Originally Posted by
Blackcloud
The new ATR72-600 have a different RNP minima than the NZ, JQ A320 and QF, VA 737 fleets. This means they remain more vulnerable to diversions than the twin engine jets.
I also believe that the Q300 fleet is severely limited and that not all the pilot pool is trained for ZQN operations.
Thx. Are the NZ -600s newer than that article from a couple years ago? That made it sound like they were hoping to update the RNP gear.
Originally Posted by
zebranz
If you are here for the second time you are aware of the weather issues. This happens every year, at least a few times- a lot in the mornings until the fog burns off. Such is life in Central. Expect things to get more congested at ZQN with the increases in services. This past summer was an example of delays with considerably more flights than the Customs people could handle. The construction has been going on for a while but the amount of passenger traffic over powers the improvements. I think there was an article on page 1 of the ODT in the past few days about increase in NZ service. A lot is the replacement of Mt. Cook ATR's to NZ A320's.
Didn't do much flying last time 'round but remember plenty of diversion stories. Also noticed quite a bit of mess with Customs this summer with inbound acquaintances.
Missed that ODT article; will poke around for it. Are they phasing A320s into current ATR routes?
4 in one week is hopefully just a painful stretch of bad luck. That bus from Dunners or Invers gets old fast.