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Australia's bushfires in late 2019 and early 2020 have had an impact on airports and aviation across the country. While planes have mostly kept flying, Qantas cancelled all services into and out of Canberra on January 5, 2020, due to adverse weather caused by the fires. A Qantas flight from Melbourne to Canberra also encountered an unexpected pyrocumulus cloud, caused by extreme surface heat from the fires, which affected visibility and caused turbulence. In this instance, Melbourne Airport was affected by the fires, albeit indirectly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 January 2019 |
| Impact | A fire alarm grounded planes and the traffic control centre had to be evacuated |
| Impact on other airports | Qantas cancelled all services into and out of Canberra on 5 January 2020 due to adverse weather caused by the blazes |
| Impact on other airports | Qantas flight from Melbourne to Canberra passed through an unexpected pyrocumulus cloud, which caused turbulence and a change in sky colour |
| Impact on other airports | Sydney Airport experienced major delays |
| Challenges | Visibility issues due to smoke |
| Challenges | Fire-related gases entering the aircraft atmosphere, which could be health hazards |
| Challenges | Effects on pitot sensors and engines due to ash ingestion |
| Challenges | Weather conditions caused by fires, such as large thunderstorms, hail, lightning, and turbulence |
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What You'll Learn
- Melbourne Airport has an emergency management system in place
- A fire alarm grounded planes at Melbourne Airport in 2019
- Qantas flights from Melbourne have been affected by pyrocumulus clouds
- Bushfires have caused major delays at Australian airports
- Visibility is reduced at Melbourne Airport due to smoke from bushfires
Melbourne Airport has an emergency management system in place
Melbourne Airport has an extensive emergency management system in place to deal with a range of potential incidents. The Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) is developed by the Airport Emergency Committee and updated annually, providing guidance to stakeholders on how to respond to emergencies. The plan is distributed to airline operators, emergency service partners, and other stakeholders.
The Terminal and Precinct Emergency Plan is controlled by the Terminal and Precinct Emergency Planning Sub-Committee, which reports to the Airport Emergency Committee. In the event of an emergency in the terminals, carparks, or other buildings, the Melbourne Airport Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) takes on the responsibility of Chief Warden. The IOC is also responsible for managing the Emergency Warning and Intercom System (EWIS), the primary alerting system for fire protection and communication with occupants.
The fire safety systems in the terminals are designed to automatically alert the IOC of fires, while other buildings require a warden to take control and contact the IOC. This warden can be anyone trained for the role and will coordinate with other wardens and meet emergency services upon their arrival. The EWIS alerting system in the terminals consists of three stages, while in T1 and other buildings, it is a two-stage process. Blue strobe lights allow wardens to investigate and alarm prior to initiating alert or evacuation tones.
To communicate additional information, the Chief Warden may use the Public Address system. Melbourne Airport also uses the Whispir messaging system to send SMS alerts to relevant users about events and emergencies.
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A fire alarm grounded planes at Melbourne Airport in 2019
On the morning of Monday, 14 January 2019, a fire alarm at Melbourne Airport grounded planes and forced the evacuation of its traffic control centre. Flights were suspended from departing and landing for an hour from about 9 am, affecting more than 50 flights, with flow-on delays and cancellations expected throughout the day and into the evening. Air traffic controllers were given the all-clear just before midday and were allowed to return to their desks.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lyell Strambi acknowledged the disruption but affirmed that the evacuation was necessary under the circumstances. An Airservices Australia spokesperson later clarified that no fire had occurred, and the cause of the alarm, which sounded at 9.12 am, remained unknown.
During the incident, planes were forced to circle in a holding pattern until cleared to land, and at least three flights were diverted to Canberra. Passengers on grounded flights reported seeing fire trucks near the tower and expressed boredom and restlessness.
This event highlights the critical role of fire safety systems in airports and the impact of even false alarms on flight operations and passenger experiences. While necessary, such disruptions can result in significant delays and inconveniences for travellers, demonstrating the delicate balance between safety protocols and efficient travel.
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Qantas flights from Melbourne have been affected by pyrocumulus clouds
In January 2020, a Qantas flight departing from Melbourne encountered turbulence after flying through a pyrocumulus cloud during a bushfire. The aircraft landed safely in Canberra, and there were no injuries to passengers or crew. Pyrocumulus clouds form when intensely heated air from bushfires rises, cools, and condenses in the sky.
The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 highlighted the impact of pyrocumulonimbus clouds on the aviation industry. These clouds can cause turbulence, even though they are not always detected by aircraft weather radar because they are not associated with high water levels or large ash particles. As a result, pilots typically avoid pyrocumulus clouds if they are visible, as they are known to contain turbulence. However, if visibility is reduced due to smoke haze, pilots may inadvertently fly into these clouds, which can be dangerous.
Since the Black Summer fires, airlines have become more cautious, sometimes choosing to cancel flights when multiple bushfires are burning simultaneously. This is to reduce the risk of damage from turbulence caused by pyrocumulonimbus clouds. Qantas has cancelled several flights due to the fires.
In addition to the impact of pyrocumulus clouds, Melbourne Airport has also experienced disruptions due to fire alarms. In January 2019, a fire alarm grounded planes as the traffic control centre had to be evacuated.
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Bushfires have caused major delays at Australian airports
Australia has been ravaged by bushfires in late 2019 and early 2020, affecting a land area of around eight million hectares. While planes have mostly kept flying, the fires have caused major delays at Australian airports, including Melbourne Airport. Qantas cancelled all services into and out of Canberra on 5 January 2020 due to adverse weather caused by the fires. A Qantas flight from Melbourne to Canberra also encountered an unexpected pyrocumulus cloud, caused by extreme surface heat from the wildfires, which led to a change in daylight and turbulence.
Melbourne Airport was directly impacted by the bushfires, with smoke affecting visibility and entering plane cabins, potentially alarming passengers. The smoke haze can also cause strong smells and health hazards for passengers and crew, as well as affecting pitot sensors and engines. The fires also create their own weather systems, including large thunderstorms, hail, lightning, and turbulence, which can further impact aviation.
The impact of the bushfires on airports highlights the critical role of technology in managing these events. While there is limited knowledge of the effects of fire products like ash and smoke on aviation, it is clear that they can reduce visibility and create other challenges for pilots and aircraft systems. As such, more research is needed to understand the full scope of the effects of bushfires on air travel, especially with the potential for more frequent and severe fires due to climate change.
To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, airports and airlines have implemented various measures to mitigate the impact of bushfires. These include utilising emergency management systems, such as the Terminal and Precinct Emergency Plan at Melbourne Airport, and communication platforms like Whispir to notify stakeholders of operational issues and emergencies. Despite these efforts, disruptions to flights have occurred, demonstrating the significant challenges posed by bushfires to the aviation industry in Australia.
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Visibility is reduced at Melbourne Airport due to smoke from bushfires
While bushfires are not an uncommon occurrence in Australia, the scale of the blazes that ravaged the country in late 2019 and early 2020 was unprecedented. The fire season had only just begun, and the fires had already torn through an estimated land area of eight million hectares. The aviation industry faced several challenges due to these fires, the biggest being visibility. Heavy fires can lead to smoke, which lowers visibility and can be especially problematic for smaller airports without ILS landing aids.
Melbourne Airport was one of the airports affected by reduced visibility due to smoke from the bushfires. In addition to the issue of visibility, there are other hazards associated with flying in smoky conditions. Dr Simon Proud states that there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of fire products like ash and smoke on aviation. While he believes that ash from fires is unlikely to have significant effects on aircraft engines, there are still dangers due to low visibility and the potential for fire-related gases to enter the aircraft atmosphere, creating health hazards and affecting pitot sensors and engines.
The unpredictable nature of fires and their impact on local weather further complicates the situation. For example, a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Canberra in January 2020 encountered an unexpected pyrocumulus cloud caused by the bushfires. Pyrocumulus clouds are formed when extreme surface heat rises, behaving similarly to regular storm clouds. Passengers on this flight described the sky instantly turning from daylight to black, with associated turbulence. The cloud was not visible on the cockpit radar, forcing pilots to take evasive action with minimal warning.
To ensure safe operations, it is crucial to provide pilots with accurate and timely information about fire location, spread, and smoke height. While disruption to flights has been relatively small, the situation highlights the critical role of technology in managing these challenges. As Australia grapples with the impact of bushfires, further research is needed to assess the effects of ash and smoke on aircraft, especially if blazes of this severity become more frequent due to climate change.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Melbourne Airport has been affected by fires. In January 2019, a fire alarm at the airport grounded planes as the traffic control centre had to be evacuated. Additionally, during the Australian bushfires in 2019-2020, Melbourne Airport was affected by smoke haze, which lowered visibility and caused a strong smell in the cabin.
The bushfires caused reduced visibility at Melbourne Airport due to smoke haze, which can be a challenge for pilots, especially at smaller airports without ILS landing aids. The smoke and fire-related gases entering the aircraft atmosphere also posed potential health hazards and affected engines and pitot sensors due to ash ingestion.
While planes mostly continued operating during the bushfires, there were some disruptions. Qantas cancelled all services to and from Canberra on January 5, 2020, due to adverse weather caused by the fires. Additionally, a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Canberra encountered an unexpected pyrocumulus cloud caused by the fires, leading to a sudden change from daylight to darkness and turbulence in the plane.
Melbourne Airport has several measures in place to manage emergencies, including fires. The airport uses the Whispir messaging system to notify stakeholders of operational issues, including emergencies such as fires and hijacks. The airport also has a Terminal and Precinct Emergency Plan overseen by the Airport Emergency Committee, with the Melbourne Airport Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) taking responsibility as the Chief Warden during emergencies in terminals, carparks, and other buildings.
