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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Nov 23, 2023 0:04:35 GMT
A couple of mostly/"quite" positive reviews in regard to AIR NEW ZEALAND's domestic services .... despite a major disruption .... AIR NZ HAMILTON/WELLINGTON/INVERCARGILL DOMESTIC SERVICES REVIEWwww.youtube.com/watch?v=HX0eNqV-ke0AIR NZ INVERCARGILL/CHRISTCHURCH/AUCKLAND DOMESTIC SERVICES REVIEWwww.youtube.com/watch?v=wrPYPEYcccIQueenstown's one of New Zealand's most scenic holiday/tourist destinations (located in the South Island, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, in the Southern Alps) .... "real showcase NZ tourist scenery". The entire country was on its best meteorological behavior when this flight was recorded .... "VERY SCENIC" QUEENSTOWN/AUCKLAND AIR NZ DOMESTIC SERVICEwww.youtube.com/watch?v=0unj3QloWjE Even good/the best airlines have bad days .... as was the case with LATAM in regard to the following Auckland/Sydney service. When the shi-yet does hit the fan then one does expect "a reasonable degree of support" (of course) from their chosen .... the way in which these sorts of circumstances are handled, or not handled, ultimately becoming "a PR exercise" that usually dictates the outcome of the situation and our perspective of that operator, but, this report's almost unbelievable .... but for the fact "it actually happened" .... LATAM AUCKLAND/SYDNEY "DISASTROUS" REVIEWwww.youtube.com/watch?v=okry6gc3lVwI've been caught up in these sorts of situations a number of times in the past myself (cancelled and severely disrupted trans-continental and international services resulting in missed connections etc) .... with both QANTAS and AMERICAN .... but in each case both of these airlines really looked after me well providing free "QUALITY" accommodation (at "GOOD" hotels) with multiple meal vouchers/the works" (I was told later by one of their gate agents it was apparently my attitude/turning up at the gate "with a smile, and cracking some sort of hilarious joke about events", that really made the difference "for me" (given some of what they'd been dealing with before me). After all it's in the very nature of the industry that shi-yet can sometimes happen and when it does it's often no persons fault in particular .... let alone the operator themselves. I've never, ever, been "just abandoned" by either/any carrier though .... unlike appears to have been the case in relation to the above LATAM/SWISSPORT review. Mark C AKL/NZ |
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Post by Herman on Nov 23, 2023 21:39:45 GMT
Very nice flights.... showcasing the beautiful scenery of New Zealand.
Herman
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Post by Mike Monce - HJG on Nov 24, 2023 13:59:54 GMT
Re: The Queenstown-Aukland flight....great scenery, however I was really distracted by how long the flaps were deployed. Over 8 minutes by my count and then the video is edited and jumps ahead and flaps are up. I did note there was a lot of maneuvering and not a whole lot of altitude gain after takeoff. Standard procedure from that airport? Maybe Mark can shed some light.
Mike
PS: hope all in the US had a good Thanksgiving and didn't overeat too much.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Nov 24, 2023 20:47:15 GMT
"Aircraft operations and procedures-wise" .... I'm not too sure Mike. Can tell you the airport elevation at Queenstown (ZQN/NZQN) is 1,171 FT and its located within the confines of mountains on all sides .... a difficult but not dangerous approach. Field length (RWY 05/23) is now 6,200 FT. Most approaches are through the northeastern valleys for RWY 23 .... and RWY 23 departures also out over Lake Wakatipu with a climbing turn toward the southeast after departure .... both of which can be subjected to considerable turbulence during certain prevailing weather conditions (and Milford Sound/MFN/NZMF is even worse/more geographically confined and meteorology influenced). Given the unique combination of geographic confines and potential for strong meteorologic influences I suppose speed restrictions might apply .... particularly in regard to turbulence penetration, so, I suppose (I'm only guessing here) the lower airspeed might result in the flaps remaining extended for longer durations during the climb after TO. Here's a flight deck video of one of our B732's operating into Queenstown .... before its RWY extension .... AIR NZ B732 Queenstown Arrival ....www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGrMI_iaeQTurbulence going into, and out of, Queenstown can get quite severe .... www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5SVq9onp0U "DIGRESSING" ....  As I mentioned above Milford Sound is even more geographically confined and weather influenced (get some real nasty turbulence going in/out of there) .... uncomfortable but not dangerous because everyone flying within that region is well trained/properly rated/certified to do so .... A "rough ride" into Milford Sound ....www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzGu2MYR_QsMilford (Sound training video) RWY 11 ....www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yU0bxOawUwMilford Sound RWY 29 ....www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVNRCUcEo_YThe default FS2004 and FSX mesh scenery for both Queenstown and Milford sound is "particularly poor (and so is the supporting Land Class too) .... not a bit like the actual places in reality. Christian STOCK aka "The Red Baron" produced very good 150m, 75m, and 20m mesh terrains "with decent Land Class", but, these files are for FS2004 only. So far as I'm aware no "decent" NZ Mesh Terrain has been produced for FSX .... the aforementioned FS2004 files "do not" properly adapt. Several years ago I made the following presentation of Milford Sound, Mount Cook, and Queenstown using Christian STOCKS 20m NZ Mesh Terrain and Land Class .... MILFORD SOUND, MOUNT COOK, AND QUEENSTOWN 20M MESH TERRAIN AND LAND CLASStonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/5733/akl-b737-video-shot-yesterday Mark C AKL/NZ |
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Post by Herman on Nov 25, 2023 12:54:37 GMT
Yes...I also noticed the lengthy flap extension period. They were extended until the aircraft was above the surrounding mountain tops.
All I could think of a reason for this could have something to do with choosing the most efficient climb rate\ versus airspeed as laid out for the Airbus A320.
I believe that the A320 and other modern airliners have this auto function available which matches these two parameters and fuel flow. In other words....the autopilot will either choose and give you a high climb rate and low airspeed .....or a high airspeed and a resulting lower climb rate.
Herman
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Post by Herman on Nov 25, 2023 14:23:00 GMT
Also...from what I recall when last I flew the A320....the Autopilot has a switch marked ( FLCH) Flight Level Change. When this mode is used together with Normal Mode the AP will fly the aircraft in its most efficient way...in this case it has selected to fly at Max ROC with a low Airspeed.
AS Mark mentioned the flying conditions like turbulance may also be the reason for maintaining that lower airspeed.
Herman
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Nov 25, 2023 18:22:40 GMT
That sounds about right to me .... as within the ZQN environment one would want/need the best ROC possible in order to well'n'truly clear the surrounding terrain and as quickly as possible. Both of the above A320 PAX videos videos possibly demonstrate that procedure in practice. Also on the subject of ZQN .... operations there are not only sometimes meteorologically influenced/restricted, but, also restricted to within a rigid time period between "official (seasonal) sunrise and sunset hours" too as I recall. In fact several years ago we had the following-linked situation where the captain of a PACIFIC BLUE operated ZQN/SYD service was charged/reprimanded for departing outside the NZCAA authorized time of day limitations .... www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6529304/Pilot-charged-over-Queenstown-takeoffMark C AKL/NZ |
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