LBA bound Astraeus 737 diverts with 'pressurisation' problem
Local TV news here just reported that Mahon - Leeds flight diverted to 'Northern France' after crew donned masks at FL360, followed by full rubber jungle in cabin. Landed safely.
An Astraeus aircraft operating flight AEU952 from Mahon to Leeds Bradford has landed safely at Brest Airfield in north-west France after experiencing an in-flight technical problem.
The Boeing 737-300 aircraft, with 140 passengers, four infants and six crew members aboard, was cruising at its normal altitude of 36,000ft when the two pilots were alerted by means of the aircraft’s automated warning system to a technical problem within the aircraft’s pressurisation system.
Routine emergency drills – practised in frequent training – were followed in full by the flight crew. This included donning their own oxygen masks as the pressurisation in the cabin fell and a rapid descent was initiated. At that time, the aircraft was 60 km to the west of Brest and so the decision was taken to make a precautionary landing at Brest. During this time, as the cabin pressure levels fell, the passenger oxygen masks automatically deployed and passengers were directed by the cabin crew to use their oxygen masks.
The aircraft landed safely at Brest at 19:30 hrs French local time (18:30 hrs UK local time). A replacement Astraeus aircraft is being flown to Brest as soon as possible this evening to collect passengers and continue their journey to Leeds Bradford. The original aircraft will remain at Brest until further notice whilst a full engineering examination is carried out.
I dare say had the Hellios accident not occured, then this incident wouldn't have raised an eyebrow!
But, I am impressed to see that an airline is professional enough to issue a press release shortly after the incident clearly stating the events that took place.
As a passenger it is slightly worrying to read about these incidents especially after the Helios 737-300 tragedy. However, I know Astraeus have a great team so any problems will be quickly solved.
BombardierCR7: I am impressed to see that an airline is professional enough to issue a press release shortly after the incident clearly stating the events that took place.
Having known JH for some years, I wouldn't expect anything else other than the professionalism he has shown.
Just thought id say well done to the crew and everyone else involved in the incident. I work for Astraeus and have nothing but praise for the crew involved and just proves how good the training is and how well prepared the crew were. Good Stuff!!!!
Why are you all heralding these guys as heros???? all they had was a pressurisation problem. Happens loads of times in aircraft around the world. Just because helios had a crash, no need to make every little problem like this sound huge. They did the job they are trained to do.................end of
God bless the Helios crew and pax, and we will wait for the REAL story in a few weeks.
Hey Jetesen, did you really write this rubbish? Why are you all heralding these guys as heros???? all they had was a pressurisation problem. Happens loads of times in aircraft around the world. Just because helios had a crash, no need to make every little problem like this sound huge. They did the job they are trained to do.................end of No-one suggested they were heroes, simply doing the job as trained to do. The point is that a pressurisation failure followed by an emergency decent is hardly "just doing the job" Nor does it happen "loads of times around the world" If it did we would need a separate heading on prune for them. Praise where it is due to a fellow proffesional is something we pilots pride ourselves on not being too proud to give nor too bigotted to ridicule it where it is due. As is the case here.
Be careful you guys..... jettesen is an unarmed combat specialist ( apparently )... it being something he mentioned in a previous thread (unfortunately now removed) about how he would be able to defend an open FlightDeck door (probably having been opened to allow him to bring us in some tea and / or grub) from a group suicidal terrorists, and all this courtesy of his airline unarmed combat training ( ‘err, you know the kind I mean, i.e. a couple of hours in the class room with some handcuffs’ ). Oh yes, and I kid you not, he’s one dangerous dude ! ... but wherein the word 'delusional' comes readily to mind and you should have read the histrionics he espoused when I mentioned certain realities of this to him !
They may have JUST done there job, however there have been lesser incidents when crew have gone to pieces when faced with a situation in the air. Have you never heard of credit where credits due???!!! Some of my best friends at the company were on that flight and i think that anyone in general who deals with a situation so well and professionally deserves a good bit of praise.
I think its generally agreed that most of the serious accidents derive from a series of problems, which overwhelm a crew, sometimes by mishandling other times by pure bad luck. We may see something of that come out in the Helios investigation, much of which is discussed and/or alluded to in the other thread.
Resolving this problem in a timely and professional manner arguably stopped the "chain of events" in its tracks, not to mention being an endorsement for the training and preparation of the flight crew.
Well done to all concerned. A good professional crew doing what they were trained to do in a professional manner. Coming from Astraeus with both JM and MF running the show I'd expect nothing less but that shouldn't prevent us from complimenting a fellow professional if he/she does a good proifessional job.
All these kudos are a bit worrying. No bugger congratulated me on a well handled emergency descent in the simulator the other night. In fact all I got was grumbles from the sim techs because I didn't stow the friggin oxy masks afterwards.
... but wherein the word 'delusional' comes readily to mind and you should have read the histrionics he espoused when I mentioned certain realities of this to him ! 
