Thought I would share this story from a regional Australian airport with you.
I am not going to tell you where PQQ is - you'll have to look it up ): . I like the double Q though hence why I am using its code and not its name.
Anyway on Wednesday we were making the trip home from PQQ to MEL after driving up, via Canberra and Sydney - my folks are borrowing our car for a couple of weeks.
PQQ is a cute little airport - very small terminal with 4 check in desks 2 QF and 2 DJ a little waiting area with an excellent cafe - I can vouch for the bacon and egg rolls.
Other side of security is a tiny lounge with 2 gates - I say gates when in reality there are two doors one for QF and one for DJ. Both lead outside and onto the tarmac - no jetways here! Outside the airside area is separated form the landside by a 5ft fence perfect height for taking photos.
Arrivals area
This area is for arriving pax who come through the gate and round to the side of the terminal to baggage claim (they just bring the trolley from the plane and you help yourself - all outside).
Anyway our plane (I say plane it - had propellers)
Our 'plane'
arrived on time and we were all soon boarded. Over the next 10-15 minutes there was a steady ebb and flow of ground staff into and out of the cockpit. Then the captain made a PA to say we were being held as there was an emergency landing about to take place. Everyone craned their necks to look out.
Nothing and still more nothing.
The CC did a water run and started talking to the lady in the row in front (I got the impression she was a regular) and then we found out the emergency landing was a seaplane (attempting to land on its wheels of which one had not lowered). He also explained that if the landing didn't go well we would be stuck as there is only one runway here.
More to-ing and fro-ing ensued and eventually the captain walked out of the cockpit and down the cabin and told us the seaplane had landed safely and it now needed to be towed of the runway and then the runway inspected before we could go. And ATC kept saying 10 minutes and as it was hot we were welcome to go back to the terminal and wait in the a/c lounge. He also thanked us for our patience.
Anyway most people got off and we couldn't see anything (apart from a film crew, fire, police and ambulance in the airport car park) as the terminal building was between us and the inaction. Shortly after we were re-boarded and off we went, about and hour late and the crew were most apologetic. I have to admit there appeared to be many pax with connections in Sydney (us included) and no one was remotely fussed - I think everyone just understood QF were in no way to blame and there was nothing for them to apologise for.
On arrival in Sydney we among many others missed our connections and were rebooked on the next available flight.
Just goes to show how we all take flying for granted and luckily we generally don't get embroiled in emergencies.
I am not going to tell you where PQQ is - you'll have to look it up ): . I like the double Q though hence why I am using its code and not its name.
Anyway on Wednesday we were making the trip home from PQQ to MEL after driving up, via Canberra and Sydney - my folks are borrowing our car for a couple of weeks.
PQQ is a cute little airport - very small terminal with 4 check in desks 2 QF and 2 DJ a little waiting area with an excellent cafe - I can vouch for the bacon and egg rolls.
Other side of security is a tiny lounge with 2 gates - I say gates when in reality there are two doors one for QF and one for DJ. Both lead outside and onto the tarmac - no jetways here! Outside the airside area is separated form the landside by a 5ft fence perfect height for taking photos.
This area is for arriving pax who come through the gate and round to the side of the terminal to baggage claim (they just bring the trolley from the plane and you help yourself - all outside).
Anyway our plane (I say plane it - had propellers)
arrived on time and we were all soon boarded. Over the next 10-15 minutes there was a steady ebb and flow of ground staff into and out of the cockpit. Then the captain made a PA to say we were being held as there was an emergency landing about to take place. Everyone craned their necks to look out.
Nothing and still more nothing.
The CC did a water run and started talking to the lady in the row in front (I got the impression she was a regular) and then we found out the emergency landing was a seaplane (attempting to land on its wheels of which one had not lowered). He also explained that if the landing didn't go well we would be stuck as there is only one runway here.
More to-ing and fro-ing ensued and eventually the captain walked out of the cockpit and down the cabin and told us the seaplane had landed safely and it now needed to be towed of the runway and then the runway inspected before we could go. And ATC kept saying 10 minutes and as it was hot we were welcome to go back to the terminal and wait in the a/c lounge. He also thanked us for our patience.
Anyway most people got off and we couldn't see anything (apart from a film crew, fire, police and ambulance in the airport car park) as the terminal building was between us and the inaction. Shortly after we were re-boarded and off we went, about and hour late and the crew were most apologetic. I have to admit there appeared to be many pax with connections in Sydney (us included) and no one was remotely fussed - I think everyone just understood QF were in no way to blame and there was nothing for them to apologise for.
On arrival in Sydney we among many others missed our connections and were rebooked on the next available flight.
Just goes to show how we all take flying for granted and luckily we generally don't get embroiled in emergencies.
Rob
