QF050 div MEL
QF368 div MEL
OZ601 div MEL
QF022 div MEL
DJ071 div MEL

[Sarah C]

Just saw the EK A380 departing off 25 - it rotated very quickly!

[Mark T]

Originally Posted by Sarah C

Would the wind be causing most of the problem or the dust?

Cathay diverted due to company policy on Min Visibility which I think is 800m and at the time the RVR was 780m. The downwin component on 16R when Virgin Atlantic arrived was 16 knots and about 24knots crosswind.

Pretty tough morning with low vis and high winds - a couple of flights received congratulations from Tower after touching down.

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

What is the status of UA839 and UA840 ?

Syd Airport Site Seems to be down :S