VN forgot to drop

[PoppaJo]

The gear..oh noes

The ATSB is investigating an incorrect configuration incident involving a Boeing 787, registered VN-A870, flight VN781, operated by Vietnam Airlines near Melbourne Airport, Victoria, on 19 September 2019.

During approach to land, Melbourne Air Traffic Control advised the crew that the aircraft’s landing gear was observed not to be extended. The crew initiated a missed approach.

As part of the investigation, the ATSB will obtain information from the flight crew, and additional information as required.

A report will be released at the end of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify those affected and seek safety action to address the issue.

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...r/ao-2019-051/

[Ken Borough]

I wonder what, if anything, was said to the SLF.

[Buster Hyman]

Some significant skid marks would have ensued...

[ACMS]

They couldn’t have gotten below 800’ AGL without an EICAS master warning anyway.......( 800’ from memory )

[ScepticalOptomist]

Or have selected landing flaps....

[compressor stall]

Usual caveats of Flight radar data and the 6 second granularity... but it's showing GA at 650' .

If true, it will be an interesting report.

[megan]

How to do it in a 747 (nearly).

https://www.avweb.com/features/pelic...ding-in-a-747/

[Avinthenews]

Fed ex years back

You Tube

[sunnySA]

Apparently the error was spotted by one of the controllers working at Essendon Tower

[rmcdonal]

FDR: 'What does "too low gear" mean?'

[Bleve]

“Too Low Gear” is an EGPWS warning that you are ‘Too Low’ (ie near the runway) and the Landing ‘Gear’ is not down.

[aviones]

I feel silly now.

Originally Posted by Bleve

“Too Low Gear” is an EGPWS warning that you are ‘Too Low’ (ie near the runway) and the Landing ‘Gear’ is not down.

Sorry RMCDONAL. I thought you were making a joke, like the flight data recorder showed the pilots saying to each other "what does Too Low Gear Mean?"
I didn't realise it was a serious question. Thank you Bleve for sorting this out for us.

[KeepItRolling]

Originally Posted by sunnySA

Apparently the error was spotted by one of the controllers working at Essendon Tower

So what else is new?

[Capt Fathom]

It's obviously not that busy at Essendon these days!

[smiling monkey]

Originally Posted by megan

How to do it in a 747 (nearly).

https://www.avweb.com/features/pelic...ding-in-a-747/

And how to do it in a 747 successfully.

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...aair199403038/

[KeepItRolling]

Originally Posted by Capt Fathom

It's obviously not that busy at Essendon these days!

EN TWR have to separate from 34 arrivals so keeping an eye on ML arrivals is part of the gig.

[Cloud Cutter]

Originally Posted by A little birdie

800’ RADALT is likely to be only 500-ish feet above the runway given the valley and lower terrain to the south of MEL 34.

Doubt it’s based on raw rad alt data, more likely runway field clearance floor. Needless to say, Mr Honeywell will alert you in plenty of time.

[UnderneathTheRadar]

Originally Posted by KeepItRolling

EN TWR have to separate from 34 arrivals so keeping an eye on ML arrivals is part of the gig.

A random piece of trivia the ARO told me - the design for the new hotel at the entry to Essendon airport was originally going to be on a north/south alignment but had to be rotated to minimise the amount of time ML 34 traffic was hidden out of sight of the EN TWR.

UTR

[BuzzBox]

Originally Posted by Cloud Cutter

Doubt it’s based on raw rad alt data, more likely runway field clearance floor. Needless to say, Mr Honeywell will alert you in plenty of time.

A ‘CONFIG GEAR’ EICAS warning is generated if the landing gear is not down and locked and one of the following occurs:

• Below 800 feet radio altitude and a thrust lever is at idle, or
• The flaps are in a landing position

A GPWS Mode 4A warning ‘TOO LOW GEAR’ is triggered at 500 ft RA.

[C441]

Have a read of some of the "Letters to the Editor" following articles in the media about this event for a bit of light entertainment.

• "I think it is about time we put cameras in the cockpit to keep an eye on the pilots. This could video stream to control tower when near airport. Passengers deserve this to help maintain safety standards."
• "Perform pre landing checks "BUMFISH" (brakes, undercarriage, mixture, fuel instruments, switches, harness & hatches). This is drummed into pilots from their initial flight lesson. Still only as good as one is prepared to apply this rule."
• "You would think wheels down would be the default at low altitudes, with a difficult to overide " up" settings available for unusual situations. "
• "They’d have killed everyone. Absolutely unbelievable!!"