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Pilot accused of texting while landing as alarms sounded in cockpit
Shanghai News.Net
Saturday 12th June, 2010
Jetstar, an Australian no-frills airline, has come under renewed scrutiny following an aborted landing due to the landing gear not being properly deployed and allegations that one of the pilots was writing a text message on his phone at the time.
The A321-200 was on final approach to Singapore’s international airport on May 27th when an alarm sounded in the cockpit, warning the pilots that the plane was within 122 meters of the ground with their landing gear housed.
The pilots aborted the landing and put the plane safely on the ground at Changi Airport on the second attempt, but safety investigators in Australia are concerned by allegations one of the pilots was writing a text message at the time of the incident.
The Sydney Morning Herald, an Australian newspaper, did not reveal the source of such allegations Friday and reported that neither Jetstar nor the Australian Transport Safety Bureau would comment on the accusation.
An official with the bureau simply stated that the plane was “lower than they would have liked”.
Jetstar has had a near-miss in the past during a landing.
Earlier in March of this year a report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that Jetstar pilots had become confused by cockpit alarms while trying to land in heavy fog and allowed the plane to come within 11 meters of the ground.
The plane was coming in to land on July 21st when they aborted the landing due to fog, but the pilots did not move the thrust lever to the proper amount for an ascent, which confused the autopilot as the plane was still programmed to land.
As alarms sounded, they disengaged the autopilot, but by then the plane was just 11 meters from the tarmac and travelling at 305 km/h in heavy fog.
The investigation also found that Jetstar had failed to report the incident properly.  Email this story to a friend
Comments on this story
Anonymous
06-12-10, 07:43 AM |
Airline pilot investigated over allegations he was using mobile phone during landing
JET STAR are a no frills airline,with cost reduction to attract passengers..but at what cost to safety.......
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Budget passenger
06-12-10, 10:43 AM |
cost saving
Is it true that all exit row seats must be occuiped for a flight to take off, is this a cost saving method so that airline can cut the number of operating crew on a flight
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puhi dooley
06-12-10, 03:01 PM |
airline pilot texting on short final
End of career in aviation for that pilot. Absolutely no excuse, or situational awareness, not to mention common sense or professionalism.
Also, budget traveler....what is your thinking process on air safety.
There are several exits on the aircraft,and they want some back up in case of an emegency evacuation of the aircraft.
What if a couple of the cabin crew were injured, plus they have a plane load of passengers who might not remain cool headed, and need assistance, and direction.
Plus, the passengers in the exit isles are sitting right next to the emergency doors.
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pie lauht
06-12-10, 03:16 PM |
puhi dooley...right on the money. The incident had nothing to do with cost savings. Just an idiot in the cockpit.
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Anonymous
06-12-10, 03:48 PM |
Phones
Why is it ok for the air crew to use their phones during the flight and not ok for the paying passengers to use theirs?
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Anonymous
06-14-10, 07:17 PM |
Phones
"Why is it ok for the air crew to use their phones during the flight and not ok for the paying passengers to use theirs?"
Because the pilots know what systems the phone might cause interference to (i.e. the ILS or instrument landing system) and whether those systems are in use at any given time. That said, no, the pilots are not supposed to have phones turned on in flight, but let’s see if the media beat-up is what really happened before we pass judgment.
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