QF002 was scheduled for departure from
London Heathrow at 1315 hours UTC on 25
March 1990. Due to engineering problems with
the aircraft allocated for this sector, VH-EBY was
dispatched from Sydney as a replacement, thus
causing a subsequent 18 hour delay in the
departure of QF002. The flight eventually
departed London at 0704 hours UTC on 26 March
1990 as QF002A.
On arrival at London Flight Dispatch the crew
were issued with the Flight Plan and
accompanying Notams, Intams and company
documentation.
Prior to departure the crew was issued with a
runway 27L, Brookmans Park 3G SID. This
departure requires a right turn, shortly after takeoff,
towards the Burnham VOR. At a position
6DME from London, another right turn is
required to intercept a track of 058 degrees to
Chiltern NDB. Noise abatement procedures
apply to this departure as well as an altitude
requirement of reaching 3,000 ft nearing
completion of the turn towards Chiltern NDB,
above 4,000 ft over Chiltern NDB and a crossing
altitude of 6,000 ft at Brookmans Park VOR. A
speed constraint of 250 knots existed below
10,000 ft.
The seating configuration on the flight deck for
departure is shown at Figure 1. The First Officer
was flying this sector from the right hand pilot's
seat.