Has anyone hit the wing tips against something whilst taxying???
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Most of us find it very difficult to judge how close the tips are to obstacles. Our built in range finder using the convergence angle of our eyes combined with relative sizes of things is not good enough for the purpose. That's why we rely so much on external guidance.
But what about the pilot of an Asian C130 who dragged his wing tip through the nose of another C130. He claimed it wasn't his problem because the particular aircraft had not yet been blessed.
But what about the pilot of an Asian C130 who dragged his wing tip through the nose of another C130. He claimed it wasn't his problem because the particular aircraft had not yet been blessed.
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Never done it myself but had a friend who took out the tail of another aircraft during his CPL training. $15K damage and a real blow to his confidence. Allways helps to look at the shadows on the ground - so long as the sun isn't too close to setting, you can be assured that if the shadows don't touch, the wingtip won't.....
I came close when parking one day to rubbing a couple of wingtips together. The fact that one aircraft was high wing and the other low wing was the only thing that saved me.
Now, when in doubt, I'd much rather stop the engine, get out and walk, and either pull the plane in by hand or drive it in, than have such a close shave.
Not in a plane, but I managed to slide the rear bumper of my car sideways into a pine fence at Moorabbin one day. I kept the bit of the wood that wedged into the car as a souvenir.
Now, when in doubt, I'd much rather stop the engine, get out and walk, and either pull the plane in by hand or drive it in, than have such a close shave.
Not in a plane, but I managed to slide the rear bumper of my car sideways into a pine fence at Moorabbin one day. I kept the bit of the wood that wedged into the car as a souvenir.
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Saw a student in a PA28 taxying with his nosewheel at least two metres left of the taxyway centreline markings - stuck his wing straight into the wing of parked PA28.
Another tried to manoeuvre his low wing under another low wing and jammed them together nicely.
And another new PPL was too busy waving at his parents as he proudly taxied off for a flight........straight into the side of the hangar.
Another tried to manoeuvre his low wing under another low wing and jammed them together nicely.
And another new PPL was too busy waving at his parents as he proudly taxied off for a flight........straight into the side of the hangar.
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I happen to work for a small police unit based somewhere in the Uk operating an islander aircraft . About three yrs ago our erstwhile Pilot taxied it into a fire engine rebounded into an ambulance and ripped the entire starboard wing clean off . Full tanks immediately emptied onto the taxiway and the crew all broke the 100 mtres sprint record . Luckily no fire ensued but it would have ben cheaper to buy a new Islander than replace the wing.
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Not long after I got my PPL, I was returning to the ramp in a rented C172 after a flight. My path to the tie down was partially blocked by a Gulfstream GV that had arrived before me.
I maneouvred slowly past the Gulfstream keeping the right wing tip close but clear. Just as I cleared the expensive jet, I looked over at the left wing tip and saw that it was 3 feet over the bonnet of a fuel truck, inches from the windscreen.
As I walked back to the FBO, a tug driver told me how impressed he was with my skills. Little did he know.
I maneouvred slowly past the Gulfstream keeping the right wing tip close but clear. Just as I cleared the expensive jet, I looked over at the left wing tip and saw that it was 3 feet over the bonnet of a fuel truck, inches from the windscreen.
As I walked back to the FBO, a tug driver told me how impressed he was with my skills. Little did he know.
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Taxi
Was at Luton in 1995 flying a PA28 (during the PPL days). I was holding what I thought was a safe distance behind a 767. As it was told to enter and back track, he taxied off and turned after the stop bars. The jet blast ....lets say.....rocked the wings a bit. I could just sit there and wait for it to stop, or the aircraft to flip into its back and shock load the engine.
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i saw a air europa 737-800? hit a britania 767 at MAN abt 18 months ago whilst dispatching, 737wing tip cut straight though the 767 wing! i was quiet impressed, then realised that the PAX were behind me watching too, "are we still going on time?" i was nearly on the floor laughing! " there may be a slight delay" - about 17hours!!!!!!
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what, and leave aviation altogether?
Straighten tie, polish shoes with a deft rub up and down the back of the legs, clear the throat and knock twice lightly.
0? 58 25?, ?? 23 10? [names disguised to prevent embarrassment]; instantaneous semi-span 1199.5 inches; distance to nearest moving obstacle 1200 inches; collective intake of breath of 200 souls so decreased cabin internal pressure that the atmosphere caused wing roots to pull in by 0.5 inches each side and no damage was occasioned to either party.
Cause of misunderstanding? Interpretation of signage CLSD and instructions "Wait and Hold" (Hold at Where?).
Second to land I was instructed to turn-off at ?????. He landing first with far turnaround closed thought he was clear to use taxiway (but not back-track) as far as ????? and stop short. He sure stopped short.
No milk, no sugar and plain digestives will be just fine.
[Apologies to Ozexpat and his story involving a non-near miss with the honey truck]
0? 58 25?, ?? 23 10? [names disguised to prevent embarrassment]; instantaneous semi-span 1199.5 inches; distance to nearest moving obstacle 1200 inches; collective intake of breath of 200 souls so decreased cabin internal pressure that the atmosphere caused wing roots to pull in by 0.5 inches each side and no damage was occasioned to either party.
Cause of misunderstanding? Interpretation of signage CLSD and instructions "Wait and Hold" (Hold at Where?).
Second to land I was instructed to turn-off at ?????. He landing first with far turnaround closed thought he was clear to use taxiway (but not back-track) as far as ????? and stop short. He sure stopped short.
No milk, no sugar and plain digestives will be just fine.
[Apologies to Ozexpat and his story involving a non-near miss with the honey truck]
As a pilot of small aeroplanes, I was amazed when jumpseating in an L1011 some years ago that it was almost impossible to see even the wingtips from the flightdeck.
Made me feel a bit uncomfortable that you could hit something and be completely unaware.
Guess this is just part of everyday life for big jet pilots though (and is why some now have external cameras)
Made me feel a bit uncomfortable that you could hit something and be completely unaware.
Guess this is just part of everyday life for big jet pilots though (and is why some now have external cameras)
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Someone in my company has done it as well. Tried to slice the top half off a palm tree with an A330 winglet. Probably wanted it as a souvenir!!!
It's a shame the only souvenir was the winglet that came off.
Can happen to the best off us.
Cheers
It's a shame the only souvenir was the winglet that came off.
Can happen to the best off us.
Cheers
