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 take-off, 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.
