Low-flying Jet flight: Pilots erred in calculating take-off parameters
Low-flying Jet flight: Pilots erred in calculating take-off parameters.
An initial probe into the reported ‘unsafely’ low take-off by a Jet Airways aircraft from London Heathrow on August 30 has revealed that the pilots based their take off calculations like speed and thrust on the full length of the runway. This despite the fact that the full length of the runway was not available and only a part of the runway was there for take off that day. This critical error meant that the pilots reportedly erred on both the take-off speed and thrust, endangering the safety of the Mumbai-bound aircraft and people on board.
“Due to this serious calculation error by the pilots, the plane did not achieve the desired height after getting airborne. The Boeing 777 had an altitude of just 120 feet when it was over the airport boundary wall. And before that, at a point it had an altitude of 35 feet on two engines – while that is the altitude that is achieved by a single-engine jet,” said a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The regulator has since grounded both the pilots. “The pilots did not inform the airline about this unsafe altitude take off. People living near Heathrow complained to the local authorities, who then told London aviation authorities. They, in turn, told our aviation agencies,” said the official. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing this case.
A statement by Jet Airways said: “The subject incident did not have any damage to aircraft or property, nor injuries to crew members or guests on board. We are investigating the event that has been brought to our attention, as part of our active safety management system. At Jet Airways, safety of its guests, crew and assets is of paramount importance.”
The wide body aircraft took off without using the full length of runway available to it, technically called an intersection take off. Once air borne, the plane reportedly did not climb to the required height and passed very close over the airport boundary wall and traffic on the road beyond the wall.
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