From the official news agency of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, this evening. In paragraph four to end, the main focus is George Rock, a poster here. He seems to have successfully taken the fight from online to the real world.
-Richard
Consolidated - 28/05/2007 19:35
Internauts criticize thesis that transponder was turned off
Anna Izabel
[Photo, bearded Congressman in front of PC]
[Photo Caption:] Marco Maia: "Perhaps the American pilots could give us elements [showing] that the transponder was turned off involuntarily"
In a chat organized by Agência Câmara with the report referee of the Aviation Crisis CPI [Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry], congressman Marco Maia (PT-Rio Grande do Sul), air traffic controllers and aircraft pilots criticized the Federal Police investigations that point to the possibility that the Legacy jet's pilots had turned off the aircraft's
transponder. The majority believe that for a pilot to intentionally turn off the equipment would be a suicidal act.
Internaut Márcio questioned why a pilot would turn off the transponder knowing that he would be risking his life. Marco Maia affirmed that he also did not understand the reason, but remembered that the investigation proved that the equipment was turned off. The Congressman explained that, on analyzing the data on the accident, he did not manage to identify how the transponder could have been turned off involuntarily. "That is why we are convoking the American pilots to testify to the CPI. Perhaps they can give us elements that permit us to believe is this affirmation that the transponder was turned off involuntarily."
The report referee explained that the CPI is analyzing all the information relative to the accident with the Gol plane. "Various factors contributed to the collision, since an accident like this does not occur only for one error, but rather because of a sequence of errors. In this sequence it is possible, yes, to identify responsibility by the American pilots."
Internaut George Rock asked the Congressman in which data he based his affirmation that the Legacy jet's transponder was turned off. Marco Maia affirmed that his declarations are based on the forensic examinations undertaken both by the companies and by the Federal Police. "The Legacy's transponder had no defect and, therefore, it was turned off."
Technical Problems
Georgerock remembered, during the chat, that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) - an international entity in the area of flight security - emitted recommendations that there be a prominent warning in case of the transponder and
TCAS being turned off. Marco Maia affirmed that the internaut's concern is pertinent, because, up to the present, the transponder does not have an alarm in case of failure or disconnection. "This is a recommendation that is being given, including to the manufacturers, for them to include an audio alarm system in new transponders for these cases".
The internaut pointed out other problems such as breakdowns in TCAS, transponders and radios, which have been happening since 2005, the use of non-electricity-conducting silicone in the transponder's connecting terminals, which may interfere with the equipment's functioning; and incorrect information on onboard computers. Marco Maia affirmed that these are new pieces of information, which will be analyzed technically. "What I can affirm to you is that the technical conditions, of the Federal Police as much as the Air Force, are adequate for the analysis of this information. Many of these analysis are being done or were performed in the United States or in Canada. However, you can be certain that we will have very precise information about the functioning of the equipment and the condition of both aircraft at the time of the accident."
Read More:
Controllers and pilots criticize Air Force and ask for greater participation in CPI
The Newsroom
Editing - Patricia Roedel
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