Neu: 2002-02-15 Contents of this issue:
1. Fright Flight 2. Big Drop 3. Deadly Actions 4. WEATHER WATCH ======================================================================== February 15th, 2002 1. Fright Flight: A French Polynesia air traffic controller is being investigated after two jumbo jets on the Auckland-Los Angeles route flew at each other head-on over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean and came within a minute of a collision. An airline source said they were about one minute apart when the 747's collision-avoidance systems kicked in, averting what could have been the world's worst air crash. The aircraft did not come within 17km of each other while at the same altitude. But at an estimated closing speed of 1600 km/h, the aircraft would cover that distance in 38s. Rules for air traffic controllers show that aircraft in that area should be at least 92km apart if flying at the same altitude The two Qantas Boeing 747-400 aircraft, which can each carry up to 400 people, were flying in opposite directions between Los Angeles and Auckland on February 1. At 1 am New Zealand time, they approached head-on at the same altitude. One of the aircraft rose 500ft and the other dipped 500ft as pilots responded to warnings from their computers. An air traffic controller in French Polynesia is thought to have given permission for flight QF26 from Los Angeles to cruise at 33,000ft - the same altitude as flight QF25 from Auckland. The body in charge of air navigation in French Polynesia, Service d'Etat de l'Aviation Civile, said investigators were studying records of the incident. The service's chief of aerial navigation, Annie Coutin, said one controller had been stripped of the right to control certain aircraft movements unless supervised by a senior controller. (NZ Herald). 2. Big Drop: Niue could be in line for a reduction in fuel prices following a drop in Fiji by up to 11 cents a litre from today. The price change has been bought about by the lowering in price of landed fuel. The biggest change is an 11 cents decrease in kerosene to 75 Fiji cents per litre. Unleaded motor spirit will now cost F$1.13 per litre, a seven cents decrease.The downturn is expected to be adopted by several other countries which purchase bulk fuel through depots in Fiji. - (The Fiji Times/PINA Nius Online). 3. Deadly Actions: Suicide in Fiji is reaching epidemic proportions and Fiji police are worried at the steady rise. So far this year, Fiji has had 38 suicide cases compared with 22 in the same period last year. The latest case is a 35-year-old man who died after drinking the weedkiller, paraquat after an argument with his wife. The police are finding that cases of husbands committing suicide after arguing with their wives are quite frequent. Police spokesperson Acting Inspector Unaisi Vuniwaqa said family disputes seem to be the most common cause of suicide. In Niue over the past decade there have been four suicides - two from drinking weedkiller one by hanging and one by self - inflicted gunshot. Various /PINA Nius Online). 4. WEATHER WATCH: SYNOPSIS: A broad, cross-equatorial flow continues from the northern hemisphere into the SW Pacific. Strengthening convergence is developing in low-level westerlies along 10S from Samoa to northern Australia. The monsoon trough continues to deepen from PNG to Samoa. A broad area of Low pressure is organizing and begining to deepen over northern Tonga. Latest enhanced IR satellite images show convection strengthening from Wallis and Futuna eastward to the northern Cook Islands. THE WEEKEND should see weather deteriorate from Niue west to Tonga as the Low dtrifts slowly south and intensifies. All major forecast models have picked the system and develop it to near tropical cyclone strength ( cbp below 995 mb with max sustained winds 35+ kts ) by Monday 18 Feb. Initial guidance tracks the storm center southward through Tonga with the Low positioned west of Tongatapu by Monday a.m. Maximum winds are forecast near gale force in the eastern semi-circle from late Sunday onward. Models also project strongest convection to the north and east of the Low as it tracks in a southeastward direction from Tongatapu from Monday. Niue can expect near gale force winds from the north on Monday and Tuesday according to NOGAPS. NEXT WEEK the monsoon trough remains very active with a second disturbance forecast to develop east of Vanuatu by Monday. Early projections steer the Low SE through Fiji around Tuesday with continued movement toward SE possible. This system could affect Niue by Thursday or Friday. Models deepen this Low to below 1000mb early in the week. Watch for this outlook to be updated as conditions warrant during the next week.(Forecast provided by Darrell Spatz) __END__
