Gunship
11th Aug 2003, 00:05
Eischh I pressume anyone can have a bad day at the Office like Andre Viljoen must have had by Thursday night :ouch:
Thursday was an unusually busy and nerve-racking day for emergency staff and dozens of passengers at Durban International Airport.
At lunchtime, fire and emergency crews were put on the highest level of alert and rushed to the end of the runway to prepare for the worst, after the pilot of SA 659 reported a hydraulic problem with the nose steering gear aboard a Boeing 737-200 en-route to Cape Town.
The plane circled overhead, dumping excess fuel, but in the end the pilot landed perfectly and the front wheel did not veer out of control.
But less than five hours later the alert sirens were wailing again, after the pilot of SA 571 from Johannesburg to Durban reported that his landing flaps were not working.
'Slight technical problems'
Walter Turk, a 72-year Durban businessman, was one of many passengers who became anxious when told to prepare for a high-speed landing because of "slight technical problems" on the newer Boeing 737-800.
Damian Garside of the University of Durban-Westville said passengers were told to rehearse emergency landing and escape procedures. Again, this aircraft landed safely, albeit much faster than usual.
Garside and fellow passengers broke into cheers and applause on touchdown and Turk caught his breath after what he said was the closest shave while flying to Johannesburg weekly for 20 years.
Relieved to be back on terra firma, he jumped on to the apron bus, where a fellow passenger revealed that the front door on another SAA flight had jammed on arrival at Johannesburg the same day. Passengers had to climb out of the back door.
Garside was full of praise for the pilot of SA 571, but shaken up.
'The plane slewed to the left side of the runway'
"We are glad to be safe - but the story needs to get out and questions have to be asked," said Garside.
Captain Gavin McKellar of the Airline Pilots' Association said he had no knowledge of concern among pilots or crew about SAA's maintenance record.
McKellar, who chairs the association's accident analysis committee, said: "I'm happy safety is under control and I'll give this message to our AGM next week. SAA has a very good safety officer and I'm happy our reports are actioned and processed."
SAA spokesman Rich Mkhondo confirmed there were two phase three alerts (the highest level of warning) on Thursday, but "lives were never in danger".
"Aircraft have small problems from time to time, but the coincidence in timing of these incidents does not mean safety is compromised. If anything, it demonstrates our safety procedures are activated at the slightest sign of a problem."
From Johannesburg it is reported that a Boeing 747 was hurtling down the runway at Johannesburg International Airport seconds from take off, when the captain slammed on the brakes.
David Barritt, a first class passenger on the flight, said: "Passengers were thrown forward... while the plane slewed to the left side of the runway." The captain announced they were turning back because of a "mix-up with air traffic control".
More details were unavailable at the time of going to press.
:ouch:
Well done to professional Aircrew !
Thursday was an unusually busy and nerve-racking day for emergency staff and dozens of passengers at Durban International Airport.
At lunchtime, fire and emergency crews were put on the highest level of alert and rushed to the end of the runway to prepare for the worst, after the pilot of SA 659 reported a hydraulic problem with the nose steering gear aboard a Boeing 737-200 en-route to Cape Town.
The plane circled overhead, dumping excess fuel, but in the end the pilot landed perfectly and the front wheel did not veer out of control.
But less than five hours later the alert sirens were wailing again, after the pilot of SA 571 from Johannesburg to Durban reported that his landing flaps were not working.
'Slight technical problems'
Walter Turk, a 72-year Durban businessman, was one of many passengers who became anxious when told to prepare for a high-speed landing because of "slight technical problems" on the newer Boeing 737-800.
Damian Garside of the University of Durban-Westville said passengers were told to rehearse emergency landing and escape procedures. Again, this aircraft landed safely, albeit much faster than usual.
Garside and fellow passengers broke into cheers and applause on touchdown and Turk caught his breath after what he said was the closest shave while flying to Johannesburg weekly for 20 years.
Relieved to be back on terra firma, he jumped on to the apron bus, where a fellow passenger revealed that the front door on another SAA flight had jammed on arrival at Johannesburg the same day. Passengers had to climb out of the back door.
Garside was full of praise for the pilot of SA 571, but shaken up.
'The plane slewed to the left side of the runway'
"We are glad to be safe - but the story needs to get out and questions have to be asked," said Garside.
Captain Gavin McKellar of the Airline Pilots' Association said he had no knowledge of concern among pilots or crew about SAA's maintenance record.
McKellar, who chairs the association's accident analysis committee, said: "I'm happy safety is under control and I'll give this message to our AGM next week. SAA has a very good safety officer and I'm happy our reports are actioned and processed."
SAA spokesman Rich Mkhondo confirmed there were two phase three alerts (the highest level of warning) on Thursday, but "lives were never in danger".
"Aircraft have small problems from time to time, but the coincidence in timing of these incidents does not mean safety is compromised. If anything, it demonstrates our safety procedures are activated at the slightest sign of a problem."
From Johannesburg it is reported that a Boeing 747 was hurtling down the runway at Johannesburg International Airport seconds from take off, when the captain slammed on the brakes.
David Barritt, a first class passenger on the flight, said: "Passengers were thrown forward... while the plane slewed to the left side of the runway." The captain announced they were turning back because of a "mix-up with air traffic control".
More details were unavailable at the time of going to press.
:ouch:
Well done to professional Aircrew !