Qantas Near Miss
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Qantas Near Miss
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/NEWS/02/15/qantas.jumbos.ap/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/NEWS/02/15/qantas.jumbos.ap/index.html</a>
Always reassuring that the Technology works!
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SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Two Qantas jumbo jets carrying nearly 800 people came close to colliding over a remote section of the Pacific Ocean earlier this month, the Australian airline has revealed.
A Qantas spokeswoman said the two Boeing 747-400s traveling on the Auckland, New Zealand-Los Angeles route had been flying at the same altitude.
"Two Qantas aircraft under the direction of Tahiti air traffic control were traveling at the same altitude on the 1st of February," the spokeswoman said on the customary condition of anonymity.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Saturday that the jets were only about a minute apart when their collision avoidance systems were activated, with one rising and one dipping in a coordinated response.
The spokeswoman said the crew took the appropriate steps under the circumstances.
"The captains of the respective aircraft took necessary action and advised Tahiti air traffic control," she said.
"Neither of the Qantas aircraft, which are fitted with anti-collision software, came within 17 kilometers [about 10 miles] or the minimum separation of 1,000 feet of each other."
She could not confirm reports that an air traffic controller in Tahiti had been suspended because of the incident.
Jets flying from Los Angeles usually cruise at an even altitude -- either 32,000 feet (9,754 meters) or 34,000 feet (10,363 meters) -- to avoid oncoming aircraft.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Always reassuring that the Technology works!
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SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Two Qantas jumbo jets carrying nearly 800 people came close to colliding over a remote section of the Pacific Ocean earlier this month, the Australian airline has revealed.
A Qantas spokeswoman said the two Boeing 747-400s traveling on the Auckland, New Zealand-Los Angeles route had been flying at the same altitude.
"Two Qantas aircraft under the direction of Tahiti air traffic control were traveling at the same altitude on the 1st of February," the spokeswoman said on the customary condition of anonymity.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Saturday that the jets were only about a minute apart when their collision avoidance systems were activated, with one rising and one dipping in a coordinated response.
The spokeswoman said the crew took the appropriate steps under the circumstances.
"The captains of the respective aircraft took necessary action and advised Tahiti air traffic control," she said.
"Neither of the Qantas aircraft, which are fitted with anti-collision software, came within 17 kilometers [about 10 miles] or the minimum separation of 1,000 feet of each other."
She could not confirm reports that an air traffic controller in Tahiti had been suspended because of the incident.
Jets flying from Los Angeles usually cruise at an even altitude -- either 32,000 feet (9,754 meters) or 34,000 feet (10,363 meters) -- to avoid oncoming aircraft.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
