Tonight's AC7302 took what appears to be an unusual non great circle route, despite other trans-pacific flights doing the more normal great circle path.
https://www.flightradar24.com/ACA7302/2991b326
Would it be some de-rating/ETOPS issue that caused this route which added 500mi to the trip? WX? The point where it left the continent of Australia seems unusually north and west for an east-bound flight.
-ambanmba
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- Redbellyguppy
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Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
Fly to the wind to ride the wind.
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- Starlionblue
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Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
As Redbellyguppy says, it's most likely wind. 500 extra track miles on that kind of route is not very significant. A 100 knots tailwind for 5 hours, or a 50 knot tailwind for 10 hours, will give it back.
An aircraft which can fly that routing won't have significant ETOPS restrictions.
I'd mention overflight fees but those aren't really relevant in this case.
De-rating would not have anything to do with it. Reduced thrust is used for takeoff and climb, not for cruise.
An aircraft which can fly that routing won't have significant ETOPS restrictions.
I'd mention overflight fees but those aren't really relevant in this case.
De-rating would not have anything to do with it. Reduced thrust is used for takeoff and climb, not for cruise.
Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
The particular aircraft was one of those 777 cargo conversions (https://www.businessinsider.com/coronav ... t-canada-5) - would that make a difference? The AC flight itself yesterday lasted longer than usual and the other North American peer flights took the usual routing and didn't have particularly long flight times.
Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
Also noticed it was an intersection takeoff from SYD. Not familiar with SYD ops, but are intersection takeoffs common there with ultra long haul flights?
Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
leader1 wrote:Also noticed it was an intersection takeoff from SYD. Not familiar with SYD ops, but are intersection takeoffs common there with ultra long haul flights?
Sure, so long as the airport analysis supports the intersection departure. Pointless though if there is a weight restriction limiting aircraft payload.
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- GalaxyFlyer
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Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
When dynamic flight planning was tested (early FANS ops, California to SYD and MEL, QF and UA), with ATC approval, routing could be changed while enroute as the winds, conditions changed. IIRC, the routes, basically at the same times leaving SFO or LAX, varied tremendously and still arrivals times were pretty close to the plan. There are multiple solutions to routings, not just one and only one optimum route.
Re: Rationale for unusual SYD-YVR routing
It's not uncommon for that flight to leave the coast north of Brisbane. I haven't seen one go this far north before, but it's not a huge departure from the norm.
Currently the northern bit of 16R is having works done so is closed for a couple of months. I imagine because the loads are currently tiny thanks to the border closure that the shorter available runway is not an issue. In normal times the heavies usually use the full length.
leader1 wrote:Also noticed it was an intersection takeoff from SYD. Not familiar with SYD ops, but are intersection takeoffs common there with ultra long haul flights?
Currently the northern bit of 16R is having works done so is closed for a couple of months. I imagine because the loads are currently tiny thanks to the border closure that the shorter available runway is not an issue. In normal times the heavies usually use the full length.
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