Hydro Air Accident
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Dis 'n plesir Meneer.
Fortunately, no-one was hurt, but they must have been shaken of course.
The caption in the photo referred to above is not quite correct, they definitely hit a ditch which someone had carelessly left lying on the r/w.
If you go to the Rumours thread, 747@Lagos, Freightboss has just about got it word perfect I believe.
Seems to be little in the general press, but then that's normal after the first reports, it's only freight, so it don't matter, do it ?
oTd
Fortunately, no-one was hurt, but they must have been shaken of course.
The caption in the photo referred to above is not quite correct, they definitely hit a ditch which someone had carelessly left lying on the r/w.
If you go to the Rumours thread, 747@Lagos, Freightboss has just about got it word perfect I believe.
Seems to be little in the general press, but then that's normal after the first reports, it's only freight, so it don't matter, do it ?
oTd
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Quotes from Sunday Business Times 07/12/03
“The Hydro Air Pilot twice told the air traffic controller that according to his notes the runway onto which he had been directed to land was under reconstruction. The controller denied this.” How could he not know?
“The runway appeared to be functioning normally, its lights were on navigation aids were working and there were no markings to indicate that it was unserviceable.” Why????
“Reports say the air traffic controller ran away, but was arrested the next morning.” Running where?
“We are operating in a highly competitive market, and in peak season aircraft and crews are not easy to come by. We are the only South African based cargo carrier competing in Europe and you can bet the opposition are more than ready to move in on our markets.”
Who would be the most likely competitor to get in on the market?
How could he not know? Running where? Who would be the most likely competitor to get in on the market?
“The Hydro Air Pilot twice told the air traffic controller that according to his notes the runway onto which he had been directed to land was under reconstruction. The controller denied this.” How could he not know?
“The runway appeared to be functioning normally, its lights were on navigation aids were working and there were no markings to indicate that it was unserviceable.” Why????
“Reports say the air traffic controller ran away, but was arrested the next morning.” Running where?
“We are operating in a highly competitive market, and in peak season aircraft and crews are not easy to come by. We are the only South African based cargo carrier competing in Europe and you can bet the opposition are more than ready to move in on our markets.”
Who would be the most likely competitor to get in on the market?
How could he not know? Running where? Who would be the most likely competitor to get in on the market?
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You seem itching for answers, so here are my thoughts "answers":
On ATC Controller running away:
Probably, this particular controller wasn't paid a single Kobo since many months (maybe years? What's new, it's Nigeria). So he was showing up at work erratically (comprehensible reaction).
In a professional environment, the controller in question would review all the NOTAMS and necessary updates before taking a frequency. In a professional (normal) environment, FAAN would have turned off the runway lights and place large objects at the threshold of 19R to warn off accidental approaches. The fact that FAAN failed to train/retrain controllers, continues to treat its employees like desperate animals given the economic situation, and to seal the farce, fail to turn off a closed rwy's lights, is inviting new investigation into its profound shortcomings and general incompetence, especially in light of frequent accidents which cost hundreds of lives in the last 10 years alone (re: Hydro 747, ADC 727, etc.).
I sympathize with Hydro management, who obviously are making frantic efforts to ensure that their recent contracts aren't re-awarded to the likes of DAS Air Cargo and others who offer scheduled cargo srvcs. to/from Euro and are eager to swallow the fish.
Such is the reality in Nigeria, a land filled with opportunity and potential for some very handsome profit. At what cost though?
On ATC Controller running away:
Probably, this particular controller wasn't paid a single Kobo since many months (maybe years? What's new, it's Nigeria). So he was showing up at work erratically (comprehensible reaction).
In a professional environment, the controller in question would review all the NOTAMS and necessary updates before taking a frequency. In a professional (normal) environment, FAAN would have turned off the runway lights and place large objects at the threshold of 19R to warn off accidental approaches. The fact that FAAN failed to train/retrain controllers, continues to treat its employees like desperate animals given the economic situation, and to seal the farce, fail to turn off a closed rwy's lights, is inviting new investigation into its profound shortcomings and general incompetence, especially in light of frequent accidents which cost hundreds of lives in the last 10 years alone (re: Hydro 747, ADC 727, etc.).
I sympathize with Hydro management, who obviously are making frantic efforts to ensure that their recent contracts aren't re-awarded to the likes of DAS Air Cargo and others who offer scheduled cargo srvcs. to/from Euro and are eager to swallow the fish.
Such is the reality in Nigeria, a land filled with opportunity and potential for some very handsome profit. At what cost though?
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To all those still interested,
Thanks to those who made fair and unbiased comment. The Nigerian press is now providing the information as to who is liable and it is not the crew of the Hydro flight.
The acft should be lifted out of the donga sometime this morning and towed off to a remote stand for further assesment. The nose wheels and the 3 remaining bogeys all have fully inflated tyres. Starbord flaps are retracted and port flaps partially retracted. As can be appreciated, there are no hydraulics avialble so everything was done electrically or manually.
All the cargo has now been removed and clients should start receiving their goods from this afternoon. The delay in removal of the cargo was in fact a civil engineering task. The acft nose finally came to rest overhanging a 10ft donga running parralel with the rwy. The acft finished up listing to port with both No1&2 on the ground. The remaining bogeys had dug into the soft ground thus preventing the nose to drop deeper into this donga. They had to fill in this donga and build a ramp to the nose door (this acft only has a nose door)in order for the FMC to be positioned for offloading. The LD-9plts (belly fr8) was de-palletised inside the lower holds last week and removed to the warehouse. This in itself was an accomplishment.
To friends, colleagues, strangers and in general all who have supported us and our endeavours in these most trying of times for a fledging airline, I thank you for the support given.
We will be back.
Gema
Thanks to those who made fair and unbiased comment. The Nigerian press is now providing the information as to who is liable and it is not the crew of the Hydro flight.
The acft should be lifted out of the donga sometime this morning and towed off to a remote stand for further assesment. The nose wheels and the 3 remaining bogeys all have fully inflated tyres. Starbord flaps are retracted and port flaps partially retracted. As can be appreciated, there are no hydraulics avialble so everything was done electrically or manually.
All the cargo has now been removed and clients should start receiving their goods from this afternoon. The delay in removal of the cargo was in fact a civil engineering task. The acft nose finally came to rest overhanging a 10ft donga running parralel with the rwy. The acft finished up listing to port with both No1&2 on the ground. The remaining bogeys had dug into the soft ground thus preventing the nose to drop deeper into this donga. They had to fill in this donga and build a ramp to the nose door (this acft only has a nose door)in order for the FMC to be positioned for offloading. The LD-9plts (belly fr8) was de-palletised inside the lower holds last week and removed to the warehouse. This in itself was an accomplishment.
To friends, colleagues, strangers and in general all who have supported us and our endeavours in these most trying of times for a fledging airline, I thank you for the support given.
We will be back.
Gema
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Staus of the damage report?
It has been over a month since the aircraft was moved for
damage assessment. Has there been a determination
as to whether the aircraft will fly again?
If so, have repairs started and what is the current status
of the airframe?
damage assessment. Has there been a determination
as to whether the aircraft will fly again?
If so, have repairs started and what is the current status
of the airframe?
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I'm sorry but I just can't help feeling something is not right here.
I've been in and out of Lagos on and off for years and well aware of the inadequacies of the controllers but didn't think they were that stupid. In fact I think they did a good job all things considered.
What about proceeding heavy a/c and which runway were they cleared to land on?
Down there if you wanted an A/C taken out, getting them to land on the wrong/disused runway would be as good a way as any.
I've been in and out of Lagos on and off for years and well aware of the inadequacies of the controllers but didn't think they were that stupid. In fact I think they did a good job all things considered.
What about proceeding heavy a/c and which runway were they cleared to land on?
Down there if you wanted an A/C taken out, getting them to land on the wrong/disused runway would be as good a way as any.
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I left Lagos on Monday, 22 December 2003 on a scheduled flight, as SLF. The 747 was parked up near our stand, so that we all got a good look at it as we taxied past. The left main gear seemed to be completely gone, just some part of a strut or something was dangling from the bay. Number One engine seemed to have a lot of damage to the bottom of the forward cowling and I think I can remember seeing some more damage to the various stuff on the trailing edge of the left wing. The rest of the landing gear appeared to be intact.
Some engineer friends told me they had seen digital photos of damage where the gear had been torn out of the spar, but that's just hearsay, since they had told me it was the center gear that was involved. They all said they thought the aircraft was a write-off (economically unrepairable) but that's just hearsay as well.
I heard the same rumours about an ATC screw-up but there was no firm information to hand when I left. The accident occurred in the wee hours of the morning, so that someone might have been tired enough to make a mistake, or perhaps there were mistakes on both sides. We will just have to wait for the report, I guess. At least in this case no one was hurt.
I really dislike the way people get all excited and start jumping in with wild stories (wing ripped off, controller ran away, etc.) without really knowing if they are true or not.
That ADC crash was followed with three or four positively, absolutely, no bullsh*t versions of what happened (hydraulic failure or loss of control due to near-miss and faulty control inputs were the two main ones). There just seems to be something about Africa that invites people to let their imaginations run wild. Well, the truth can be pretty weird, at times, but hardly anyone I know in the biz is a drug-running cannibal. There was this one guy, but he went back to Europe....
Some engineer friends told me they had seen digital photos of damage where the gear had been torn out of the spar, but that's just hearsay, since they had told me it was the center gear that was involved. They all said they thought the aircraft was a write-off (economically unrepairable) but that's just hearsay as well.
I heard the same rumours about an ATC screw-up but there was no firm information to hand when I left. The accident occurred in the wee hours of the morning, so that someone might have been tired enough to make a mistake, or perhaps there were mistakes on both sides. We will just have to wait for the report, I guess. At least in this case no one was hurt.
I really dislike the way people get all excited and start jumping in with wild stories (wing ripped off, controller ran away, etc.) without really knowing if they are true or not.
That ADC crash was followed with three or four positively, absolutely, no bullsh*t versions of what happened (hydraulic failure or loss of control due to near-miss and faulty control inputs were the two main ones). There just seems to be something about Africa that invites people to let their imaginations run wild. Well, the truth can be pretty weird, at times, but hardly anyone I know in the biz is a drug-running cannibal. There was this one guy, but he went back to Europe....
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Scary what two years parked outside in Lagos does to an aircraft:
Before: http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/8/3/9/0418938.jpg
After: http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/7/5/6/1022657.jpg
Anyone know if there was ever a finding or a settlement?
4HP
Before: http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/8/3/9/0418938.jpg
After: http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/7/5/6/1022657.jpg
Anyone know if there was ever a finding or a settlement?
4HP
