Auckland Airport fuel supply obliterated by digger

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Auckland Airport fuel supply obliterated by digger

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Networkn
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#1867838 18-Sep-2017 09:30

Is Auckland the only place AV Gas is available? All planes fill up in Auckland? I know it's not ideal, but if Wellington or Christchurch can refill, surely they would just make detour flights where possible?

freitasm

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#1867839 18-Sep-2017 09:31

Christchurch may be an option for the larger planes, but Wellington wouldn't be able to accommodate these due to runway length.

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Fred99

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#1867844 18-Sep-2017 09:37

networkn:

Is Auckland the only place AV Gas is available? All planes fill up in Auckland? I know it's not ideal, but if Wellington or Christchurch can refill, surely they would just make detour flights where possible?

They did last night - an Emirates A380 (IIRC) from Auckland refueled in Chch, then went on its way. Other longhaul flights to the ME are making refueling stops in Melbourne.

Smaller planes (typically with reduced range) might be able to refuel closer to Auckland - but how much fuel would smaller airports have in reserve?

It seems like a logistic nightmare of the kind that a computer algorithm might not easily solve - a bit like the "travelling salesman problem".

networkn

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#1867846 18-Sep-2017 09:39

freitasm:

Christchurch may be an option for the larger planes, but Wellington wouldn't be able to accommodate these due to runway length.

Well, to be fair, whilst massively inconvenient, it's probably good as otherwise there would be HUGE queues getting into Wellington Airport, being the closest airport. I guess Larger planes will go to CHCH for refuelling and smaller to Wellington.

Obviously, I have no idea how practical that is, but seems endlessly better than no flights to my untrained eye.

Coil

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#1867858 18-Sep-2017 10:02

Just had an email from Emirates pushing my Flight out at Christmas. Here we go...

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#1867860 18-Sep-2017 10:04

What about Ohakea?

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networkn

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#1867862 18-Sep-2017 10:06

Coil:

Just had an email from Emirates pushing my Flight out at Christmas. Here we go...

Huh? I assume it's unrelated. I can't see how a months outage, let alone a fortnights outage would affect flights 3 months from now.

Fred99

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#1867866 18-Sep-2017 10:11

timmmay:

What about Ohakea?

An A380 full fuel load is about 300,000 litres.

An articulated road tanker carries about 40,000 litres

I wonder what size the jet A1 tanks are at Ohakea? Not enough to be a hell of a lot of use I expect.

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#1867874 18-Sep-2017 10:19

timmmay:

What about Ohakea?

The problem is fuel stores,

RNZAF operation assets at Ohakea are a few trainers and helicopter, so there is no major fuel storage, - A 747 /A380 will need 150 tonnes ( ~150,000l) per fill,

Christchurch is the best bet, but even they would get tapped out pretty quickly if most of Auckland's load went there, + it has to be delivered by Tanker from the port in CHC....

Wellington's JUHI tanks are connected direct to a fuel wharf, but its got such a short runway its no use to the internationals

MikeAqua

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#1867883 18-Sep-2017 10:32

If you were to build a second pipeline surely you would build it from a different port, so that the pipeline follows as different a route as possible. Many risks can just as easily damage two pipes as one.

Security around aviation fuel is very tight.

So you would look at secure terminal at Wynyard. Arguably this should already be in place as a contingency, but probaly still expensive.

Or a pipeline from Tauranga, which you would never, ever, ever get RMA approval for.

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#1867924 18-Sep-2017 10:59

MikeAqua:

If you were to build a second pipeline surely you would build it from a different port, so that the pipeline follows as different a route as possible. Many risks can just as easily damage two pipes as one.

Security around aviation fuel is very tight.

So you would look at secure terminal at Wynyard. Arguably this should already be in place as a contingency, but probaly still expensive.

Or a pipeline from Tauranga, which you would never, ever, ever get RMA approval for.

Surely the big question is why there is no ability to transfer fuel to Wiri from Onehunga where the pipeline runs straight past the wharf?

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#1867938 18-Sep-2017 11:16

In New Zealand, the mentality is "it's never happened before, why are you worried?".

It's never happened before, she'll be right.

Even if it's happened once, they call it a 1 in a 100 (or other number) year event, and so she'll also be right.

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#1867939 18-Sep-2017 11:17

surfisup1000:

They are saying it will take around 10 days to fix right?

I've heard some people say it might be over a month.

You got to be kidding. When ever NZ gives a time frame, at least triple it. I'd say it will be weeks to months.

tdgeek

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#1867945 18-Sep-2017 11:25

Batman:

In New Zealand, the mentality is "it's never happened before, why are you worried?".

It's never happened before, she'll be right.

Even if it's happened once, they call it a 1 in a 100 (or other number) year event, and so she'll also be right.

Whats wrong with that mentality? Its efficient, its a VERY low risk profile. If you owned a business selling widgets, would you buy another building the same size just in case yours burnt down?

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#1867951 18-Sep-2017 11:27

Batman:

In New Zealand, the mentality is "it's never happened before, why are you worried?".

It's never happened before, she'll be right.

Even if it's happened once, they call it a 1 in a 100 (or other number) year event, and so she'll also be right.

There is nobody even in the industry calling for another pipeline.

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