9 Hurt in Air Transat Emergency Landing in Azores
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9 Hurt in Air Transat Emergency Landing in Azores
An Air Transat A310 flying from Lisbon to Toronto made an emergency landing in the Azores this morning after a "sudden loss" of fuel.
The aircraft burst tyres on landing, and it is reported that fuel has been spilled extensively on the runway, causing the airport's closure.
Nine passengers were reportedly injured in the evacuation.
The aircraft burst tyres on landing, and it is reported that fuel has been spilled extensively on the runway, causing the airport's closure.
Nine passengers were reportedly injured in the evacuation.
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Some reports claim it was an A330. Anyone know for sure?
It's been a difficult week for Air Transat. I understand that last Sunday they had an emergency evacuation of a L-1011 at Orlando due to smoke in the cabin at the start of the take-off roll.
[ 24 August 2001: Message edited by: stagger ]
It's been a difficult week for Air Transat. I understand that last Sunday they had an emergency evacuation of a L-1011 at Orlando due to smoke in the cabin at the start of the take-off roll.
[ 24 August 2001: Message edited by: stagger ]
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From CBC:
WebPosted Fri Aug 24 07:07:21 2001
AZORES ISLANDS - Nine passengers were sent to hospital in shock when a Canadian passenger jet made an emergency landing and caught fire in the Azores islands on Friday.
The Air Transat jet was on its way from Toronto to Lisbon when it began leaking fuel over the Atlantic ocean.
After detecting the fuel leak, the pilot pointed the Airbus 330 for the Azores' Lajes airport.
By the time it got there, the plane was completely without power. Witnesses said it glided toward the airport before bouncing to a stop on the runway, its landing gear in flames.
The fire was quickly put out.
The 293 passengers escaped without injury, but nine went to hospital suffering from shock.
An emergency spokesman said tires blew out on the jet, and fuel leaked onto the runway. The airport was closed afterwards.
Information about the number of passengers and crew on board was not immediately available.
Written by CBC News Online staff
=====
According to a source of mine in Air Transat, one of their A330s - KTS - has been subject to serious fuel leak problems for some time now and an engineer has been travelling with it contstantly. It would be interesting to see if this is the aircraft involved in today's incident.
WebPosted Fri Aug 24 07:07:21 2001
AZORES ISLANDS - Nine passengers were sent to hospital in shock when a Canadian passenger jet made an emergency landing and caught fire in the Azores islands on Friday.
The Air Transat jet was on its way from Toronto to Lisbon when it began leaking fuel over the Atlantic ocean.
After detecting the fuel leak, the pilot pointed the Airbus 330 for the Azores' Lajes airport.
By the time it got there, the plane was completely without power. Witnesses said it glided toward the airport before bouncing to a stop on the runway, its landing gear in flames.
The fire was quickly put out.
The 293 passengers escaped without injury, but nine went to hospital suffering from shock.
An emergency spokesman said tires blew out on the jet, and fuel leaked onto the runway. The airport was closed afterwards.
Information about the number of passengers and crew on board was not immediately available.
Written by CBC News Online staff
=====
According to a source of mine in Air Transat, one of their A330s - KTS - has been subject to serious fuel leak problems for some time now and an engineer has been travelling with it contstantly. It would be interesting to see if this is the aircraft involved in today's incident.
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Even if the CBC news report, faithfully reproduced by the Guv is only partially correct, this incident is quite a story - shades of the Gimli Glider! However, as anyone in Canada interested in aviation knows, the reporting staff at the Holy Mother Corp (that's the CBC to all you non-Canadians) couldn't tell the difference between an A330 and an AS 350. I, for one, am on tenterhooks waiting for some factual details from a reliable source.
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Yet again Guvnor, I say not bad for a couple of system monitors and autopilot button pushers. Please don't come back and comment on the monitoring of the fuel leak.
If this really was a dead stick job then as well as being a remarkable effort it was also very, very fortunate to be within range of anywhere!! Not too many options in that neck of the woods.
As someone else has already said: respect!
If this really was a dead stick job then as well as being a remarkable effort it was also very, very fortunate to be within range of anywhere!! Not too many options in that neck of the woods.
As someone else has already said: respect!
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If the Guvnor's source is reliable then two TS 330s have/had fuel leaks. How about other operators, or is it just a coincidence happening twice on the same airline ?
Don't know how 'witnesses' can tell if he had power or not, but it certainly looks like he was unable to flare. If the fuel was all gone in the middle of the Atlantic this has to be one of the luckiest and happiest outcomes we've seen in a while.
Don't know how 'witnesses' can tell if he had power or not, but it certainly looks like he was unable to flare. If the fuel was all gone in the middle of the Atlantic this has to be one of the luckiest and happiest outcomes we've seen in a while.
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Oh well, another 1.25 million dollars for a distressed passenger.
Incidentally it says in the CBC report “The airline says the pilot has been flying for 30 years, and is calling him a hero” could this be a case of Pilot fatigue, 30 years is a long shift.
Respect
Incidentally it says in the CBC report “The airline says the pilot has been flying for 30 years, and is calling him a hero” could this be a case of Pilot fatigue, 30 years is a long shift.
Respect
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There's a lot more to this one than a "FUEL LEAK". The fuel leaks I see on the Airbus (A300 and A310) will not cause anyone to run short of fuel.
This sounds like a fuel line separation where fuel could not be delivered to the engines from a tank or where fuel was being dumped overboard from an engine feed line.
I'm surprised that the cabin didn't report fuel for vapor dumping in the event the problemw as the latter.
This sounds like a fuel line separation where fuel could not be delivered to the engines from a tank or where fuel was being dumped overboard from an engine feed line.
I'm surprised that the cabin didn't report fuel for vapor dumping in the event the problemw as the latter.
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From Transport Canada's website:
=========
No. H099/01
For release August 24, 2001
TRANSPORT CANADA TAKES PRECAUTIONARY SAFETY MEASURES FOLLOWING AIR TRANSAT INCIDENT
OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that Transport Canada has sent a Minister's observer and a team of specialists to the Azores Islands following the emergency landing of an Air Transat A330 aircraft en-route from Toronto to Lisbon. The team is comprised of specialists in the area of aircraft maintenance and operations.
In addition, Transport Canada has suspended Air Transat's Extended Range Twin Engine Operations authority effective immediately. The suspension will remain in effect until Transport Canada is satisfied that no safety deficiencies exist. This suspension will require Air Transat to alter overseas flights involving its three A330 aircraft so that they remain closer to suitable en-route airports between the point of departure and destination.
Transport Canada, as part of its regulatory program of comprehensive monitoring, inspections and audits on all air operators, will begin a special audit of Air Transat maintenance and operations immediately, as well as conduct increased surveillance of Air Transat's aviation program to ensure compliance with all Canadian Aviation Regulations.
Transport Canada's team will join representatives of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada who have already sent an accredited representative to the investigation. In accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Portuguese Authority is responsible for investigating this occurrence. Transport Canada will cooperate fully throughout the investigation and will take immediate action, as appropriate, should any regulatory or safety deficiencies be uncovered.
"We are grateful that this incident did not result in any serious injuries or loss of life," said Mr. Collenette. "While any occurrence of this nature is taken very seriously, Canada's aviation system continues to serve millions of passengers safely and efficiently every year. Transport Canada will take whatever action is required to protect the Canadian travelling public."
======
Since this was put out, I have been informed - but have been unable as yet to confirm - that Air Transat's A330s have been grounded following the crew saying that what happened was an "uncommanded fuel dump" and that they were unable to stop it.
If true, then surely other operators will have been notified of this extremely serious problem - anyone from Airtours, bmi british midland etc able to comment??
=========
No. H099/01
For release August 24, 2001
TRANSPORT CANADA TAKES PRECAUTIONARY SAFETY MEASURES FOLLOWING AIR TRANSAT INCIDENT
OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that Transport Canada has sent a Minister's observer and a team of specialists to the Azores Islands following the emergency landing of an Air Transat A330 aircraft en-route from Toronto to Lisbon. The team is comprised of specialists in the area of aircraft maintenance and operations.
In addition, Transport Canada has suspended Air Transat's Extended Range Twin Engine Operations authority effective immediately. The suspension will remain in effect until Transport Canada is satisfied that no safety deficiencies exist. This suspension will require Air Transat to alter overseas flights involving its three A330 aircraft so that they remain closer to suitable en-route airports between the point of departure and destination.
Transport Canada, as part of its regulatory program of comprehensive monitoring, inspections and audits on all air operators, will begin a special audit of Air Transat maintenance and operations immediately, as well as conduct increased surveillance of Air Transat's aviation program to ensure compliance with all Canadian Aviation Regulations.
Transport Canada's team will join representatives of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada who have already sent an accredited representative to the investigation. In accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Portuguese Authority is responsible for investigating this occurrence. Transport Canada will cooperate fully throughout the investigation and will take immediate action, as appropriate, should any regulatory or safety deficiencies be uncovered.
"We are grateful that this incident did not result in any serious injuries or loss of life," said Mr. Collenette. "While any occurrence of this nature is taken very seriously, Canada's aviation system continues to serve millions of passengers safely and efficiently every year. Transport Canada will take whatever action is required to protect the Canadian travelling public."
======
Since this was put out, I have been informed - but have been unable as yet to confirm - that Air Transat's A330s have been grounded following the crew saying that what happened was an "uncommanded fuel dump" and that they were unable to stop it.
If true, then surely other operators will have been notified of this extremely serious problem - anyone from Airtours, bmi british midland etc able to comment??
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No ETOPS? Eina kak. That's got to hurt. How thin are the margins on a charter like that anyway? 3%? 5%? Will CMM keep it's fares low and try to screw Transat or will AC, CMM and Transat all use this as an opportunity to raise fares on a low-yield route?
My bet is...watch the Canadian public pay! Yet another reason why Gerry Schwartz should have been allowed to buy CPA. Call me a sceptic.
My bet is...watch the Canadian public pay! Yet another reason why Gerry Schwartz should have been allowed to buy CPA. Call me a sceptic.
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Both my sister and I have had the misfortune of being SLF on Air Transat flights so I am glad to hear that their maintenance ops are being audited. I'm sure their pilots are first-rate, but their operation on the ground is nothing short of abysmal- in dealing with them I get the sense that they couldn't marshall a one-float parade. It is impossible to obtain info on flights (I once called their arrival info line and got a recording of the status of all flights from a date three months earlier), check-in counters are often deserted at departure time, all tech problems are handled for the convenience of the carrier (they once forced all pax to sit on A/C in Cuba for 10 hours because they didn't want to use a shop in Florida), cabin crew are rude to the extreme and their on-time record is a sick joke. With all of that happening in full view of the customers, I shudder to think of what must be going on behind the scenes.
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So, an uncommanded fuel dump a possibility?
Any commection with an incident in the early days of the A340? AF 340 over a Pond somewhere starts dumping for reasoms best known to itself. The advice from Toulouse is eventually to shut down an particular engine (Only way to depower a particular bit of essential electrics that was powering up the problem!).
Hotly denied at the time by the Ministry of Truth at Airbus
Very good show by all the crew--(don't forget the Cabin Crew)!
Any commection with an incident in the early days of the A340? AF 340 over a Pond somewhere starts dumping for reasoms best known to itself. The advice from Toulouse is eventually to shut down an particular engine (Only way to depower a particular bit of essential electrics that was powering up the problem!).
Hotly denied at the time by the Ministry of Truth at Airbus
Very good show by all the crew--(don't forget the Cabin Crew)!