Originally Posted by
RVDT
Some more perspective
Closeness of the airport could possibly a distraction in itself; plenty of sports areas and open areas in which to land immediately in the area of the 180 for options, (not clearly shown on the above map screenshot). Having said that, an immediate landing wouldn’t necessarily be on the cards for a twin following an engine failure anyway, especially if no other dangers were perceived by the crew.
My 135 experience in this area is a night sortie with the smell of burning and smoke becoming apparent in the cabin <5 mins from BHX, with recced night landing sites along the way if that option was taken. However, a hurried but thermally scanned recce of a school football pitch ‘underfoot’ saw us land and shut down safely. The cause was found to be dry grass in the heating system, but we weren’t to know it wasn’t anything more serious at the time.
Be interesting to read how a fire that apparent from the outside, was perceived from the inside. Thankfully, all our thoughts will be put in their place with the investigation and first hand accounts.