All NZ flights grounded - national radar fault

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gzt

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# 175276 23-Jun-2015 16:02

There is no danger or serious safety issues:

http://mobile.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.php?c_id=1&objectid=11469866

"advised by the Civil Aviation Authority and Airways NZ that there has been an outage to the nationwide air radar network, the cause of which is not yet known. All departures have been suspended and the landing of any incoming aircraft is being staggered ."

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# 1330025 23-Jun-2015 16:08

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Glad landings have been staggered. Be a huge mess of everyone arrived at once! ;-)

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ubergeeknz

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# 1330026 23-Jun-2015 16:09

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Who the hell designs a critical system like this to be centralised in a single location?

Oblivian

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# 1330028 23-Jun-2015 16:12

Seems thats not all together right now. Departures in progress

Fred99

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# 1330029 23-Jun-2015 16:12

Must be sorted now. A Jetstar A320 just took off from Chch to Akl.

Beccara

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# 1330031 23-Jun-2015 16:17

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Wonder if it was that big G4 solar flare

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Fred99

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# 1330038 23-Jun-2015 16:25

Beccara: Wonder if it was that big G4 solar flare

I wondered too - but that peaked many hours ago - and the radio blackout didn't affect NZ. It's still G3 but R0.
If the Geomagnetic storm stays at present levels - tonight might show strong auroras in NZ. The present oval looks like it should rotate over NZ, and it looks like very clear skies over the South tonight.
Edit - perhaps not, but still worth a peek outside if you live in the South - away from city lights:

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# 1330056 23-Jun-2015 16:44

They can be diverted to International Airport of Hamilton. Might not be a bad thing after all.

SaltyNZ

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# 1330100 23-Jun-2015 17:35

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Pffff. Typical. A Green Party radar wouldn't just quit like that.

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gzt

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# 1330117 23-Jun-2015 18:04

Pigtail flares aside my random guess is 'oh that's what that dusty 10/100 hub was doing under my desk...'. ; ).

2nd guess is bad rules update taking effect more likely but less funny.

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# 1330156 23-Jun-2015 19:11

Update from Airways:

Airways New Zealand experienced an internal network outage at approximately 1441 today causing disruption to communication and surveillance systems.

Airways immediately suspended all non-airborne flights while we investigated the issue and could be satisfied that we could operate safely.

At no point was the safety of any aircraft compromised.

Throughout this outage we had back-up processes in place to deal with this eventuality safely. Around 50 airborne flights were directly affected.

Airways quickly worked to resolve the issue and has thoroughly tested the integrity of the system.

We did not recommence departures until we were completely confident in the safety of all our systems.

With that reassurance, departures were recommenced at 1600 and full services resumed by 1630.

We apologise for the inconvenience and disruptions caused to all our passengers and partner airlines and airports today.

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oxnsox

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# 1330157 23-Jun-2015 19:15

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ubergeeknz: Who the hell designs a critical system like this to be centralised in a single location?

It's my understaning that an alternate system can be operated out of Ohakea. Which indicates that it's not a single centralised system.

I also believe there is some recognised protocol that when Radar is lost then flight management reverts to timed seperations. It appears that this is what happened, although departures where delayed for a time, possibly whilst this protocol was enacted and alternate systems enabled so ATC could get their heads around the change.

And I'd rather it was that way and safe in the sky, personally.

gzt

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# 1330242 23-Jun-2015 20:54

'Internal network failure' aside, ATC obviously did well today recovering.

Btw how long has ATC in NZ had a national radar?

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# 1330244 23-Jun-2015 21:02

ubergeeknz: Who the hell designs a critical system like this to be centralised in a single location?

A similar event occurred in the UK where air traffic of ALL national airports (including Heathrow & Gatwick) is managed from one single location!!
(In that case their phone line got disconnected)..

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# 1330259 23-Jun-2015 21:34

gzt: 'Internal network failure' aside, ATC obviously did well today recovering.

Btw how long has ATC in NZ had a national radar?

From how I believe it works is Airways base is in christchurch aviational tech park - Sir William Pickering drv. From there most the radar for the country is run out of. The towers at each field control ground/approach etc But when you are calling auckland radar, you are talking to one of the guys in a room down here. Able to hand off to those beside him/her

Big ol golfball on the port hills covers most of the south island

Infact, its now outlined :) http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/69647341/flight-radar-failure-to-be-investigated-by-civil-aviation-authority

maslink

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# 1330281 23-Jun-2015 22:29

Fred99: Must be sorted now. A Jetstar A320 just took off from Chch to Akl.

Hey! I was on that flight :-)

Probably comes as no surprise that if it had taken off on time we would have been in the air when the failure occurred, and I would have made it to Auckland on time...

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