Chinese Pilot refused to give way to Qatar Aw. Emergency
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Chinese Pilot refused to give way to Qatar Aw. Emergency
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Air Disaster Narrowly Averted in China: Report | The Jakarta Globe
Air Disaster Narrowly Averted in China: Report | The Jakarta Globe
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Courtesy of Arabian Supply Chain
Qatar Airways declares emergency on China flight
by ASC Staff on Aug 25, 2011
Qatar Airways declared emergency on a flight to Shanghai’s Pudong Airport this month, due to fuel levels on its Boeing 777-300 being low, it has been reported.
The national carrier was performing flight QR-888 from Doha on 13th August 2011 when the incident occurred, according to Aviation Herald.
Due to weather conditions, the aircraft needed to enter a holding around 14:40L and it was subsequently diverted to Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport after fuel levels become low.
However, a Juneyao Airlines flight was approaching the airport at the same time and crew therefore received an Air Traffic Control instruction to accommodate the Qatar Airways emergency by aborting their approach.
The instructions were apparent refused and Juneyao Airlines continued their approach for a safe landing, forcing Qatar Airways to delay its own landing.
Aviation Herald reports that the Middle Eastern airline was then able to land and later continued to Pudong, reaching with a total delay of nine hours.
China's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) has launched an investigation and pledged: "Verified violations will be severely dealt with according to law."
by ASC Staff on Aug 25, 2011
Qatar Airways declared emergency on a flight to Shanghai’s Pudong Airport this month, due to fuel levels on its Boeing 777-300 being low, it has been reported.
The national carrier was performing flight QR-888 from Doha on 13th August 2011 when the incident occurred, according to Aviation Herald.
Due to weather conditions, the aircraft needed to enter a holding around 14:40L and it was subsequently diverted to Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport after fuel levels become low.
However, a Juneyao Airlines flight was approaching the airport at the same time and crew therefore received an Air Traffic Control instruction to accommodate the Qatar Airways emergency by aborting their approach.
The instructions were apparent refused and Juneyao Airlines continued their approach for a safe landing, forcing Qatar Airways to delay its own landing.
Aviation Herald reports that the Middle Eastern airline was then able to land and later continued to Pudong, reaching with a total delay of nine hours.
China's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) has launched an investigation and pledged: "Verified violations will be severely dealt with according to law."
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I guess we don't know the true facts. Does "aborting their approach" mean at some point on final approach, or further out? How come the Qatar flight just suddenly appeared on the scene? If it was behind the other flight I don't understand what the fuss was about. There should have been advance warning to ATC of an aircraft with severe fuel shortage so that the approach sequence could have been arranged accordingly.
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I Agree with HEATHROW DIRECTOR,
I'm pretty sure the airplane wouldn't have appeared from out of nowhere.
Have a feeling that there is a tad bit more to this than meets the ear.
Regardless, i'm sure the 45mins FR would have kicked in anyway, right? If need be?
Interesting.
I'm pretty sure the airplane wouldn't have appeared from out of nowhere.
Have a feeling that there is a tad bit more to this than meets the ear.
Regardless, i'm sure the 45mins FR would have kicked in anyway, right? If need be?
Interesting.
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"The pilot of the Qatar plane said it had just five minutes’ worth of fuel left after it was diverted from Shanghai, the Global Times newspaper reported, adding that a disastrous accident was only narrowly averted.
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Incident: Qatar B773 and Juneyao A320 near Shanghai on Aug 13th 2011, fuel emergency or not
By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Aug 24th 2011 20:19Z, last updated Wednesday, Aug 24th 2011 20:19Z
A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300, registration A7-BAC performing flight QR-888 from Doha (Qatar) to Shanghai (China), needed to enter a holding around 14:40L (06:40Z) while on approach to Shanghai's Pudong Airport due to weather. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport at 15:10L and declared emergency due to being low on fuel.
A Juneyao Airlines Airbus A320-200, flight HO-1112 from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongquiao (China), was on approach to Hongqiao Airport, when Air Traffic Control instructed the crew to abort the approach in order to accomodate the emergency of QR-888. The crew, without requesting priority or declaring emergency, refused the instructions and continued their approach for a safe landing forcing ATC to delay the Boeing 777-300.
Flight QR-888 landed safely on Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport at 15:37L following the Airbus. The aircraft later continued to Pudong reaching their destination with a delay of 9 hours.
China's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) reported on Aug 24th that QR-888 declared emergency due to fuel shortage while waiting for approach to Pudong and diverted to Hongqiao. Air Traffic Control issued instructions to Juneyao's flight 1112 to give way to the Qatar Boeing, the crew however did not comply with the instructions forcing the controllers to re-arrange the landing sequence. The CAAC opened an investigation and pledged: "Verified violations will be severely dealt with according to law."
A briefing circling in China's aviation industry suggests that the Qatar Boeing 777 landed with 5 tons of fuel remaining, the Juneyao Airbus A320 with 2.9 tons of fuel remaining.
Metars Pudong:
ZSPD 130900Z 24008G13MPS 210V270 9999 -TSRA SQ SCT030CB 29/23 Q1005 BECMG FM0910 33007G12MPS +TSRA SQ
ZSPD 130830Z VRB01MPS 9999 TS FEW030CB 29/22 Q1002 BECMG TL0930 20005MPS TSRA
ZSPD 130800Z 32008G13MPS 9999 TS SCT016 SCT030CB 27/21 Q1003 BECMG TL0915 22005MPS -SHRA
ZSPD 130730Z VRB03MPS 9999 -TSRA SCT016 SCT030CB 29/23 Q1003 BECMG TL0900 22005MPS NSW
ZSPD 130700Z 14006MPS 9999 TS SCT030 SCT030CB 32/25 Q1003 BECMG TL0830 NSW
ZSPD 130630Z 15005MPS 120V180 8000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 33/25 Q1003 WS RWY17R NOSIG
ZSPD 130600Z 14007MPS 8000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 33/25 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130530Z 17005MPS 8000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 32/26 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130500Z 17007MPS 7000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 32/26 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130430Z 16006MPS 7000 SCT026 32/26 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130400Z 19004MPS 150V270 7000 SCT023 33/25 Q1004 NOSIG
ZSPD 130330Z 21003MPS 150V290 7000 SCT023 FEW023TCU 33/24 Q1004 NOSIG
Metars Hongqiao:
ZSSS 130900Z VRB01MPS CAVOK 25/24 Q1005 RETSRA NOSIG
ZSSS 130830Z 21007MPS 160V240 1600 R18L/0800VP2000D R18R/1000VP2000D +TSRA BKN026CB 25/23 Q1004 BECMG TL0840 TSRA
ZSSS 130800Z 12007MPS 9999 -TSRA SCT030CB 29/21 Q1002 BECMG TL0840 TSRA
ZSSS 130730Z 18007MPS 8000 SCT030 32/24 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130700Z 22005MPS 9999 FEW030TCU 33/24 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130630Z 24004MPS 190V280 9999 FEW030TCU SCT030 34/22 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130600Z 23005MPS 200V260 9999 SCT030 34/23 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130530Z 22003MPS 170V250 9999 SCT030 34/24 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130500Z 23003MPS 190V280 9999 BKN028 34/25 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSSS 130430Z 24002MPS 200V280 9999 BKN028 33/24 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSSS 130400Z 25003MPS 220V290 9999 BKN026 33/24 Q1003 NOSIG
By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Aug 24th 2011 20:19Z, last updated Wednesday, Aug 24th 2011 20:19Z
A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300, registration A7-BAC performing flight QR-888 from Doha (Qatar) to Shanghai (China), needed to enter a holding around 14:40L (06:40Z) while on approach to Shanghai's Pudong Airport due to weather. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport at 15:10L and declared emergency due to being low on fuel.
A Juneyao Airlines Airbus A320-200, flight HO-1112 from Shenzhen to Shanghai Hongquiao (China), was on approach to Hongqiao Airport, when Air Traffic Control instructed the crew to abort the approach in order to accomodate the emergency of QR-888. The crew, without requesting priority or declaring emergency, refused the instructions and continued their approach for a safe landing forcing ATC to delay the Boeing 777-300.
Flight QR-888 landed safely on Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport at 15:37L following the Airbus. The aircraft later continued to Pudong reaching their destination with a delay of 9 hours.
China's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) reported on Aug 24th that QR-888 declared emergency due to fuel shortage while waiting for approach to Pudong and diverted to Hongqiao. Air Traffic Control issued instructions to Juneyao's flight 1112 to give way to the Qatar Boeing, the crew however did not comply with the instructions forcing the controllers to re-arrange the landing sequence. The CAAC opened an investigation and pledged: "Verified violations will be severely dealt with according to law."
A briefing circling in China's aviation industry suggests that the Qatar Boeing 777 landed with 5 tons of fuel remaining, the Juneyao Airbus A320 with 2.9 tons of fuel remaining.
Metars Pudong:
ZSPD 130900Z 24008G13MPS 210V270 9999 -TSRA SQ SCT030CB 29/23 Q1005 BECMG FM0910 33007G12MPS +TSRA SQ
ZSPD 130830Z VRB01MPS 9999 TS FEW030CB 29/22 Q1002 BECMG TL0930 20005MPS TSRA
ZSPD 130800Z 32008G13MPS 9999 TS SCT016 SCT030CB 27/21 Q1003 BECMG TL0915 22005MPS -SHRA
ZSPD 130730Z VRB03MPS 9999 -TSRA SCT016 SCT030CB 29/23 Q1003 BECMG TL0900 22005MPS NSW
ZSPD 130700Z 14006MPS 9999 TS SCT030 SCT030CB 32/25 Q1003 BECMG TL0830 NSW
ZSPD 130630Z 15005MPS 120V180 8000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 33/25 Q1003 WS RWY17R NOSIG
ZSPD 130600Z 14007MPS 8000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 33/25 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130530Z 17005MPS 8000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 32/26 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130500Z 17007MPS 7000 SCT026 FEW026TCU 32/26 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130430Z 16006MPS 7000 SCT026 32/26 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSPD 130400Z 19004MPS 150V270 7000 SCT023 33/25 Q1004 NOSIG
ZSPD 130330Z 21003MPS 150V290 7000 SCT023 FEW023TCU 33/24 Q1004 NOSIG
Metars Hongqiao:
ZSSS 130900Z VRB01MPS CAVOK 25/24 Q1005 RETSRA NOSIG
ZSSS 130830Z 21007MPS 160V240 1600 R18L/0800VP2000D R18R/1000VP2000D +TSRA BKN026CB 25/23 Q1004 BECMG TL0840 TSRA
ZSSS 130800Z 12007MPS 9999 -TSRA SCT030CB 29/21 Q1002 BECMG TL0840 TSRA
ZSSS 130730Z 18007MPS 8000 SCT030 32/24 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130700Z 22005MPS 9999 FEW030TCU 33/24 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130630Z 24004MPS 190V280 9999 FEW030TCU SCT030 34/22 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130600Z 23005MPS 200V260 9999 SCT030 34/23 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130530Z 22003MPS 170V250 9999 SCT030 34/24 Q1002 NOSIG
ZSSS 130500Z 23003MPS 190V280 9999 BKN028 34/25 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSSS 130430Z 24002MPS 200V280 9999 BKN028 33/24 Q1003 NOSIG
ZSSS 130400Z 25003MPS 220V290 9999 BKN026 33/24 Q1003 NOSIG
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The pilot of the Qatar plane said it had just five minutes’ worth of fuel left
A briefing circling in China's aviation industry suggests that the Qatar Boeing 777 landed with 5 tons of fuel remaining,
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I seriously hope that the discussion will not go along the line of whether or not Qatari crew should have declared a fuel emergency based on their perceived delay or endurance.
The main point here being, when you hear an emergency declared, relayed by tower/app controller to yield your slot, I think it's utterly disgraceful that this was not taken more seriously by the said Chinese aircraft driver (they don't even deserve to be addressed as crew, let alone pilots.)
There's only an exception in this case, that the Juneyao flight is in distress itself.
The main point here being, when you hear an emergency declared, relayed by tower/app controller to yield your slot, I think it's utterly disgraceful that this was not taken more seriously by the said Chinese aircraft driver (they don't even deserve to be addressed as crew, let alone pilots.)
There's only an exception in this case, that the Juneyao flight is in distress itself.
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I wonder how much of the account is straight from official sources and how much is just reporting unchecked reports. Bet the truth of this is way off what the interwebthing is saying.
Minutes, tons, whatever. It was five though.
Had a bit of trawl through the various articles posted in the innerweb about this alleged incident, trying to find the source. Didn't succeede in that, but did notice that all of the articles seem to be based on rumours spawned on enthusiasts internet forums.
As the story is picked up by other media, something very interesting happens that turns rumours into facts. One article quotes as follows: "A netizen going by the name "Boeing" who claimed to have heard the recording ...". In subsequent articles, who are clearly doing little more than a cut and paste job, the same information is presented as facts, and without naming the source. In essence it comes "recordings clearly shows".
So what we have here seems to be a story spawned on an internet forum for enthusiasts, picked up by another site that's monitored by "the media" and eventually published.
I'm not saying it didn't happen, only that the sources of information so far are of unknown, and questionable, quality. And that we're essentially sat on an internet forum, discussing rumours that seem to have its origins on another one.
Still, better than watching TV I suppose.
As the story is picked up by other media, something very interesting happens that turns rumours into facts. One article quotes as follows: "A netizen going by the name "Boeing" who claimed to have heard the recording ...". In subsequent articles, who are clearly doing little more than a cut and paste job, the same information is presented as facts, and without naming the source. In essence it comes "recordings clearly shows".
So what we have here seems to be a story spawned on an internet forum for enthusiasts, picked up by another site that's monitored by "the media" and eventually published.
I'm not saying it didn't happen, only that the sources of information so far are of unknown, and questionable, quality. And that we're essentially sat on an internet forum, discussing rumours that seem to have its origins on another one.
Still, better than watching TV I suppose.
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If the Juneyao Airlines aircraft had less airborne time than the Qatar aircraft, wouldn't it have declared a fuel emergency too? There's no statement about the Juneyao aircraft being in any emergency whatsoever.
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Well if the fuel figures from myradios are true 2.9T in a 320 is significantly more than the Qatar final reserve +5mins.
1.2T ish = 30 min final reserve leaving 1.7T holding and alternate fuel.
I wonder if the Juneyao crew knew the Qatar had declared an emergency and that was why they had been asked to break off their approach? Its easy to judge without all the facts...
Sure if they were in the loop about that its unforgivable with that much left i the tanks.
1.2T ish = 30 min final reserve leaving 1.7T holding and alternate fuel.
I wonder if the Juneyao crew knew the Qatar had declared an emergency and that was why they had been asked to break off their approach? Its easy to judge without all the facts...
Sure if they were in the loop about that its unforgivable with that much left i the tanks.
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Language barrier?
It's worth considering the possibility that a language barrier was part (if not most) of the problem. I regularly operate through PVG and SHA, and English is only used in comms with LESS THAN HALF of the aircraft on frequency.
The Qatari flight would have been using English and ATC would have been responding in English. The Juneyao crew would have been using Mandarin with ATC responding in Mandarin.
The loss of situational awareness that this causes is unnerving, even while ops are normal. We are forced to rely heavily on TCAS as primary means for situational awareness in terminal airspace. Awareness of comms from/to most other aircraft in the vicinity is lost.
In a fuel (or other) emergency, the possibility of a "lost in translation" causing at least confusion and at worst fatalities is a very real threat.
...but all Chinese pilots speak English to level 6, right ICAO?
Grrr...
The Qatari flight would have been using English and ATC would have been responding in English. The Juneyao crew would have been using Mandarin with ATC responding in Mandarin.
The loss of situational awareness that this causes is unnerving, even while ops are normal. We are forced to rely heavily on TCAS as primary means for situational awareness in terminal airspace. Awareness of comms from/to most other aircraft in the vicinity is lost.
In a fuel (or other) emergency, the possibility of a "lost in translation" causing at least confusion and at worst fatalities is a very real threat.
...but all Chinese pilots speak English to level 6, right ICAO?
Grrr...
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According to the Chinese civil aviation regulator, the Chinese plane was found to have sufficient fuel to keep it in the air for another hour while the Qatari pilot had just five minutes' supply left.