SAA in Lusaka incident
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: asia
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saa B738
Happened in Lusaka. Toppled a catering truck. The nav light was damaged. The a/c flew back, no problem. Now in the hangar for repairs.
Africa must be the only continent where you follow marshaller's direction with EXTREME caution. Lusaka is normally serviced by the A319
Africa must be the only continent where you follow marshaller's direction with EXTREME caution. Lusaka is normally serviced by the A319
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: RSA
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanx Aspen20, the B738 must be a tough bird knocking a catering truck over with almost no damage. My thinking was that the winglet would be damaged and required removal......well, good to hear the a/c, crew and pax to be okay......
E
E
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: In my own little world
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Africa must be the only continent where you follow marshaller's direction with EXTREME caution.
Used to watch the a/c start the turn onto stand, stop both pilots look at each other as if to say "WTF is this guy doing ?" realising what he does actually mean, then moving forward again !!!.
I tried to teach them the correct signals a few times, they listened, demonstrated the movements, then the next time an aircraft came in, they just did it their normal way
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SAA in Lusaka incident
Interesting incident in Lusaka upon arrival, taxing to the gate.
View the link: http://www.airliners.net/discussions....main/3766690/
View the link: http://www.airliners.net/discussions....main/3766690/
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Behind 1480mm RHA equivalent
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Always nice to have visuals as well:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=087_1198706113&p=1
Awesome driving guys!
(Edit to add: That last jab was said in a tongue-in-cheek, but friendly tone. Clipping something with an airliners wingtip is EASY to do, we should all know that!)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=087_1198706113&p=1
Awesome driving guys!
(Edit to add: That last jab was said in a tongue-in-cheek, but friendly tone. Clipping something with an airliners wingtip is EASY to do, we should all know that!)
Last edited by Shrike200; 27th Dec 2007 at 17:43.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: suzy wongs bedroom
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It would be interesting to know if the crew were under marshallers instructions (I suspect that they would have been) and it seems that the offending vehicle was incorrectly parked. Once the cameraman recovers from the initial jolt he pans back to the vehicle and it is clearly over the white line i.e. outside the demarcated safety area. On the video evidence........crew exonerated! Skipper should buy the cameraman a beer!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Behind 1480mm RHA equivalent
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Made break.com as well (same video):
http://www.break.com/index/airplane-...ver-truck.html
And, wrong place or not, it's still a stationary object (ie if a brick wall was in the wrong place, would you taxi into it?
) Still, as I said, it's easy to just 'edge' something. 
http://www.break.com/index/airplane-...ver-truck.html
And, wrong place or not, it's still a stationary object (ie if a brick wall was in the wrong place, would you taxi into it?
) Still, as I said, it's easy to just 'edge' something.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: suzy wongs bedroom
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey shrike, why would a brick wall be outside the demarcated safety area? It appears that this was a movable object that was incorrectly parked.......an entirely different situation to taxiing into a fixed object such as a wall or light post. Obviously one tries to avoid this sort of thing at all costs, but **** happens. I'm still interested to know whether the crew were under marshallers orders though, and if the captain was taxiing. If this was the case he would have been shifting his eyes from marshaller to wingtip and back again, not really an ideal situation. On the evidence presented I maintain that the crew were not to blame, but knowing how things work in aviation and particularily in Africa, I have no doubt that they will try to pin it on the crew.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Too far from the equator
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad nobody hurt , that truck could have given someone a severe headache.
However , food for thought , an NG wingtip can be seen from the flightdeck and if the offending vehicle WAS over the line then it should have been noted by the crew and appropriate action taken . Blindly obeying the marshaller ( purely speculation ) at ANY airport is not the best idea.
If the truck was moving then that is a different matter altogether.
An old Rhodesian skipper in Air Malawi told me many moons ago to NEVER take any shortcuts while taxiing and always keep the yellow line beneath your nosewheel ( this was before 747s , slightly different technique for cornering ). This would mean that the finger could never be pointed about 'loose' taxiing on the crews part.
Safe days
KK
However , food for thought , an NG wingtip can be seen from the flightdeck and if the offending vehicle WAS over the line then it should have been noted by the crew and appropriate action taken . Blindly obeying the marshaller ( purely speculation ) at ANY airport is not the best idea.
If the truck was moving then that is a different matter altogether.
An old Rhodesian skipper in Air Malawi told me many moons ago to NEVER take any shortcuts while taxiing and always keep the yellow line beneath your nosewheel ( this was before 747s , slightly different technique for cornering ). This would mean that the finger could never be pointed about 'loose' taxiing on the crews part.
Safe days
KK
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Dubai
Age: 56
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On the video evidence........crew exonerated! Skipper should buy the cameraman a beer!
Remember Possums , the captain is FINALLY responsible for the aircraft. Even if he was under marshaller's instructions, even when if he is taxiing on the yellow line. If it looks close, STOP.
But for the grace of god....
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Behind 1480mm RHA equivalent
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, perhaps a wall wasn't the best example. My point was, it wasn't (or at least didn't appear to be) moving. And it wasn't in 'stealth' mode, ie it was in plain sight prior to the aircraft reaching it. But I'm not going to argue the point - I do realise that these things occur, and I make absolutely no judgement whatsoever against the crew involved - I'm sure they were doing the best they could given the circumstances.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Dubai
Age: 56
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree, and as i have said in another thread, I am NOT commenting on the crew's performance. I wasn't in the cockpit and they are not here to defend themselves.
Just a lesson for us all as to how quick it happens.
Just a lesson for us all as to how quick it happens.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Stockholm - Sweden
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: May 2005
Location: suzy wongs bedroom
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe I got this one wrong, but for the sake of the crew I hope not! The way I still see it though, is that the catering truck was lying on it's side and outside the white line which demarcates the safety area in which stationary service vehicles should be parked. (All the other equipment seems to be well inside the boxed area). I fully concur that it is plain folly to blindly follow the marshaller (especially in Africa), but one does have to take marshallers instructions into consideration along with various other factors. I believe the crew have an argument in their favour.
