The series opener, “Dawn To Curfew,” throws light on the relentless pressures of operating under a noise curfew from 2300 to 0600 hours, forcing the airport to complete all its 900 plane movements within a limited timeframe.
Lightning has struck an incoming international flight. Engineers assess the damage, as passengers become increasingly impatient. High winds lead to runway closures, adding pressure to flight schedules. Another plane arrives with potentially dangerous liquid leaking from its cargo, while three ground crew who came in contact are quarantined until fire services can identify the liquid.
With all the emergency agencies involved in a simulated plane crash exercise, real problems place airport operations in jeopardy. Dangerous winds close two runways, followed by an electrical outage that blanks flight information boards. The worst-case scenario becomes a real prospect when the alarm is raised from an explosion inside a passenger terminal.
Sydney is experiencing one of the rainiest seasons on record. With violent storms closing down two runways, an incoming flight relays a distress call to the Integrated Operations Centre. A man has suffered an apparent heart attack on board. Will the plane be able to land in this weather? Later, a fire training drill turns into a real emergency as an on board fire is reported from another plane.
With the Prime Minister of Singapore due to arrive, security at the airport is on high alert. Meanwhile a passenger is detected in possession of a dangerous weapon and the search is on for a woman reported to have collapsed on the street. Duty manager Mel is excited to learn that he'll escort his favourite pop artist when they arrive at Sydney Airport.
Sydney Airport's baggage manager Kevin is having a day from hell as he troubleshoots a number of mechanical breakdowns that could bring operations to a standstill. Meanwhile, security screening discovers a passenger travelling with a gun, and the Federal Police investigate a suspicious bag left at the terminal entrance.
With weekend vacationers and commuters returning home, Friday is always a busy day at the airport. More passengers means more problems, keeping the Duty Managers on high alert. Today it's an air ambulance emergency, security breaches, illegal drugs and a shouting passenger facing a ban from the airline she's booked to fly on.
Sydney Airport's Baggage Manager Kevin is having a day from hell as he trouble-shoots a number of mechanical breakdowns that could bring operations to a standstill. Meanwhile, security screening discovers a passenger travelling with a gun and the Federal Police investigate a suspicious bag left at the terminal entrance.
Looks at the never-ending maintenance work for the airport, including changing a wind sock, repairing a stuck airbridge, and putting out a potentially catastrophic fire.
The busy Christmas Season brings extra challenges with families escaping Sydney on vacation. But the airport is thrown into jeopardy of a shutdown with the discovery of an unidentified white powder on board an incoming flight. Speculation mounts about whether the powder is harmless, or the deadly terror weapon anthrax.
