Singapore Airlines Flight Delays & Disruptions

[SQ228]

What did you say again? Could you please spare a thought for the rest of us and stop this?

Lots of luck with that request...

I believe the tailwinds being referred to here are part of a new initiative currently being developed to counteract turbulence whereby large numbers of trained dogs are located at the rear of the cargo hold. The dogs have undergone training to wag their tails in a synchronised circular manner that produces oscillatory stability for the aircraft. The pilot project (excuse the pun!) is known as the Canine Rotational Aeronautics Program. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it.

[tth_ben]

Again, what I said is usually during the Winter time, going westbound is subject to headwinds. After April or May, there will be less headwinds. Closer to Summer is when the west has more tailwinds, hence why TransPac flights usually arrive an hour or so earlier than the published schedule.

After April or May, we will have Pacific tailwinds rather than headwinds from SFO to HKG.

What did you say again? Could you please spare a thought for the rest of us and stop this?

[SQfanatic]

Tail wind on a SFO HKG sector? Seriously?

Again, what I said is usually during the Winter time, going westbound is subject to headwinds. After April or May, there will be less headwinds. Closer to Summer is when the west has more tailwinds, hence why TransPac flights usually arrive an hour or so earlier than the published schedule.

[sunnyday]

Tail wind on a SFO HKG sector? Seriously?

After April or May, we will have Pacific tailwinds rather than headwinds from SFO to HKG.

[SQfanatic]

Thank you for the explanation. I remember traveling 15+ hours on SQ1 during winter times. Does not feel good comparing to the summer schedule.

Similarly, SQ31 (SFO-SIN) actually often took the route directly across the pacific instead of adopting the SQ1's winter route. Is this route not as effected as SQ1?

No problem. I have taken SQ1 a few times in the Winter (2003, 2010, 2016) and my plane has arrived on time usuaily despite the route it took. In 2016 our route took us thru jetstreams due to rain arriving in my area and the Northwest the next day given the cold temperatures we had before I left.

After April or May, we will have Pacific tailwinds rather than headwinds from SFO to HKG.

If i'm not wrong, the winds tend to be stronger nearer the boundaries between landmasses and seas because the inherent temperature differences cause pressure differences which create winds. Planes usually try to travel as close to land as possible because in a worst case scenario, a land crash has higher survival chances than a sea crash. This is of course dependent on other factors, such as the plane's range, the fuel tolerances, winds, increase in reliability of aircraft and systems and hardware (eg. engines) etc. SQ31 probably takes the long overwater stretch right thru the Pacific because SIN-SFO is right on the edge of the fuel tolerances of a stock A359 (same as UA1/2 using the 787-9). SQ1/2 on the other hand, travel much closer to the landmasses (Asian & American subcontinent) because the planes have the range due to the stopover, plus i believe that there isn't a huge difference in the safe distance (nearer landmasses) compared to the shortest possible distance (further away from landmasses). As a result, SQ1/2 might be affected more by the winds than SQ31/32.

However, the effect of the wind is still felt by all flights across the Pacific, its just the scale of the winds. My hypothesis is dependent on the supposition that winds are stronger nearer landmasses. If i'm wrong on this count (or any other), please feel free to correct me! Hope this kinda sorta helps!

That seems possible thank you for the interesting explanation loldude333. My guess had to do with temperature and air masses. Last month and parts of December, we had unseasonably warm temperatures in the West including the Pacific Northwest, so it had seemed to generate stronger tailwinds over the Pacific (possibly why SQ1 departed almost an hour late back then) but now we have colder temps which seem to cause that too.

[loldude333]

My info in this post was complete rubbish, as such i'm removing it. Apologies. I don't think there is any break in logic for the thread though lol

[SQfanatic]

Another delay to report: SQ318 is delayed almost 2 hours. Supposed to initially use SWA off 495 but is using SWF right off SQ212. Also, SQ836 will be operated by the 77W off SQ238 (SWI) instead of the intended flight from SQ212.

[SQ002]

That's correct. Usually during the Northern Winter schedule, there are strong headwinds and jetstreams across the Pacific, which can make the flight arrive late into HKG (15-30 minutes). That's why the route is different. It goes through Alaska, Russia, and downwards to China (Harbin, Changha) before reaching to HKG. That was the route my flight took when I flew SQ1 back in December 2016. However in the Summer, it travels through the Pacific touching Japan (with turbulence sometimes), Taiwan and then HKG.

I'm not sure whether jetstreams in terms of weather play a role here but til now, most cases the flight has arrived early or on time, but now it's consistently arriving late

Thank you for the explanation. I remember traveling 15+ hours on SQ1 during winter times. Does not feel good comparing to the summer schedule.

Similarly, SQ31 (SFO-SIN) actually often took the route directly across the pacific instead of adopting the SQ1's winter route. Is this route not as effected as SQ1?

[SQfanatic]

There has been some consistent little delays on SQ1 from SFO to HKG recently. On time departure (usually even earlier), but arrived a little late than ETA (usually within 30 mins). Must be the heavy headwind flying eastbound now.

That's correct. Usually during the Northern Winter schedule, there are strong headwinds and jetstreams across the Pacific, which can make the flight arrive late into HKG (15-30 minutes). That's why the route is different. It goes through Alaska, Russia, and downwards to China (Harbin, Changha) before reaching to HKG. That was the route my flight took when I flew SQ1 back in December 2016. However in the Summer, it travels through the Pacific touching Japan (with turbulence sometimes), Taiwan and then HKG.

I'm not sure whether jetstreams in terms of weather play a role here but til now, most cases the flight has arrived early or on time, but now it's consistently arriving late

[SQ002]

There has been some consistent little delays on SQ1 from SFO to HKG recently. On time departure (usually even earlier), but arrived a little late than ETA (usually within 30 mins). Must be the heavy headwind flying eastbound now.

[SQfanatic]

SQ241 to SYD got delayed 4 hours. initially would have used the aircraft off SQ218 (SWD) but is using the aircraft off SQ7 (SWO). ETA for 241 is expected only at 9PM. However, SQ211 (Operated by SWH) did depart on time and is scheduled to arrive on time (Departed before 241).

It looks like SQ211 will turn back as SQ242 having an ETA close to 3AM and SQ241 will turn back as SQ212 tomorrow morning SYD time given the SYD cerfew as discussed before in this thread.

[9V-SPL]

SQ346|21FEB (SIN-ZRH) had a delay in departure from 1.30am to 9.50am, due to a technical issue on ground. The flight has since departed, and is operated by 9V-SKE, an A380 with J and PEY on the Upper Deck.

Seems like the original aircraft (9V-SKS) and 9V-SKE suffered technical issues separately, which explains the massive delay, considering 9V-SKE had arrived on-time from Shanghai and had been on the ground for a few hours prior to SQ346's STD.

[SQ-77W]

SQ346|21FEB (SIN-ZRH) had a delay in departure from 1.30am to 9.50am, due to a technical issue on ground. The flight has since departed, and is operated by 9V-SKE, an A380 with J and Y on the Upper Deck.

[SQfanatic]

SQ318 to LHR has been delayed almost 4 hours. iCargo indicates that it had changed equipment 3 times and is using SWE off SQ1. I hope it wasn't a mechanical issue on the last one that ended up forcing SWE to be used (Initially supposed to use SWW, then SWD). ETA is now 10:51PM (Close to 11PM arrival).

Also, SQ494 got delayed as well, I wonder if it's around the same reason, change of equipment. Initially supposed to use SWE off SQ1 but using SWY off SQ212, but that got delayed almost an hour.

[FN-GM]

Just think the broad statement of Airbus having more problems than Boeing isn't an accurate statement

Couldn't agree more. If this was true airlines (who know a lot more than us) wouldn't be buying Airbus.

All new technology has teething problems. I work in IT and whilst it isn't the same industry as aviation we face the same issues with new technology.