Take-off aborted after stairs left hanging
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Take-off aborted after stairs left hanging
The Australian
Take-off aborted for asylum-seekers after stairs left hanging
Dennis Shanahan
From: The Australian
May 11, 2010 12:00AM
A CHARTERED Airbus with a full load of 120 asylum-seekers and Australian officials had to abort its take-off from the Cocos Islands on Sunday night because its rear stairs were trailing along the tarmac.
Customs officials and customers at the nearby Cocos Island Club had to rush to the airfield apron, climb over the perimeter fence and run towards the plane waving their arms to alert the pilot to the problem.
When the plane stopped, an airfield manager used a radio to contact the pilot.
Australian electronics businessman Jack O'Donnell, who was at the Cocos Club, said people were shocked to see the plane trailing the rear stairs as it taxied on to the tarmac.
The trailing stairs caused a shower of sparks as the plane picked up speed.
Mr O'Donnell told The Australian last night that the "trailing stairs caused a hell of a racket and were sending out sparks".
"There were some Customs officers nearby and they pelted towards the fence as we all started to run towards the airfield," he said. "One of the Customs blokes got over the fence first and ran up waving his arms to stop the plane.
"It was clear the pilot and others at different parts of the airfield couldn't see the stairs at the rear."
When the pilot was informed, the rear door was opened and the stairs withdrawn into their separate hatch.
The pilot then recommenced the take-off.
A spokesman for the Air Transport Safety Bureau said last night there had been no report received of the incident but it did expect one within the 72-hour reporting period.
A Department of Immigration spokesman said the federal government was concerned at the incident and had called for a full report.
Dennis Shanahan
From: The Australian
May 11, 2010 12:00AM
A CHARTERED Airbus with a full load of 120 asylum-seekers and Australian officials had to abort its take-off from the Cocos Islands on Sunday night because its rear stairs were trailing along the tarmac.
Customs officials and customers at the nearby Cocos Island Club had to rush to the airfield apron, climb over the perimeter fence and run towards the plane waving their arms to alert the pilot to the problem.
When the plane stopped, an airfield manager used a radio to contact the pilot.
Australian electronics businessman Jack O'Donnell, who was at the Cocos Club, said people were shocked to see the plane trailing the rear stairs as it taxied on to the tarmac.
The trailing stairs caused a shower of sparks as the plane picked up speed.
Mr O'Donnell told The Australian last night that the "trailing stairs caused a hell of a racket and were sending out sparks".
"There were some Customs officers nearby and they pelted towards the fence as we all started to run towards the airfield," he said. "One of the Customs blokes got over the fence first and ran up waving his arms to stop the plane.
"It was clear the pilot and others at different parts of the airfield couldn't see the stairs at the rear."
When the pilot was informed, the rear door was opened and the stairs withdrawn into their separate hatch.
The pilot then recommenced the take-off.
A spokesman for the Air Transport Safety Bureau said last night there had been no report received of the incident but it did expect one within the 72-hour reporting period.
A Department of Immigration spokesman said the federal government was concerned at the incident and had called for a full report.
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Errr...I don't recall any federal government announcement regarding the landing of MORE illegal immigrants at Cocos islands!
and, of course, where were they going on this flying circus?
also, I don't recall that the Cocos Island flight strip actually had a fence!
..except for the small area surrounding the ramp!
Cheers...FD...
and, of course, where were they going on this flying circus?
also, I don't recall that the Cocos Island flight strip actually had a fence!
..except for the small area surrounding the ramp!
Cheers...FD...
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Errr...I don't recall any federal government announcement regarding the landing of MORE illegal immigrants at Cocos islands!
The charter was to take them to the Christmas Island detention centre.
My first thought was Strategics 320, but I didnt think they had rear stairs (or fron stairs for that matter).
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Just called up an old mate who flies with Strategic and he says it wasn't them. They were busy doing another ADF charter from LEA to AMB apparently.
If I didn't know that the Skywest A320 was firmly against the fence in Melbourne I'd have thought maybe that was the only other choice, as Jetstar & Tiger seem to steer clear of those charters. But I guess if it's a matter of integral stairs then it could only be Skytraders as I understand they had them fitted in the A319 for the Antarctic ops.
If I didn't know that the Skywest A320 was firmly against the fence in Melbourne I'd have thought maybe that was the only other choice, as Jetstar & Tiger seem to steer clear of those charters. But I guess if it's a matter of integral stairs then it could only be Skytraders as I understand they had them fitted in the A319 for the Antarctic ops.
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If I didn't know that the Skywest A320 was firmly against the fence in Melbourne
Any chance for a fishing trip. And they've been biting good this week. Must be the phase of the moon.
Was it actually an aborted take-off or was the aircraft just taxiing? I know it says "take-off aborted", but then body of the text makes it sound more like an aborted taxi.
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Mmm,can well remember a Ansett aircraft taxiing with her step sticking out like a indicator on a car, just so she could get the run on a TAA aircraft for the "Great Australian Air Race" aka SYD/PER.
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The Cocos island refueller told me the bloke who waved his arms around ( who isn't a customs officer ) hadn't run that fast since 1986. He now wants to be known as the "white flash" and stares at the hardstand looking for another chance to move with the lightning speed he has shown he is capable of, which we all doubted I might add.
regards
regards
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Hey Whiskey,Good intel from the refueller
Perhaps the TSV Refueller has moved further North ??
The Cocos island refueller told me the bloke who waved his arms around ( who isn't a customs officer ) hadn't run that fast since 1986. He now wants to be known as the "white flash" and stares at the hardstand looking for another chance to move with the lightning speed he has shown he is capable of, which we all doubted I might add.