Garuda Again

[capt.cynical]

From Crikey.com.au


Garuda almosts land on airport workers. Will Rudd demand answers?

Ben Sandilands writes:

An alarming incident at Perth Airport involving a Garuda Indonesia 737, more than 100 predominantly Australian passengers and a construction crew working on a closed section of a runway last Friday has come to light.
The flight from Denpasar was about to land when the pilots queried why they could see vehicles and machinery at the end of the runway and began a go-around.
Perth tower is understood to have been doubly surprised.
Not only had Garuda and all other airlines using the airport been issued with a special notification of the work, which instructed them to use a displaced threshold, meaning land further down the runway than normal, but a copy of these instructions had been transmitted to the flight as it approached Perth.

Make that a triple surprise. The Garuda flight then lined for another landing on the runway and appeared at imminent risk of touching down right on top of the work site.

The tower ordered the Indonesians to abort the landing approach and go around again, but they kept coming, levelling off at the last moment to skim over the obstacles and then land safely on the remainder of the runway.

A major investigation has been launched by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. It is certain to ask whether or not the original notification to all pilots was clearly written (which Crikey understands that it was), whether Garuda’s operations division actually read and acted upon the notification, whether its pilots paid any attention to the electronic copy of the notification sent to their flight, and whether they understood the urgent advice from the tower to discontinue their landing approach and what factors might have made them ignore its directive.

This is a serious matter. While the ATSB only deals with the technical aspects of incidents with a view to furthering aviation safety, there is a political dimension which PM Rudd, as leader of the opposition, grasped in the aftermath of the 7 March, 2007 atrocity in which another Garuda 737 crash landed at Yogyakarta Airport which killed two AFP security officers, two Australian government employees, one journalist, 17 other passengers and left dozens injured or crippled among the 118 survivors.

That Garuda jet was still a smoking ruin when Rudd called for criminal sanctions against the pilots involved, who tried to land it on a short runway at twice the normal speed.

Subject to the findings of the investigation, what will the PM do about the antics of Garuda (which is responsible for the competency of its pilots) at an Australian airport?

Or does being in government make it all too hard to demand answers and actions?
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[Capn Bloggs]

Here's the current NOTAM:

C360/08 REVIEW C355/08
THR RWY 21 DISP 888M
AND MARKED EACH SIDE OF RWY BY V BAR MARKERS AND
RWY THR IDENTIFICATION LIGHTS(HJ).
RWY 03/21 792M N END NOT AVBL DUE WIP
RWY 21 PERM PAPI NOT AVBL.
OBST IS MAE AT 14FT AGL ON RWY 2742M FM RWY 03 START OF TKOF.
RWY 21 TDZ IS 400M FM TEMPO DISP THR AND MARKED BY TEMPO PAPI.
TEMPO PAPI AVBL FOR B747 AND BLW.
PAPI APCH SLOPE IS 3DEG 71 FT.
PAPI INTST SET AT STAGE 5 AND 5 MIN NOTICE RQ TO CHANGE INTST.
SCHEDULED INT LONG HAUL DEP WITH OPR RQMNTS FOR FULL LENGTH OF RWY
MUST CALL PH ACD ON 118.55 FOR DEP SLOT ALLOCATION.
A DEP SLOT WILL BE ASSIGNED WI 30 MIN OF START CLEARANCE REQUEST.
RWY 21 DEP VIA TWY NOVEMBER OR TWY DELTA ROLLING FORWARD TO
DUNN(COLOUR)START OF TKOF GABLE MARKER LEFT HAND SIDE .
RWY 21 NOT AVBL FOR LDG FOR UP TO 30 MIN DURING DISPLACED THR
TRANSITIONS.
CROSSING RWY 21 AT TWY WHISKEY NOT AVBL UNLESS DIRECTED BY ATC.
DECLARED DIST
RWY TORA TODA ASDA LDA
03 2562 2652 (4.70) 2562 2562
21 2652 2852 (2.39) 2652 2556

SUPPLEMENTARY TKOF DIST
RWY 03 2520 (1.6) 2547 (1.9) 2572 (2.2) 2592 (2.5) 2627 (3.33)
RWY 21 2189 (1.6) 2516 (1.9) 2742 (2.2)
REFER METHOD OF WORKING PLAN YPPH 02/08 STAGE 2.
FROM 05 102330 TO 05 230900 EST
DAILY 2330/0900

IMO, too many abbreviations for a poor-english international crew. And what is DUNN?

[Icarus53]

And what is DUNN?

Somewhere between fawn and ochre!

Seriously - it's supposedly a sort of sandy colour, but I hold to the opinion that a bloke shouldn't have to know the names of more than six colours.

On the other matter - yes there are a lot of abbreviations, but I think that any professional pilot would be able to quickly deduce that there is a significant change in LDA and that it was a result of a displaced threshold. While the applifying details might be a bit more difficult to sift through, the guts of it are plain and should have been understood by the crew. I don't operate an aircraft that comes close to performance limits at any major port, but I when I see TODA etc changes in the NOTAMs, I make sure I know what they're about.

If english proficiency is a factor here, then it merely serves to demonstrate its importance to a professional pilot and support the case for incoming rules for international pilots.

If the article is an accurate representation of the event, the other concern here is that the crew ignored a "Go Around" instruction. Again, it wouldn't be the first time I've seen an international crew fail to comply with a simple and urgent ATC instruction. Have to wonder what was going on in the cockpit at that point.

[silversaab]

No excuse

That NOTAM has been out for ages now. More than enough time for Garuda Ops to decode it at leisure if they felt there was a need.

Furthermore, regardless of the length of the NOTAM or the level of detail in it, the crew only had to see the key lines

DECLARED DIST
RWY TORA TODA ASDA LDA

SUPPLEMENTARY TKOF DIST

and the period of validity to make them give it a good looksee.

Should be interesting to see what the ATSB come up with.

[havick]

Looking on the brightside, at least the aircraft stayed shiny side up this time.

[Frank Burden]

Corporate Goal Equals Minimal Service

Did a trip on the Garuda recently and very surprised about the standard of service and attention to the thinking walk on freight.

Reminded me of those days when Ansett were flying!!

Remember that, nice hello and on time departure, friendly and competent flight attendants, and a very nice smile as you left the aircraft on arrival.

Far better than that well known Australian LCC with bitter and geriatric in flight crew whose CEO name begins with a D for son of Dick!

[permFO]

I wouldn't put much faith in the accuracy of the reporting. Just as an aside though, does the new English language competencies cover being able to read English at Level 6? Also was there another NOTAM regarding the ILS, or was it still operating?

[Eastwest Loco]

I agree Frank.

They aint perfect, but the second you step on board you are welcomed, and when you order satu gin dan tonic dan satu Bintang dingin sekalih terimah kasih, they were all over you in the best possible way.

Landings are generally a slam dunk, or a long hop, particularly in the 734's and 738's, but overall a pleasant airline that runs a fair on time regime.

I flew Pan Am and lived.

NOTHING, even in clear air has scared me more.

Best all

EWL

[lemel]

I was holding short of rwy 21 threshold about 5 months ago. On finals was a garuda 73. The conditions were perfect - blue skies and just about zero wind. The 73 came honking along very quickly and before you know it they bounced it 2 times before finally getting it on the deck.
I have never seen an airliner flown this badly!

I would never fly Garuda, no matter how much cheaper the tickets are. I have told friends not to fly them to. Absolutely shocking!!

Lemel

[Frank Burden]

Lemel,

I have to agree. No Australian pilot would break the back of an aeroplane landing at Darwin, mismanage the fuel to almost find themselves embarrassed on approach to Sydney from Perth or use illicit drugs when conducting commuter operations from Hamilton Island.

Luciano Pavorotti once sang the wrong note singing Nessum Dorma and after that I could never ever again listen to an Italian tenor. My life has been tormented ever since!!!

I strive for perfection but have come to realise that the majority of mankind is not able to meet my high standards.

[Capn Bloggs]

was there another NOTAM regarding the ILS, or was it still operating?

The GP was out of service during the works period but the LLZ was still on for the STAR. But if the crew were using the LNAV and VNAV for the arrival, the may have been using that for a pseudo "ILS" to the normal threshold. Whether their skills extended to creating a dummy GP in the FMS to the displaced threshold remains to be seen.

[Capt Claret]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Bloggs, me old mate

What is DUNN?

When I were a young boy, playing some kind of board game, my parent's friend always took the DUNN coloured piece. She described it as baby-sh!t-brown.

So, lining up on 21 the other day, I can't see a DUNN coloured gable marker. Request F/O seek clarification from the TWR. Their advice was that I had just passed it. The only gable marker I could see, other than the white ones, was GREEN. Pale green it was, but green none the less.

Notam was prolly writ by some arty-f@rty type!

[Icarus53]

Notam was prolly writ by some arty-f@rty type!

Capn I think you'll find it's actually the AIP that was written by an arty farty type!

Jepps specifically states that a permanently displaced threshold is marked with "dun-coloured cone markers". It is sadly lacking in any kind of description as to what dun-coloured might look like, so I guess if you're the operator of a small aerodrome and need to displace the threshold for a time, you'd be scratching your head unless you happen to have a friend who is an "arty-farty type"!

Perhaps CASA should have a help line specifically to describe "dun-colour" for interested parties!

[AQIS Boigu]

I am quite surprised that they are still allowed to fly to OZ...the European Union banned them about four years ago!!!

[BuzzBox]

I recently paxed from SYD-PER on a QF (allegedly the safest airline in the world?) 747-300. Flight was running late and after landing they were in a real hurry to get to the gate. Approaching the terminal there was very heavy braking and the aircraft came to a stop on the taxiway. Pax all looking around wondering what's going on. No announcement from the flight deck for some time, then the captain came on and said there was WIP and that in their hurry to reach the terminal they missed the correct taxiway. He sounded somewhat embarrassed.

So it aint just Garuda that forgets to read NOTAMS!

[hoss58]

"IMO, too many abbreviations for a poor-english international crew. And what is DUNN?"

Let me think- what is the internationl aviation language again. Oh yes thats right it's english.

Sorry Capn a poor command of english just dosn't cut it. If you're having trouble understanding something ask for help.

While they at least went around the first time, it would appear they failed to comply with an ATC instruction. The question begs did they understand the instruction.

Fly safe and play hard.

Regards to all.

Hoss58

[Trojan1981]

I have to agree. No Australian pilot would break the back of an aeroplane landing at Darwin, mismanage the fuel to almost find themselves embarrassed on approach to Sydney from Perth or use illicit drugs when conducting commuter operations from Hamilton Island.

Fair enough, but we are fortunate that this has not yet happenned here:






It must only be political pressure that allows this airline to continue operating services to Australia.

[NTMan]

A few years ago now an American F18 skidded off the RWY edge here in Darwin resulting in a displaced threshold.

An arriving 737 with a red roo on the tail was informed of the situation, but did a normal approach to the permanent threshold and touched down in the displaced area prior to the Hornet, despite the obvious noises made by ATC.

Apparently the humorous part was to see the high level RAAFies and their American counterparts scattering as they saw this jet with full reverse bearing down upon them.

Enough siad ...

[A37575]

That Garuda jet was still a smoking ruin when Rudd called for criminal sanctions against the pilots involved, who tried to land it on a short runway at twice the normal speed

The runway was not a short runway at all. It was nearly double the length required for a normal 737 landing. At the tremendous speed the Garuda aircraft pilot was flying any runway would look short

[sprucegoose]

When I were a young boy, playing some kind of board game, my parent's friend always took the DUNN coloured piece. She described it as baby-sh!t-brown.

I have seen baby sh!t and it is often a dull green colour....followed thereafter by the "dunn" palor of my complexion.

I am quite surprised that they are still allowed to fly to OZ...the European Union banned them about four years ago!!!

Agreed. The FAA also has banned operators from Cenral and South America with equally dubious safety records and/or regulatory agencies. Would it be safe to say that more Australians have died on Garuda aircraft accidents in the last decade or so than any other carrier in the world??