AIRLINK @ O.R.Tambo
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Yes thats correct, from News24:
"Johannesburg - An Airlink plane on Thursday night had to make an emergency landing at OR Tambo International Airport after problems with it's nose-wheel.
"The aircraft, an Avro RJ85, with 73 passengers and 4 crew on board, landed safely with its nose-wheel retracted," the airline said in a statement. None of the passengers or crew was hurt in the emergency landing.
The flight departed OR Tambo International Airport at 19:10 this evening and was expected to land at Pietermaritzburg at 19:40. "The aircraft experienced problems with its nose-wheel shortly after take-off. In accordance with procedure, the crew turned back to OR Tambo International and burned off fuel before landing," the statement read.
“The well-being of our passengers and crew are our foremost consideration. We have mobilised counsellors to provide support to the passengers and crew and we are arranging accommodation for them. We will also provide alternative travel arrangements for the passengers,” explained Rodger Roster, Airlink CEO and Managing Director.
Airlink has alerted the Civil Aviation Authority and will provide any support and assistance that the investigators require, he added."
Was ZS-SSH...god job by the pilots it seems
"Johannesburg - An Airlink plane on Thursday night had to make an emergency landing at OR Tambo International Airport after problems with it's nose-wheel.
"The aircraft, an Avro RJ85, with 73 passengers and 4 crew on board, landed safely with its nose-wheel retracted," the airline said in a statement. None of the passengers or crew was hurt in the emergency landing.
The flight departed OR Tambo International Airport at 19:10 this evening and was expected to land at Pietermaritzburg at 19:40. "The aircraft experienced problems with its nose-wheel shortly after take-off. In accordance with procedure, the crew turned back to OR Tambo International and burned off fuel before landing," the statement read.
“The well-being of our passengers and crew are our foremost consideration. We have mobilised counsellors to provide support to the passengers and crew and we are arranging accommodation for them. We will also provide alternative travel arrangements for the passengers,” explained Rodger Roster, Airlink CEO and Managing Director.
Airlink has alerted the Civil Aviation Authority and will provide any support and assistance that the investigators require, he added."
Was ZS-SSH...god job by the pilots it seems
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I am glad I was not on that flight and has nothing to do with Airlink any more.
The captain's remark before landing and the giving away of his "wings" to a (drinking) passenger (as reported in "Beeld" newspaper this morning), is in my humble opinion, nothing but very unprofessional !
Did the crew join the passengers having 'a little drink' ? It appears that the onboard bar was opended by the crew while waiting for the emergency services to arrive !
C'mon guys and girls, you are constantly feeling that you are not being recognised as the esteemed professionals you claim to be, that SAA, Cathay and Emirates can not wait to be blessed by your presence and superior services.
With this type of unprofessional conduct, do you really expect people to think you deserve better ? Do you really expect a major carrier to employ you if a perfectly well executed emergency landing puts your company in such a bad light, purely by the remarks and conduct of the crew after the incident ? Grow up first !
(Not to take away any recognition to the crew landing it safely....)
Remember: If the emergency doesn't kill you, the sensation seeking, ignorant media most probably will (or the image of the company, your well paying job)
Nirak
The captain's remark before landing and the giving away of his "wings" to a (drinking) passenger (as reported in "Beeld" newspaper this morning), is in my humble opinion, nothing but very unprofessional !
Did the crew join the passengers having 'a little drink' ? It appears that the onboard bar was opended by the crew while waiting for the emergency services to arrive !
C'mon guys and girls, you are constantly feeling that you are not being recognised as the esteemed professionals you claim to be, that SAA, Cathay and Emirates can not wait to be blessed by your presence and superior services.
With this type of unprofessional conduct, do you really expect people to think you deserve better ? Do you really expect a major carrier to employ you if a perfectly well executed emergency landing puts your company in such a bad light, purely by the remarks and conduct of the crew after the incident ? Grow up first !
(Not to take away any recognition to the crew landing it safely....)
Remember: If the emergency doesn't kill you, the sensation seeking, ignorant media most probably will (or the image of the company, your well paying job)
Nirak
Last edited by Nirak; 12th Nov 2011 at 06:43.
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Nirak...maybe you are reading into this a little too much 
I think you yourself are a victim of the sensationalist ignorant media you so rightfully point out...and where exactly do you read that the Airlink crew are fighting to be recognised as 'esteemed professionals' by larger companies?!
Wind your neck in a bit...your entire post rides on speculation of the lowest calibre!
I think you yourself are a victim of the sensationalist ignorant media you so rightfully point out...and where exactly do you read that the Airlink crew are fighting to be recognised as 'esteemed professionals' by larger companies?!
Wind your neck in a bit...your entire post rides on speculation of the lowest calibre!
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It will be interesting to see what Airlinks's hull loss /accidenyt per million pax carried ratio is compared to Sax and other such carriers Runway incident Ndola, Jetstream in Durban, George incident etc insurance must love them!
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And Nirak...just to punch some VERY obvious holes in your little post.
Firstly, when the plane came to a halt the emergency services were already on the scene...so much for 'waiting for them to arrive'! Along with that, how long do you think it usually takes for emergency services to arrive on the scene of an emergency in any circumstance? Enough time for the guys to crack open a beer on the wing? Did they have a shot of Vodka before jumping down the shoot? After an accident that would be rather silly dont you think?!
Secondly, I highly doubt that a captain would be making statements such as that during an emergency especially shortly before landing...im pretty sutre that cockpit door would have been tightly shut! If that is the case that would be unprofessional I agree but also....that is wild speculation!
Firstly, when the plane came to a halt the emergency services were already on the scene...so much for 'waiting for them to arrive'! Along with that, how long do you think it usually takes for emergency services to arrive on the scene of an emergency in any circumstance? Enough time for the guys to crack open a beer on the wing? Did they have a shot of Vodka before jumping down the shoot? After an accident that would be rather silly dont you think?!
Secondly, I highly doubt that a captain would be making statements such as that during an emergency especially shortly before landing...im pretty sutre that cockpit door would have been tightly shut! If that is the case that would be unprofessional I agree but also....that is wild speculation!
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As I pointed out, my only reference about the incident is from what I have read in 'Beeld' newspaper.
And that I have nothing to do with Airlink anymore.
And that I have nothing to do with Airlink anymore.
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Nirak...were you flight crew at any time? Working for Airlink? 
Maybe with The Beeld being your only reference you shouldn't go accusing and literally undermining the integrity of the crew on this flight and Airlink as a whole!! Go do some proper research...
Maybe with The Beeld being your only reference you shouldn't go accusing and literally undermining the integrity of the crew on this flight and Airlink as a whole!! Go do some proper research...
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(as reported in "Beeld" newspaper this morning)
Angs-landing: Net whisky troos hulle
2011-11-11 23:15
As hulle hom nie binne die volgende 10 sekondes sien nie, moet hulle weet hy is dood.
So het kapt. Harm Kelderman volgens mnr. Roop Maharaj, ’n passasier, aan sy bemanning en passasiers gesê toe hy die Avro 146-RJ85-vliegtuig sonder ’n neuswiel op die skuimbedekte aanloopbaan van die O.R. Tambo-lughawe in Kempton Park geland het.
“Toe ek dít hoor, het ek gedink dié is my laaste aand,” het Maharaj gister gesê.
Van die passasiers het beweer daar was nie noodpersoneel beskikbaar om passasiers te help wat kneusings opgedoen het toe hulle uit die vliegtuig tot op die glybane op die aanloopbaan moes spring nie. Na bewering was daar ook nie beraders nie.
“Die enige beraders wat beskikbaar was, was J&B, Bell’s en Jack Daniels (whisky),” het dr. Mark Manley geskerts.
Manley het gesê Kelderman het die vliegtuig met die landing ’n ruk lank op sy agterwiele gehou voordat hy die neus laat sak het.
“Die kajuit was vol rook. Ons het kalm gebly en ons het dit oorleef, danksy die vlieënier en sy bemanning,” het Manley gesê.
Die voorlopige ondersoek na die oorsaak van die noodlanding dui daarop dat die “menslike faktor” moontlik ’n rol gespeel het.
Die vliegtuig, met sy 73 passasiers en vier bemanningslede aan boord, het eergister kort ná 19:00 van die lughawe opgestyg op ’n vlug van 30 minute na die Oribi-lughawe buite Pietermaritzburg.
Volgens mnr. Zakhele Thwala, waarnemende direkteur van die Burgerlugvaartowerheid (BLO), was die vliegtuig nog in die lug toe die BLO ’n oproep van Airlink gekry het.
’n Ondersoeker is gestuur.
Gisteroggend is nog inspekteurs gestuur voordat die vliegtuig na ’n loods gesleep is vir verdere ondersoek.
Thwala het in ’n verklaring gesê die BLO gaan Airlink se vloot fyn dophou.
“Net ’n finale verslag sal met sekerheid presies kan aandui wat die oorsaak van die ongeluk was. Inligting wat egter in dié stadium beskikbaar is, dui daarop dat die menslike faktor ’n bydraende rol kon gespeel het.
“Ons het dus in die tussentyd ’n span inspekteurs saamgestel wat parallel met die ongelukondersoekbeamptes gaan werk om te verseker dat voorvlugprosedures nagekom is en (in die toekoms) nagekom word. Dit word gedoen om te verseker dat onveilige situasies nie gebeur en moontlike gevare nie ontstaan nie,” lui die verklaring.
Mnr. Rodger Foster, hoof van SA Airlink, het in verklarings op hul webwerf gesê hulle het self met ’n interne ondersoek begin.
Volgens me. Karin Murray, woordvoerder van Airlink, is dit normale prosedure vir ’n lugdiens om ná ’n voorval self ’n ondersoek te doen.
Sy het gesê alle passasiers het berading en mediese aandag gekry.
Die BLO sowel as mnr. S’bu Ndebele, minister van vervoer, het die bemanning gelukgewens met die suksesvolle uitvoering van die noodlanding.
Mnr. Cedric Geer van Pietermaritzburg vertoon eergisteraand trots sy “kapteinsvlerkies” wat kapt. Harm Kelderman, kaptein van die Airlink-vlug, ná die suksesvolle noodlanding aan hom geskenk het as aandenking. Volgens Geer, wat op sy dag ’n valskermsoldaat was, was die tyd terwyl hulle gesirkel het om brandstof te verbrand baie senutergend. Toe hy hoor hulle moet brace, weet hy dis nou of nooit.
Foto: Lerato Maduna
2011-11-11 23:15
As hulle hom nie binne die volgende 10 sekondes sien nie, moet hulle weet hy is dood.
So het kapt. Harm Kelderman volgens mnr. Roop Maharaj, ’n passasier, aan sy bemanning en passasiers gesê toe hy die Avro 146-RJ85-vliegtuig sonder ’n neuswiel op die skuimbedekte aanloopbaan van die O.R. Tambo-lughawe in Kempton Park geland het.
“Toe ek dít hoor, het ek gedink dié is my laaste aand,” het Maharaj gister gesê.
Van die passasiers het beweer daar was nie noodpersoneel beskikbaar om passasiers te help wat kneusings opgedoen het toe hulle uit die vliegtuig tot op die glybane op die aanloopbaan moes spring nie. Na bewering was daar ook nie beraders nie.
“Die enige beraders wat beskikbaar was, was J&B, Bell’s en Jack Daniels (whisky),” het dr. Mark Manley geskerts.
Manley het gesê Kelderman het die vliegtuig met die landing ’n ruk lank op sy agterwiele gehou voordat hy die neus laat sak het.
“Die kajuit was vol rook. Ons het kalm gebly en ons het dit oorleef, danksy die vlieënier en sy bemanning,” het Manley gesê.
Die voorlopige ondersoek na die oorsaak van die noodlanding dui daarop dat die “menslike faktor” moontlik ’n rol gespeel het.
Die vliegtuig, met sy 73 passasiers en vier bemanningslede aan boord, het eergister kort ná 19:00 van die lughawe opgestyg op ’n vlug van 30 minute na die Oribi-lughawe buite Pietermaritzburg.
Volgens mnr. Zakhele Thwala, waarnemende direkteur van die Burgerlugvaartowerheid (BLO), was die vliegtuig nog in die lug toe die BLO ’n oproep van Airlink gekry het.
’n Ondersoeker is gestuur.
Gisteroggend is nog inspekteurs gestuur voordat die vliegtuig na ’n loods gesleep is vir verdere ondersoek.
Thwala het in ’n verklaring gesê die BLO gaan Airlink se vloot fyn dophou.
“Net ’n finale verslag sal met sekerheid presies kan aandui wat die oorsaak van die ongeluk was. Inligting wat egter in dié stadium beskikbaar is, dui daarop dat die menslike faktor ’n bydraende rol kon gespeel het.
“Ons het dus in die tussentyd ’n span inspekteurs saamgestel wat parallel met die ongelukondersoekbeamptes gaan werk om te verseker dat voorvlugprosedures nagekom is en (in die toekoms) nagekom word. Dit word gedoen om te verseker dat onveilige situasies nie gebeur en moontlike gevare nie ontstaan nie,” lui die verklaring.
Mnr. Rodger Foster, hoof van SA Airlink, het in verklarings op hul webwerf gesê hulle het self met ’n interne ondersoek begin.
Volgens me. Karin Murray, woordvoerder van Airlink, is dit normale prosedure vir ’n lugdiens om ná ’n voorval self ’n ondersoek te doen.
Sy het gesê alle passasiers het berading en mediese aandag gekry.
Die BLO sowel as mnr. S’bu Ndebele, minister van vervoer, het die bemanning gelukgewens met die suksesvolle uitvoering van die noodlanding.
Mnr. Cedric Geer van Pietermaritzburg vertoon eergisteraand trots sy “kapteinsvlerkies” wat kapt. Harm Kelderman, kaptein van die Airlink-vlug, ná die suksesvolle noodlanding aan hom geskenk het as aandenking. Volgens Geer, wat op sy dag ’n valskermsoldaat was, was die tyd terwyl hulle gesirkel het om brandstof te verbrand baie senutergend. Toe hy hoor hulle moet brace, weet hy dis nou of nooit.
Foto: Lerato Maduna
Here is a piss poor Google translation of the Afrikaans original (I changed a couple of the more glaring errors.)
If they are not within the next 10 seconds to see, they knew he was dead.
So Captain. Harm Kelderman told Roop Maharaj, a passenger, his crew and passengers when he said the Avro 146-RJ85 aircraft without a nose wheel on the foamed runway OR Tambo Airport in Kempton Park landed.
"When I heard, I thought this is my last night," Maharaj said.
Some of the passengers claimed there was no emergency personnel available to assist passengers who sustained bruises when they left the plane to the slides on the runway had to jump. Allegedly there were no counselors.
"The counselors are available only was J & B, Bell's and Jack Daniels (whiskey)," Dr. Mark Manley joked.
Manley said Kelderman the plane with the landing for a while on its back wheels on the nose before he dropped it.
"The cabin was filled with smoke. We stayed calm and we survived, thanks to the pilot and his crew, "said Manley said.
The preliminary investigation into the cause of the emergency landing suggests that the "human factor" may have played a role.
The plane, with its 73 passengers and four crew members aboard, Wednesday, just after 19:00 from the airport took off on a flight of 30 minutes after the Oribi Airport outside Pietermaritzburg.
According to Mr. Zakhele Thwala, acting director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the plane was still in the air when the CAA a call from Airlink received.
An investigator was sent.
Yesterday morning has sent inspectors to the aircraft before a pilot is towed for further investigation.
Thwala said in a statement that the CAA will Airlink's fleet closely.
"Just a final report will indicate certainty exactly what the cause of the accident. Information, however, at this stage is available, suggests that the human factor a contributing role was played.
"So we have in the meantime a team of inspectors made parallel to the accident investigators will work to ensure that flight procedures are met and (in future) are met. This is done to ensure that unsafe situations happen and not potential dangers arise, "it said.
Mr. Rodger Foster, Airlink CEO, said in statements on their website said they were yourself an internal investigation.
According to Miss Karin Murray, Airlink spokesperson, it is normal procedure for an airline to an incident itself an investigation.
She said all passengers counseling and medical attention.
The CAA and Mr.. S'bu Ndebele, Minister of Transport, the crew congratulated on the successful implementation of the emergency landing.
Mr. Cedric Geer of Pietermaritzburg on Sunday night proudly displayed his "kapteinsvlerkies" that Captain. Harm Kelderman, chief of the Airlink flights, after the successful emergency landing on his gift as a souvenir. According to Geer, who in his day a paratrooper, was the time when they circled to burn fuel very nerve-wracking. When he heard they have to brace, he knew it was now or never.
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The gist of my story:
If the emergency doesn't kill you, the sensation seeking, ignorant media most probably will (or the image of the company, your well paying job)
Do not give the media any rope to hang you with !
If the emergency doesn't kill you, the sensation seeking, ignorant media most probably will (or the image of the company, your well paying job)
Do not give the media any rope to hang you with !
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Nirak perhaps a look at the video on Avcom first would've been better. After the incident the Captain was modest, polite and only gave away his wings after the landing in the terminal building to a passenger who wanted a souvenir. There also seems to be a bar open for the passengers,......POST-FLIGHT in the terminal building.
Está servira para distraerle.
Some might say that it was an act of gross irresponsibility, on the part of whoever did so, to provide alcohol on demand for traumatised passengers who might well be suffering from shock, hysteria or palpitations. Had a distressed passenger knocked back a couple of stiffies and keeled over there might have been more of a need for an Advocaat than a Barista.
Last edited by cavortingcheetah; 12th Nov 2011 at 15:04.
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@ Cape Town Flower....
" 'Beeld' is Afrikaans for 'picture'..." Just shows how little you know about Afrikaans.
And
" it is for those whose reading ability is limited..." Wow pretty bold statement there old chap! Bet you would not make that statement in public wearing your own face, now would you?
@ Old Cheeta,
See you just can't trust a person who can't trust themselves with drink! If they wanted it they will get it anywhere anyway!
" 'Beeld' is Afrikaans for 'picture'..." Just shows how little you know about Afrikaans.
And
" it is for those whose reading ability is limited..." Wow pretty bold statement there old chap! Bet you would not make that statement in public wearing your own face, now would you?
@ Old Cheeta,
See you just can't trust a person who can't trust themselves with drink! If they wanted it they will get it anywhere anyway!
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Boeingsurfer Beeld means image, picture, likeness. (cf German 'Bild.) I know it has another meaning in Afrikaans as a refuge, but in the context of the newspaper I have always assumed it meant the former. If not, please feel free to enlighten me.
It's a rag ...........
You might lose the bet!
It's a rag ...........
Bet you would not make that statement in public wearing your own face, now would you?
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I use to work for SA Airlink in my distance past aprox ... about 15 years ago xx So very bias xx Well done to the crew for bringing all back home safely xxx. Hope this does not cause too much of a blemish xxx
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"Nirak perhaps a look at the video on Avcom first would've been better. After the incident the Captain was modest, polite and only gave away his wings after the landing in the terminal building to a passenger who wanted a souvenir. There also seems to be a bar open for the passengers,......POST-FLIGHT in the terminal building."
Oompilot, maybe you should rather give this advice to the Beeld newspaper reporter.
The Beeld article also only reports about the alledged 'I am dead" comment made by the captain BEFORE the emergency landing. Hardly a statement that the passengers want to hear from the cockpit just before landing !!
If you read my reply more closely, you would also see that I congratulated the crew on landing the aircraft safely
I fully agree with ....cheetah, it is beyond my understanding that the passengers were interviewed by the Beeld newspaper in the airport pub and that the editor of Beeld newspaper allows this to be published. It shows how bad media standards has deteriorated.
"If the accident doesn't kill you, the sensation hungry, ignorant media probably will"
Nirak
Oompilot, maybe you should rather give this advice to the Beeld newspaper reporter.
The Beeld article also only reports about the alledged 'I am dead" comment made by the captain BEFORE the emergency landing. Hardly a statement that the passengers want to hear from the cockpit just before landing !!
If you read my reply more closely, you would also see that I congratulated the crew on landing the aircraft safely
I fully agree with ....cheetah, it is beyond my understanding that the passengers were interviewed by the Beeld newspaper in the airport pub and that the editor of Beeld newspaper allows this to be published. It shows how bad media standards has deteriorated.
"If the accident doesn't kill you, the sensation hungry, ignorant media probably will"
Nirak
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Nirak - Dont give the media any rope? Well they may have given !
If its beyond your understanding and you couldnt be bothered to do anymore research, (There are YouTube videos that make your initial post look pathetic) then maybe you shouldnt go shooting your mouth off And, a little bit of intuition as a man of aviation plus knowing what the media is like should have had alarm bells ringing as to the authenticity of the statements!
And dont act like you were congratulatory to the pilots
If its beyond your understanding and you couldnt be bothered to do anymore research, (There are YouTube videos that make your initial post look pathetic) then maybe you shouldnt go shooting your mouth off
And, a little bit of intuition as a man of aviation plus knowing what the media is like should have had alarm bells ringing as to the authenticity of the statements!And dont act like you were congratulatory to the pilots
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Remember this conclusion of 'human factors' and more specifically pilot error was made by our wonderful CAA after a ramp inspection after the accident:
11 November 2011 - 14:58
By Sapa and Karabo Gill
An SA Airlink aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday night
A forced emergency landing by a plane was due to "human error", the Civial Aviation Authority said on Friday
The CAA launched an urgent probe at SA Airlink after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday evening.
The CAA's Zakhele Thwala said preliminary investigations have shown that there was nothing wrong with the aircraft.
"It was not a stuructural error. What happened is that one of the pilots made a mistake," he said.
Zakhele said that all Airlink aircrafts based the the OR Tambo International Airport would be subjected to inspection.
"This is to make sure that this was not an error on one aeroplane but that the other aircrafts are safe," he said.
Flight SA 8739, with 72 passengers and four crew on board, was forced to ground on its belly on Thursday night after experiencing problems with its nose-wheel.
So that in itself is a total jokeAgain, a group of CAA officials with not so much as an hour of flying or experience in aviation to their names and they go shooting off pilot error after a preliminary inspection!
What they say may have happened is that the RJ85 has a complex gear system. It involves gear levers for each wheel...one for the main wheel that moves forward and one for the each main gear wheel extending backwards...and the crew may have forgotten to extend the nose wheel. The system is more complicated than most regionals yes, but its not rocket science... I cannot see how two rated pilots would miss that!
Add the fact that they circled over ORTIA for 2 hours and this should really have given them enough time to have realised that the gear lever was not in the right spot. In that time how many times would you or I have gone through the appropriate emergency checklists? In most checklists I know for gear failure, im pretty sure the first few points would include something along the lines of: gear lever in the down position (or up position)
I think its total crap to be honest...but guess we'll need to wait for the incident report.
11 November 2011 - 14:58
By Sapa and Karabo Gill
An SA Airlink aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday night
A forced emergency landing by a plane was due to "human error", the Civial Aviation Authority said on Friday
The CAA launched an urgent probe at SA Airlink after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday evening.
The CAA's Zakhele Thwala said preliminary investigations have shown that there was nothing wrong with the aircraft.
"It was not a stuructural error. What happened is that one of the pilots made a mistake," he said.
Zakhele said that all Airlink aircrafts based the the OR Tambo International Airport would be subjected to inspection.
"This is to make sure that this was not an error on one aeroplane but that the other aircrafts are safe," he said.
Flight SA 8739, with 72 passengers and four crew on board, was forced to ground on its belly on Thursday night after experiencing problems with its nose-wheel.
So that in itself is a total joke
Again, a group of CAA officials with not so much as an hour of flying or experience in aviation to their names and they go shooting off pilot error after a preliminary inspection!What they say may have happened is that the RJ85 has a complex gear system. It involves gear levers for each wheel...one for the main wheel that moves forward and one for the each main gear wheel extending backwards...and the crew may have forgotten to extend the nose wheel. The system is more complicated than most regionals yes, but its not rocket science...
I cannot see how two rated pilots would miss that!Add the fact that they circled over ORTIA for 2 hours and this should really have given them enough time to have realised that the gear lever was not in the right spot. In that time how many times would you or I have gone through the appropriate emergency checklists? In most checklists I know for gear failure, im pretty sure the first few points would include something along the lines of: gear lever in the down position (or up position)
I think its total crap to be honest...but guess we'll need to wait for the incident report.