Virgin landing gear incident LGW!
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Lo and behold, Sky have got a pax from the flight on air. She said "everyone on board was scared".
No, they weren't. Those up front wouldn't have had time to be scared, they had better things to do. Well done to the crew for a successful outcome.
No, they weren't. Those up front wouldn't have had time to be scared, they had better things to do. Well done to the crew for a successful outcome.
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As usual the DM lead with "Passengers' terror" before quoting quite a few passengers who seem to have taken it all in their stride. Some can't wait to get back on a 'plane.
Edit to add: those quoted in the article all praised the CC for keeping things calm. They also said that they were kept well-informed by those at the business end of things. Looks like the all the crew were on their game.
Edit to add: those quoted in the article all praised the CC for keeping things calm. They also said that they were kept well-informed by those at the business end of things. Looks like the all the crew were on their game.
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"Does anyone know of any other incident where a 747 could not get a main gear down?"
Its happened a few times, last one was in October.
Accident: Great Wall B744 at Shanghai on Oct 24th 2014, right main gear up landing
Its happened a few times, last one was in October.
Accident: Great Wall B744 at Shanghai on Oct 24th 2014, right main gear up landing
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Suninmyeyes - I have experience of exactly this problem a few years back in Sharjah with a 747 freighter. Number 4 hydraulic system lost all fluid due to a fractured flexible line.The gear was free falled but the greased plate that allows the wheel to slide down it sheared off - I suspect due to the impact of the gear coming down undamped with lack of fluid.the greased plate assembly is linked to the doors and is supposed to push the doors inboard to clear the gear. With the plate sheared the wheel sat on top of the outboard door with no way of being moved - a successful landing was made as with the Virgin aircraft. If you look at the photographs of the Virgin aircraft you can see that the wing gear doors are open - they should normally close after gear is down,this indicates that the free fall system was operated. This incident brings to 3 the number of times I have known this to happen. I suspect that the gear came up and locked,fluid was then lost and the crew decided to return - that was when the gear hung up after operating the free fall.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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I'm glad "the" pilot and the stewardess did a good job. Must be hard flying a big crippled jet like that on your own. Makes you wonder why there aren't two or three pilots to do the flying, the radio, the EICAS, QRH, NITS brief, PAs, fuel dump, landing performance calculations...
Uneasy Pleistocene Leftover
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I remember once reading about someone who ran an obscure pilot's forum but supposedly 'gave it all up' to go flying B744s. Went to work for Virgin even. Surely not, it couldn't have been...?! Nah. I mean, who in their right minds would give up a cushy-number and subject themselves to working over Xmas and New Year? 
PS. Are smilies OK to use here? Yes.
PS. Are smilies OK to use here? Yes.
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According to the expert currently on Sky News, it's SOP to carry out a low fly past to allow a visual inspection from the ground and also to shake the Aeroplane around to try and extend the gear??? Pretty sure that's not the case in any company I have worked for, best I go and re-read Pt B, the QRH and dig out some FSIs.
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(Reply to Sun in my eyes)
SAA at JFK early 80's? Procedure then was to retract the opposite wing gear and land on body gear only .... very wobbly so not a good idea to taxi off the hi-speed!
SAA at JFK early 80's? Procedure then was to retract the opposite wing gear and land on body gear only .... very wobbly so not a good idea to taxi off the hi-speed!
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Airport was initially closed for two hours, but given that it will take quite a while to move the aircraft, it will probably be another few hours before it is moved.
Good job to the crew. Aircraft was G-VROM.
Good job to the crew. Aircraft was G-VROM.
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Its a pity they closed Manston with its wide and long runway they could have diverted there, instead the 747 now blocks the runway at one of the busiest airports in the UK causing diversions and chaos.
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Can I ask a daft question? Can this incident really have been caused by a landing gear fault?
The aircraft had made it as far as Lundy (more or less) and was at 32,000' before changing course. I assume there would be no landing gear warning at that speed and altitude so am I correct in assuming the landing gear was a side show and the pilot had decided to return to LGW as a result of some other anomaly?
The aircraft had made it as far as Lundy (more or less) and was at 32,000' before changing course. I assume there would be no landing gear warning at that speed and altitude so am I correct in assuming the landing gear was a side show and the pilot had decided to return to LGW as a result of some other anomaly?
LAS1997, would you rather a smouldering smashed up mess at the end of a runway or a moveable aircraft with everyone down safe? Honestly, 
happens and always better a good result than the alternative, regardless of the diversions and inconvenience afterwards, surely?
happens and always better a good result than the alternative, regardless of the diversions and inconvenience afterwards, surely?
