Read somewhere that the worldwide 737 fleet clocks up the total hours flown by the Concorde in a week. If the 737 had a similar safety record that would equate to a crash a week! Suddenly Concorde doesn't look that safe. Would I risk it? Absolutely!
Here the incidents:
On 25 July 2000 an Air France Concorde, registered F-BTSC, departed Paris-Charles de Gaulle for a flight (4590) to New York. The aircraft could not gain height after takeoff. Fire was seen trailing the aircraft as it came down near Paris, crashing into hotel 'Hotellisimo' and bursting into flames.
30 JAN 2000
Concorde British Airways, G-....
A Concorde which had just taken off from Heathrow turned back and landed at about 1330 GMT after a warning light came on in the cockpit. The chartered flight BA9010 had 100 passengers on board for a three-and-a-half hour flight round the Bay of Biscay.
29 JAN 2000
Concorde British Airways, G-....
On approach to London-LHR following a flight from Barbados, the aircraft suffered an engine failure.
24 AUG 1999
Concorde British Airways (2x), G-....
On August 24, 1999, British Airways flight BAW2 departed off runway 22R at JFK as flight BAW1 was inbound to intercept the localizer to runway 4R. Both airplanes were Concordes. The airplanes passed within 800 feet vertically and .7 mile horizontally of each other. ()NTSB
06 JUN 1999
Concorde British Airways, G-....
Flight BA002 made a safe emergency landing at London-Heathrow following hydraulic problems. The aircraft was on approach following a fligth (BA002) from New York.
11 APR 1999
Concorde Air France, F-BVFB
The nosegear could not be raised following takeoff from New York-JFK for a flight to Paris (AF002); the crew returned to New York.
08 OCT 1998
Concorde British Airways, G-BOAC
British Airways flight 001, experienced a partial separation of the lower rudder while in cruise flight over the North Atlantic, off the coast of New Foundland. ()NTSB
25 MAY 1998
Concorde British Airways, G-BOAC
While climbing through FL410 a slight rumble as experienced, which turned out to be the separation of a section of the left hand middle elevon (5ft x 3ft). The aircraft returned; large vibration was noted through mach 1.1 with less vibration at mach 0.90 and during final approach..
03 JAN 1998
Concorde British Airways, G-....
A Concorde flight from New York had attempted one approach that was hampered by high winds. On the second approach the captain issued a PAN alert, reporting a fuel emergency. This was followed five minutes later by a full Mayday alert 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometres) from the airport.
27 MAY 1997
Concorde British Airways, G-BOAE
The nr.2 engine was shut down due to thrust reverser bucket oscillation (between 0deg and 37deg) at 6000ft and 260kts.
08 MAR 1997
Concorde British Airways, G-BOAB
Nr.2 engine thrust reverse light failed to cancel. The engine was shut down and fuel was jettisoned. Brake and steering lights briefly illuminated on landing. Warning lights reset at taxi speed. The nr 2 engine thrust reverser bucket subsequently repositioned and the motor locked out at 10deg. .
07 FEB 1997
Concorde British Airways, G-BOAE
Vibration evident during supersonic cruise at FL540. The nr. 3 engines surged and then stopped, and nr 4 engine oil pressure was low. A 'Pan' was declared and the aircraft diverted.
?? MAY 1996
Concorde British Airways, G-B...
The nr 1 engine was shut down due to low fuel pressure warnings and a decrease in nr.1 tank contents. A 'Pan' was declared and the aircraft returned.
26 MAY 1994
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAG
Engine nr 3 was shut down due to high oil pressure; on finals the nr. 2 engine had to be shut down as well.
25 OCT 1993
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-....
While taxying for takeoff (London-Heathrow - Washington) the aircraft suffered a brake lock. This caused a maingear tire to burst. Fragments of the water deflector caused some holes in the fuel tank.
15 JUL 1993
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAF
During landing roll at London-Heathrow, the right hand maingear tyre burst due to brake seizure. Debris caused damage to the wing and hydraulic problems. The no.3 engine was damaged as well, becoming stuck in the reverse position.
21 MAR 1992
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAB
The British Airways Concorde, G-BOAB was on a scheduled transatlantic passenger flight from London to New York. After the aircraft had been airborne for 1 hour and 57 minutes, when cruising at FL 530 and Mach 2, the crew noticed a momentary vibration which, in the absence of any unusual indications on the flight deck instruments, they assumed to be caused by a brief engine surge. However, approximately one hour later, as the aircraft was descending and decelerating below Mach 1.4, there was a sudden onset of severe vibration that was felt throughout the aircraft. Although the crew were unaware of the source of the vibration, portions of the upper rudder were probably separating from the aircraft at this time. In attempting to diagnose the problem it was found that increasing power on No 2 engine appeared to cause the vibration level to increase and accordingly, as a precaution, this engine was shut down. Aircraft handling was apparently unaffected until during the manual landing when more than normal right rudder was needed. However, an otherwise uneventful 3-engine approach and landing was carried out at JF Kennedy International Airport, New York. Upon landing, the crew were informed that a large section of the upper rudder was missing.
04 JAN 1991
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAE
While en route between London and New York, portions of the upper rudder separated. A normal landing at New York was made.
12 APR 1989
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAF
While climbing through FL440, while no a world trip leg Christchurch-Sydney, portions of the upper rudder separated. Aircraft handling was not affected, and a normal approach and landing at Syndey where made.
19 JUL 1988
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAG
The aircraft suffreed 2 hydraulic system failures. An emergency as declared and the Concorde veered off the runway because of inoperative brakes.
14 DEC 1981
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAD
After takeoff from New York the left maingear failed to retract because the gear truck wasn't level. The aircraft returned to New York. It was discovered that the pitch dampers were low in nitrogen.
19 FEB 1981
Concorde 101 Air France, F-BTSD
During takeoff from Washington-Dulles Airport a tire on the left hand maingear blew. The flight diverted to New York-JFK with one engine shut down due to vibration.
16 SEP 1980
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAF
A tire blew on takeoff from Washington-Dulles Airport. Upon landing, pieces of tire damaged the engine and airframe.
5 NOV 1979
Concorde 101 Air France, F-BVFD
During the landing roll at Washington-Dulles, the aircraft hit 2 deer on the runway with the right maingear, damaging the nr.4 brake fan.
21 SEP 1979
Concorde 101 Air France, F-BVFB
An engine was shut down due to a pneumatic problem en route near Boston.
21 JUL 1979
Concorde 101 Air France, F-BVFD
On takeoff from Washington-Dulles, a tire blew. At FL270 a compressor stall was experienced probably due to foreign object damage.
14 JUN 1979
Concorde 101 Air France, F-BVFC
While taking off from Washington two tyres on the left hand maingear blew. The gear could not be retracted, so the crew elected to return to Washington. Some circuitry was damaged after having been hit by debris from the tires. Debris also caused a fuel and hydraulic leak.
29 DEC 1978
Concorde 102 British Airways, G-BOAC
An engine was shut down after departing New York. The secondary air door was found to be inoperative.
10 DEC 1977
Concorde 101 Air France, F-....
One engine had to be shut down prior to landing.
28 NOV 1977
Concorde 101 Air France, F-BVFD
The aircraft made a bad landing at Dakar, Senegal, crushing the tailwheel and scraping the rear of the engines over several hundred feet. The damage was not thought excessive and the Aircraft contiuned in service with Air France, but was withdrawn and stored in 1982. The aircaft was dismanteled in 1992.
Last edited by wheels up; 20th Sep 2005 at 23:14.