Hudson
23rd Jul 2001, 17:23
Had a letter from friend in UK who flew into Newcastle recently in Greek registered 737-700. Foggy approach and pilot made three missed approaches, finally diverting to Manchester. He told pax on PA that faulty ILS indications were to blame for go-arounds. Newcastle authorities said nothing wrong with ILS.
The airport staff told pax that the pilot may not have been used to landing in fog because they do not have much fog in Greece!. Later pax were told that aircraft have different grades of ILS and that the pilot may have not been trained to use the Newcastle ILS!!??
The airline then explained that the pilot was a new one in the company! After diverting to Manchester the pilot said that "we were going to calm down for half an hour" before another try at Newcastle.
The pax were scared stiff throughout the exercise. My friend wrote to the airports, the airline, the tour operator and the AAIB.
None were interested in giving a logical explanation. Any idea who the charter operator is? Seems like an urgent safety audit is needed if this is the sort of dodgy operation into UK airspace.
The airport staff told pax that the pilot may not have been used to landing in fog because they do not have much fog in Greece!. Later pax were told that aircraft have different grades of ILS and that the pilot may have not been trained to use the Newcastle ILS!!??
The airline then explained that the pilot was a new one in the company! After diverting to Manchester the pilot said that "we were going to calm down for half an hour" before another try at Newcastle.
The pax were scared stiff throughout the exercise. My friend wrote to the airports, the airline, the tour operator and the AAIB.
None were interested in giving a logical explanation. Any idea who the charter operator is? Seems like an urgent safety audit is needed if this is the sort of dodgy operation into UK airspace.