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MK 74F down in PHC?

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MK 74F down in PHC?

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Old 28th Nov 2001, 01:03
  #21 (permalink)  
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Loc-Out you're not thinking of a certain operator which also has a maintenance base at MSE and which dunks aircraft in Lake Victoria - as well as other spots around the world - I'm sure ChrisKSDF can provide the details.
 
Old 28th Nov 2001, 01:59
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Sure are!!


[ 27 November 2001: Message edited by: Loc-out ]
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 03:17
  #23 (permalink)  
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My condolances go to the family of the victim and to MK- Airlines.

From some of the posts it is clear that you are quite pleased that MK has been hurt. Well let me tell you something. When you have your own airline operating not some fantasy crap that is posted on the internet you might have some credibility. You surely can talk the talk but aboviously cannot walk the walk.

MK has been operating in UK and EU but is not an EU airline. Guess some of us find it hard to accept that somebody from Africa can come and operate a fairly succesfull airline without a wonderful CAA AOC that has been issued by some godforsaken paperpusher.

At the same token you find it appropriate for you to build your hours, work or even run an airline in those Foreign non EU countries that give an opportunity. Namely I have seen British as well as other European pilots flying and people in Zimbabve, RSA, Brunei, UAE... You name it.

Death brings the vultures out and I seem them hanging around in increasing numbers. A person got killed and an aircraft was lost. You didn't even have the decency to wait a few minutes before starting your badmouthing campaing... DISGUSTING. A miserable but unfortunately noisy minority on this wonderful website seem to be using it to advance their own goals.

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Old 28th Nov 2001, 03:40
  #24 (permalink)  
 
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By all means, JJFlyer, let's just pretend that MK Airlines has never had any problems because they lost an aircraft today. Let's not "badmouth" them because they've crashed 1/4 their fleet in nine years. And for God's sake, let's not mention that this accident looks to have happened because the plane ran out of fuel.

After all, mentioning that would be disrespectful to some (although I'm not exactly sure who).

Giving such information would be an honest and accurate appraisal of the airline, but apparently those aren't appreciated by some.

Get over yourself.

[ 27 November 2001: Message edited by: ChrisKSDF ]
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 03:57
  #25 (permalink)  
 
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MK have an experienced mix of pilots, ex military, ex airline etc and fly into places many other operators fear to tread, carrying everything from grapes to disaster relief supplies...the classic case of "anywhere, anytime".
I have been sat on the freight apron at the "delightful" Lagos Mohammed Murtalla airport with a bunch of pilots and engineers for close on 12 hours in the glaring heat trying to resurrect a sick 1900 and been watched disdainfully by a European operator from their nice, airconditioned, well stocked, "purple lettered" 757. In taxies MK's 747 and the crew hop out and bring us a case of bottled mineral water, bags of fruit and a tray of sandwiches, and invite us to cool off in their fridgelike cabin. I guess not everyone has lost the "spirit" of aviation, and I don't find it too surprising that many of those who do still have it are either from, or work in Africa. This is a place where you look out for each other, generally regardless of the writing on the side of your aircraft.
And as for being "foreigners" over here, a lot of pilots of European origin are "over there", indeed often get their first break there with regards to hours and experience, before returning to the UK etc for that coveted airline job.
It is yet another tragedy in aviation, and regardless of what people think of the operator, surely it is bad taste to forward anything other than condolences in this instance?
May they only get stronger, and move on from this unfortunate accident.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 04:19
  #26 (permalink)  
 
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So what was the outcome of the DETR investigation last year that "Vauxhall Cross"
posted in the African Aviation forum?
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 07:00
  #27 (permalink)  
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Mr Chris.

I did not want to comment the problems MK has had. I do not think it is my place to do so.
You on the other hand have such a vast and varied experience as a pilot and aviation expert that it is just natural for you to assume this role.

[ 28 November 2001: Message edited by: JJflyer ]
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 07:58
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You don't need experience as a pilot to take note when an airline has lost 1/4 their fleet in crashes, or to notice that a particular airline operates from one country, yet registers their assets (including aircraft) in another country to avoid regulations that like companies are forced to comply with.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 09:33
  #29 (permalink)  
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JJFlyer - I'm surprised at you. The fact is, as ChrisKSDF pointed out, this is far from the first incident that they have had. Nor is it the case that they have written off three aircraft over say a 40 year period - as would be the case with a quality operator such as British Airways. No - these cowboys have had three crashes (can't remember off hand how many were fatals, including this one) in nine years!

Statistically, this makes them one of the most dangerous airlines in the world.

(Chris, can you trawl your databases and see if you can come up with any other airline - of a comparable size - (a) which has had as many incidents in the last 10 years; and (b) has lost 25% of its fleet in the same timescale?)

This operation prompts more than a few questions, starting with:

- Nice people they may be, but why are they not based in their home country of Zimbabwe?

- Why don't they have a proper operational set up in Ghana - and why isn't the management and control centred there rather than Sussex?

- Why isn't the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority providing proper operational and safety oversight? This incident should result in Ghana being downgraded to Category 2 unless prompt action is taken against MK.

- Why is the DTLR allowing them to operate from the UK (against CAA advice, I understand) to the detriment of other UK and EU carriers? If they want to be based here, fine. But let them apply for a CAA Air Operator's Certificate and Operators Licence and abide by the UK rules - same as the rest of us have to!

- why are they being allowed to flout UK immigration and employment laws by employing foreign nationals (to the detriment of EU citizens) in the UK without visas, work permits or EU passports?

- why is the company's senior management permitted overrule its crews when it comes to operational matters; including the carriage of fuel over cargo; operations in excess of runway, structural or other limits; extended duty times; and operations into airports in unsafe conditions? There's another thread on here, entitled "Management and Pilots SHould Read This". Towards the bottom of this page you'll see a question posed by Huck. MK's answer would be diametrically opposed to the one that I gave.

If this aircraft had come down in Margate or Crawley - especially considering that it ran out of fuel - this thread would have been close on its 100 post limit already. So why isn't there more condemnation of their operation? The chances are that next time - and if this company is allowed to continue operating in the UK there will be a next time - that just might happen.

Despite what some might think, this is not a case of European operators bashing an African one because they are more succesful. This is a safety issue which affects us all - much as some of us think otherwise, these regulations are in place for a reason: to protect those operating the aircraft and those on the ground. It's about an operator that has effectively torn up the rule book because they are operating off a mickey mouse flag of convenience without any operational or safety oversight - which means that they cut every corner they can to save money to undercut European operators and put people like you out of work.

They were banned from operating to Iceland - which is why they had to set up a 'proper' structure there - if the Icelanders have the guts to take a stance on them, why don't the British?

If the DTLR lets them keep operating - how many more people are they going to kill? And will their next crash be in the centre of a UK town?

It's as simple as that.
 
Old 28th Nov 2001, 10:30
  #30 (permalink)  
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From the Nigerian press:

Briton dies, four others wounded as plane crashes in Port Harcourt

From Joseph Ollor Obari, Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) and Tunji Oketunbi (Lagos)

RESIDENTS of Ipo village, about 700 meters from the Port Harcourt International Airport in the early hours of yesterday, woke up shocked as a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft belonging to M.K. Airlines swirled and crashed in their area, killing a British engineer on board and wounding four of the other 12-member British and American crew.

Aviation Minister Kema Chikwe who visited the site yesterday, said the cause of the crash which occurred at about 1.56 a.m. was yet unknown. The aircraft had left Luxembourg for Johannesburg in South Africa via Port Harcourt.

Airport sources said that the plane, which had but two minutes to land, suddenly lost contact with the control tower.

Chikwe who was visibly shocked by the extent of the wreckage, said the managing director of the National Airways Management Authority (NAMA) called at 4 am. to inform her of the incident.

"I had just woken up and I asked the immediate questions on human lives and, what the situation was, whether all our equipment was functioning, because I came here not too long ago to inspect all the facilities. The equipment were all functional, so we ruled out the possibility of equipment failure,"
she said.

The minister emphasised that there was light at the airport as the generator was in good condition and the airport operation had remained uninterrupted.

On her arrival in Port Harcourt, the minister drove straight to the Intel Clinic to ascertain the condition of the survivors of the crash.

Of what she saw at the clinic, she said: "For a layman, any injury is serious. I saw blood and people lying down, some looking more critical than others, but I am told adequate arrangement was being made to send an air ambulance to fly them to Zurich, because they are foreigners."

Asked if the victims were able to describe what happened to them, she said: "They were all in a state of shock and confusion and I did not think I should even ask such question. A plane crash is not a car crash. It is something that is very technical and is best handled by professionals. So the most they could do was to describe their experience, but they could not determine the cause of the crash.

"It is only when Airport Investigation Bureau complete their work then we can have a clue of what actually happened. I don't think at this stage anybody can attribute this to any specific cause."

She said it was sheer miracle that the cockpit severed from the fuselage, a major factor in the survival of the rest of the crew.

"There is a miracle here, even the separation is like God on His own separated the aircraft. You can see where the passengers were was intact. They were in the upper deck and it was only the engineer that was down that died. It's amazing that they were secured where they were. There was no fire onthat side. They would have all died," she added.

She promised that the airport clinic would be upgraded to cope with emergencies like this in the future.

At the site, the wreckage still smouldered. Only part of the name could be discerned from the severed parts while there was nothing left of the aircraft registration number.

Accident investigators and officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation left Lagos yesterday for Port Harcourt to probe the crash.

Although there was no official statement from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), information gathered in Lagos indicated the aircraft was operated by Accra-based M.K. Airlines on behalf of a Nigerian operator.

A similar accident involving an aircraft belonging to the same operator occurred on approach to landing at the Port Harcourt airport about four years ago.

No official statement was issued by the airline yesterday.
 
Old 28th Nov 2001, 10:31
  #31 (permalink)  
 
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Just a wee bit curious here Guv me ol' mate, how can an aircraft that supposedly "ran out of fuel" BURN post impact?
There simply isn't enough hydraulic fluid to get things really going, but you are as you claim the Guvnor and all knowing so we shall once again stand aside as you belittle yet another airline, its owner, and employees that actually GOT EFFIN' PLANES IN THE AIR as opposed to some pipe smokin' dream in PIK.

My sympathies to those involved, Noone ever likes to see one go down.

Lak

[ 28 November 2001: Message edited by: LimeyAK ]
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 11:26
  #32 (permalink)  
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I'm disappointed folks. This is neither the time nor the place for a spot of MK bashing.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 11:55
  #33 (permalink)  
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The only one in this post that said something sensible about this crash seems to be Kema Chikme, the Nigerian Aviation Minister...
Bashing the airline before the corpses are burried is not my cup of tea.
My sincere condoleances to the familly of the engineer and my thoughts to those injured.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 11:58
  #34 (permalink)  
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LimeyAK - are you sure you fly a 747 as you claim? If so you'd know that there's a significant amount of unusable fuel - and plenty of other combustible material - on board an aircraft. Even the skin burns once the temperature is high enough.

===

According to the Foreign Office, the person that was killed was not British. This from the Telegraph:

Jet crash Britons recover from ordeal

Four Britons who survived a jumbo jet crash in Nigeria are recovering from their ordeal.

One crew member was killed when the Boeing
747 came down near the airport at Port Harcourt, in the south-east of the country.

The cargo plane, chartered by Panalpina World
Trans Limited freight company, was flying to South America from Luxembourg.

It tried to land in Nigeria to drop off supplies for local oil operations, state-run radio said, but crashed on the approach, near Igbo village.

The Foreign Office denied reports that a British engineer had died of injuries from the crash, which left six of the 13 crew needing treatment in a local hospital for serious wounds.

A spokeswoman said: "There were four Britons
on board but no British fatalities. We have no details of any injuries.

"They were on board an MK Airlines Boeing
747 which crashed on approach to Port Harcourt international airport, in south-east
Nigeria."

MK Airlines had told the Foreign Office there was one fatality and it was not British.

"All the families of the crew members on board the flight have been notified," the
spokeswoman added.

"The four British men were crew members. Their families have been informed and the
airline has organised for the crew to be flown out of Nigeria as soon as possible."
 
Old 28th Nov 2001, 13:54
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Guvnor - what do you think you are doing?

One of your earlier foaming posts in this string lists a whole bunch of actions for a whole bunch of different agencies to take against MK.

Breaking News Guv - there has been no formal investigation yet!!

If you were the all-knowing Omnipotent Smart Arse that you like to project yourself as you would understand that actions flow from a thorough investigation of the fact and not from half-baked drivel propagated by some wannabee dreamer.

Keep your ill-timed remarks to yourself. Show some repsect for those that are grieving and give all the rest of us a well-earned rest from your utterly pointless rantings.

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Old 28th Nov 2001, 14:08
  #36 (permalink)  
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Breaking News, PowerRanger - this company has apparently been under invesrigation for a number of safety breaches for some time.

It's lost 25% of its fleet due to crashes in nine years.

It operates under a flag of convenience, without proper safety or operational oversight.

It refuses to apply for a UK AOC or abide by UK rules regarding safety and operational strictures - despite 'requests' from the CAA.

These are facts.

This company has directly and indirectly caused the loss of peoples' jobs and lives. Why is it that you think that calls for urgent action to be taken to prevent such events happening again should be brushed under the carpet?
 
Old 28th Nov 2001, 14:20
  #37 (permalink)  
 
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We're all a bit quick to jump on MK aren't we. All that's known at the minute is that they have lost a 747 after it apparently undershot on approach to PHC at night - we know nothing else at the moment.

And, so what if they have now lost three aircraft in nine years. This by itself may or may not be significant. Numbers alone are not necessarily an indication of poor safety.
What were the causes of the accidents, was their any failing by the airline and if so has it learnt from these and so on.

MK's previous two accidents were also undershoots in darkness and were both during non-precision approaches, one at Kano (VOR approach) and one at PHC (also a VOR approach plus no DME). I wonder what kind of approach yesterdays was. Am I right in thinking that the the glide slope at Kano is shallow (2deg??) or am I right off the wall. What's the glide slope at PHC.

For AirDisaster.com's sake I might mention that non precission approaches have been shown to be many times less safe than full ILS approaches and having a shallow glide path can also give problems. Maybe AirDisaster.com should also consider the differences in infrastructure, landing aids etc between Africa and North America/Europe before he prenounces on safety. His view may be valid but basing it just on counting numbers is not enough.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 14:27
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Guvnor please point out where I said that things should be 'brushed under the carpet'?

Now that you're making up quotes I know you're defeated.

My point is that it is right and proper to hold a thorough and objective investigation, to produce a report with findings and then to consider corrective actions.

What is not right is to foam at the mouth about safety records, quote banal statistics in support of your opinions and then come up with instant recommendations all before breakfast the day after the incident.

Your profile suggests you are a Chief Executive in this industry. I have to say I find this hard to believe.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 16:41
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My deepest sympathy to all at MK on the loss of the aircraft as well as the loss of a crew member. Also, condolencies to the family of the crew member killed.

There seems to be a lot of "MK bashing" around here at the moment. Let us not pre-judge and wait for the result of the investigation. In all my dealings with them and their crews, I have always been impressed with their professionalism and attitude/approach to the work they are doing.

Let us also not forget the amount of humanitarian aid that MK is involved in and all the countless people they have directly/indirectly assisted over the years. Were it not for them the world would be a poorer place.

Might all of you at MK get over this terrible experience and learn from it and come out of it a better company able to survive even the most savage electronic attack from those that are so jealuous of you and your achievements.
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Old 28th Nov 2001, 17:22
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Goldfish Jack said

Let us also not forget the amount of humanitarian aid that MK is involved in and all the countless people they have directly/indirectly assisted over the years. Were it not for them the world would be a poorer place.

A nice point, however, I don't think MK did this out of the kindness of their hearts. It has been mentioned that MK operated into some 'less than ideal' locations and I am sure they didn't lose on any shipments they may have made.

All that said, another sad day for the aviation business. My condolences to all concerned.
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