Descending on the wrong airfield
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Descending on the wrong airfield
Read this for a description of how a fairly large plane descended on a fairly small airport. I think it is amusing that a 200 quid handheld GPS would have completely avoided this problem, but for all the approval required.
I think it is amusing that a 200 quid handheld GPS would have completely avoided this problem
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Some years ago I think an airliner actually landed at Woodford instead of nearby Manchester. And another at Northolt instead of Heathrow.
Wrong Airfield
When I was training for my PPL at Cambridge one day about 5 years ago and doing circuits, somebody called as being ahead of me and on final. I couldn't see him from base leg and still couldn't see him when I turned final .... although believe me I was looking very hard by this time.
I asked the tower where the previous was and she said she was uncertain and didn't have him in sight so I elected to go round.
She asked again where he was and he said on the ground, runway vacated and would like taxi instructions for parking.
She said WHERE on the ground as she couldn't see him.
In front of the museum he said.
Resounding crash of pennies dropping and she said .. in that case I suggest you call DUXFORD on 122.075 for your taxi instructions.
I asked the tower where the previous was and she said she was uncertain and didn't have him in sight so I elected to go round.
She asked again where he was and he said on the ground, runway vacated and would like taxi instructions for parking.
She said WHERE on the ground as she couldn't see him.
In front of the museum he said.
Resounding crash of pennies dropping and she said .. in that case I suggest you call DUXFORD on 122.075 for your taxi instructions.
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That is a coincidence because when I was training someone (a couple of years ago) one of the students was on his qualifying x-country flight and descended on Duxford thinking it was Cambridge. Cambridge figured out what was going on before he actually touched down, vectored him to their field but wouldn't allow him to take off.
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It isn't just PPLs that mistake Cambridge for Duxford. Apparently about 10 years ago there was an anguished call from Cambridge ATC to Duxford ATC to enquire if there was a show on at Duxford. Somewhat surprised Duxford ATC said "Yes why do you ask?" to be given the reply "Your b......y USAF Phantom has just done his show here and scattered all my traffic to the four winds!" Apocryphal maybe but a good story none the less.
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Does anyone remember 14 at Ipswich? The short one with the approach over the rooftops? Very early nineties, with my own eyes I saw a C5A abort an approach to it. Not, apparently, before the tower had had a quick word with one of the local USAF stations. It must've got down to 2-3,000 ft (difficult to tell with something that size).
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This error is easy to make, the pilots believe what they see rather than what their instruments are telling them.
For example about ten years ago I was taking a FAM (riding jumpseat) on an Air Carrier from ATL to DAY. As the pilots descended toward DAY they spotted MWO (Middletown Oh) and thought that they were seeing FFO (Wright Patterson AFB). After a few minutes they spot FFO but think that they are seeing DAY, they report the airport in sight and are cleared for the Visual Approach. As they turn final, and the FO gets ready to lower the gear, I tapped the captains shoulder and say, "You are on final for Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton is over at your 10 o clock." The captain thanked me and we stopped our descent and turned toward DAY.
Having also worked at FFO for several years, we saw various airlines mistakenly try to land at FFO at least a couple times a year.
Mike
For example about ten years ago I was taking a FAM (riding jumpseat) on an Air Carrier from ATL to DAY. As the pilots descended toward DAY they spotted MWO (Middletown Oh) and thought that they were seeing FFO (Wright Patterson AFB). After a few minutes they spot FFO but think that they are seeing DAY, they report the airport in sight and are cleared for the Visual Approach. As they turn final, and the FO gets ready to lower the gear, I tapped the captains shoulder and say, "You are on final for Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton is over at your 10 o clock." The captain thanked me and we stopped our descent and turned toward DAY.
Having also worked at FFO for several years, we saw various airlines mistakenly try to land at FFO at least a couple times a year.
Mike
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Easily done?
The US B747 that landed at BRU instead of FRA was actually a NWA DC10. The first "somethings not right" trigger should have been the early descent (200 miles early). Instead of passing KOKSY at FL330, they were descended to FL190.... still, they'd been up all night, and EUR ATC procedures can be unfamiliar to those they were used to "at home".
Anyway, lots of HF errors and lots of lessons learned (not just by the flight crew... by ATC as well!) Oh, best of all, nobody got hurt.
Back to confusing "nearby" airfields....
I seem to recall some F16s visting RAF Coltishall on an exchange visit making a perfect touch and go.... except that they were at Norwich Airport
Down in Devon Dunkeswell and nearby Upottery can easily be confused ( I speak from experience
) The difference is Dunkeswell has lots of buildings on the South side, and a road through the main rwy. By comparison Upottery looks pristine (only used for go carts now, I believe).
rgds BEX
The US B747 that landed at BRU instead of FRA was actually a NWA DC10. The first "somethings not right" trigger should have been the early descent (200 miles early). Instead of passing KOKSY at FL330, they were descended to FL190.... still, they'd been up all night, and EUR ATC procedures can be unfamiliar to those they were used to "at home".
Anyway, lots of HF errors and lots of lessons learned (not just by the flight crew... by ATC as well!) Oh, best of all, nobody got hurt.
Back to confusing "nearby" airfields....
I seem to recall some F16s visting RAF Coltishall on an exchange visit making a perfect touch and go.... except that they were at Norwich Airport
Down in Devon Dunkeswell and nearby Upottery can easily be confused ( I speak from experience
) The difference is Dunkeswell has lots of buildings on the South side, and a road through the main rwy. By comparison Upottery looks pristine (only used for go carts now, I believe).rgds BEX
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Not picked the wrong airfield out before (or should I say yet). But while doing circuts for night training did turn final for the wrong runway at a certain northern airfield many moons ago. ATC were very nice and calmly said you appear to be lined up for XX do you wish to take that runway! Managed to to correct myself rather quickly and bank over the 30 degrees for correct one. As both were lit and only 30 degree difference a small error but could have been a major incident, things like this we learn and NEVER forget!
many moons ago. ATC were very nice and calmly said you appear to be lined up for XX do you wish to take that runway! Managed to to correct myself rather quickly and bank over the 30 degrees for correct one. As both were lit and only 30 degree difference a small error but could have been a major incident, things like this we learn and NEVER forget!
I was at a B of B air display at St Athan back in the 50's. One of the highlights was meant to be a transonic fly by from a USAF F86. To do this, we were told, he had to climb to a great height and dive into his display.
When he arrived he didn't seem to be going that fast and we were then told that he had done his flyby at RAF Llandough, which was an MU about 8 miles away and by the time he realised, he had slowed down a lot.
When he arrived he didn't seem to be going that fast and we were then told that he had done his flyby at RAF Llandough, which was an MU about 8 miles away and by the time he realised, he had slowed down a lot.
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It isn't just PPLs that mistake Cambridge for Duxford.
Like wondering what's that large city that's just appeared northwest of Duxford!! and where have all the ancient parked aircraft gone?
Like wondering what's that large city that's just appeared northwest of Duxford!! and where have all the ancient parked aircraft gone?
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Oooops!
An interesting 50's framed press cutting in the Crown pub @ Enstone (alas disappeared on change of landlord a few years back) described the landing of one of those rocking great big B36 Peacemakers (was that the 'aluminium overcast'?) at Enstone instead of Upper Heyford.
If I recall the cutting accurately -
It took days apparently to strip everything out of it/ wait for favourable winds before it could take off again.
It had flown non-stop across the Atlantic.
The captain was immediately sent back Stateside to face the music.
HP
If I recall the cutting accurately -
It took days apparently to strip everything out of it/ wait for favourable winds before it could take off again.
It had flown non-stop across the Atlantic.
The captain was immediately sent back Stateside to face the music.
HP
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During the fall of France in the second world war my uncle was flying hurricanes at the age of 19. He arrived back off patrol, lined up on final behind another plane, and promptly shot down his first German, a Dornier. Yes, he had found the 'wrong' airfield. (What a rotten place to be shot down - think about it next time you are on finals!)
It is quite amazing how small Europe is, and how close together the airfields are. In 1942 the allies obtained a complete Focke Wolfe 190 which had lost its way over 8/8 cloud cover and landed in England, thinking it was France. 60 miles in the wrong direction at 400 mph only takes 9 mins!!
(Off topic, but interesting....one can often see airfields 50 miles away on a good day from 25,000 feet. So, during the Battle of Britain it would often have been possible to see German airfields in France, three minutes after takeoff, while still over Kent!)
It is quite amazing how small Europe is, and how close together the airfields are. In 1942 the allies obtained a complete Focke Wolfe 190 which had lost its way over 8/8 cloud cover and landed in England, thinking it was France. 60 miles in the wrong direction at 400 mph only takes 9 mins!!
(Off topic, but interesting....one can often see airfields 50 miles away on a good day from 25,000 feet. So, during the Battle of Britain it would often have been possible to see German airfields in France, three minutes after takeoff, while still over Kent!)
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Farnborough Airshow 2000 - A B-1B is inbound from Mildenhall for a flypast. Controller says, as an aside, "That aircraft is so sophisticated it can deliver a guided missile down a street and through a particular window". Next moment, the B-1B appears low and fast out of the clouds and does a fantastic flypast - at Blackbushe.
Helico - I remember Rwy 14 at EGSE, but the C5 incident must have been before I worked there. I would have offered him a touch and go.....
Helico - I remember Rwy 14 at EGSE, but the C5 incident must have been before I worked there. I would have offered him a touch and go.....
