Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Rumours & News
Reload this Page >

AA206 MIA-MXP Diverted to CYYT: Reports of pax injured due to turbulence

Wikiposts
Search
Rumours & News Reporting Points that may affect our jobs or lives as professional pilots. Also, items that may be of interest to professional pilots.

AA206 MIA-MXP Diverted to CYYT: Reports of pax injured due to turbulence

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 25th Jan 2016, 01:23
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Newfoundland
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
AA206 MIA-MXP Diverted to CYYT: Reports of pax injured due to turbulence

Local media here in YYT reporting that an AA 767 from MIA to MXP encountered turbulence and diverted here with injured pax. Three removed on backboards, upto 6 injured. Reports on twitter say that 2 of the injured were FA's.


Flight diverted to St. John?s; injuries reported - Local - The Telegram

Last edited by AJW709; 25th Jan 2016 at 01:37.
AJW709 is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 03:18
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
They discussed going to Gander if the runway conditions weren't favorable at St. John's. They got a 'good' braking action report from a Jazz RJ. ATC asked about injuries and they didn't have numbers but said the most serious was a flight attendant who was bleeding.

ILS to 11, turn around and back taxi on the runway (turn around must be at the Bravo fillet I would guess), runway 16 to gate 1.

Flight track here:

American Airlines (AA) #206 ? 24-Jan-2016 ? KMIA - CYYT ? FlightAware

More in this news story:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...ohns-1.3418056
Airbubba is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 10:45
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Article says the seatbelt light was illuminated at the time. So the passengers injured were not complying? Amazes me how many people ignore that light. Stupid stupid.
Johno8 is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 11:27
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Florida and wherever my laptop is
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Johno8
Article says the seatbelt light was illuminated at the time. So the passengers injured were not complying? Amazes me how many people ignore that light. Stupid stupid.
It does not amaze me at all that people ignore the seatbelt light. Many many transatlantic flights where the light goes on then is not extinguished despite no turbulence _for hours_ even full meal service continues and flight attendants do not stop people going to the lavatories. So it has become meaningless. If the seatbelt light was switched off when there was no turbulence and only illuminated when there was turbulence or a real risk of it, then it would be obeyed more. Continually 'crying wolf' has the effect of devaluing the warning.

From the position it appears that the flight was in the remnants of the 'winter storm' Jonas.
Ian W is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 12:47
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Age: 79
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That really is nonsense. Seat belts should be fastened at all times unless the passenger is actually walking to the toilet.
Clear air turbulence can happen without warning anywhere and anytime.

These are the same idiots who refuse to wear seat belts in a car.
The Ancient Geek is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 12:51
  #6 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Newfoundland
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The CBC story linked in post #2 has a short video clip that seems to be filmed onboard. Also reports that 3 Flight Attendants were amongst the injured. Seat Belt sign on but meal service (perhaps without hot fluids) continuing?
AJW709 is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 14:01
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: 3.5 from TD
Age: 47
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's a human factors problem. The problem is that the signage does not match the words. As a supposed human factors educated industry, it is pretty embarrassing really.

All seat belts fastened signs should really be "safe to leave your seat" signs. Seat belts should be mandatory at all times. When the sign is on you can't leave your seat. When it is off, then you might stand up to use the lav or stretch your legs.

But currently we are telling people one thing and showing them another. Unfortunately, airlines don't do anything if it costs even 1/100th of a penny. So this needs to be regulation driven.
Sqwak7700 is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 14:14
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 320
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry, have to go with Ian W on this one. Remember that oldie -"one pilot's light chop is another's severe turbulence". As he points out, too many times sitting there with the seat belt sign on for hours in "severe smooth", with said sign being ignored by all and sundry, including the FA's.

I used to brief the crew-"when that sign is on, then you had better pay attention...."

(p.s as I recall, that "seat belts sign on permanently" stuff used to be a function of good ol' USA legal action phobia- (you know, like the car whiplash scams), "the Captain didn't have the seat belt sign on in turbulence; I broke my leg; pay me a million dollars".

Hopefully those days are gone. I believe just about everybody now makes the PA "keep belts fastened at all times when seated, even with the signs off, in case of unexpected turbulence". But as we all know, this more often than not falls on deaf ears...
Phantom Driver is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 15:10
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Confoederatio Helvetica
Age: 68
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Accidents on international flights are covered by the Montreal Convention 1999 or the Warsaw Convention.

Airlines 'strict' liability is limited. Few sharks will waste their time challenging the Conventions' terms. It's too much like hard work. And it seldom works.
ExXB is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 15:28
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Everett, WA
Age: 68
Posts: 4,407
Received 180 Likes on 88 Posts
Originally Posted by Ian W
It does not amaze me at all that people ignore the seatbelt light. Many many transatlantic flights where the light goes on then is not extinguished despite no turbulence _for hours_ even full meal service continues and flight attendants do not stop people going to the lavatories. So it has become meaningless. If the seatbelt light was switched off when there was no turbulence and only illuminated when there was turbulence or a real risk of it, then it would be obeyed more. Continually 'crying wolf' has the effect of devaluing the warning.
This is a common problem with US based airlines - it's rare that the seatbelt sign is extinguished prior to reaching cruise altitude regardless of any turbulence, and the first time there is the slightest bump it'll come back on and stay on for at least 30 minutes, then come back on at top of descent. I blame the "sue somebody" mentality so prevalent in the US.

While I always keep my belt fastened while seated, lav use can become urgent. I take my lead from the FA - if I really need to go, and the FA are up and around, I'll make a quick trip to the lav. If anything, I'll just get a knowing nod from the FA.
tdracer is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 16:36
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The Coal Face
Posts: 1,295
Received 331 Likes on 125 Posts
Perhaps its time to change the seat belt sign on all airliners to something more indicative of the risk of not belting up. Maybe a flashing picture of man with two black eyes and a neckbrace, or an ambulance backing up to the aircraft stairs. Or an even simpler UPPER CASE sign 'BELT UP NOW'. Combined with a claxon and background soundtrack of moaning, injured passengers, that should scare everyone enough. There could even be a simple sensor that provides an indication of which passengers are not using their seatbelts allowing faster refusal of compensation claims.

Last edited by Chronic Snoozer; 25th Jan 2016 at 17:07.
Chronic Snoozer is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 16:53
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Confoederatio Helvetica
Age: 68
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Perhaps on a domestic US flight but passenger stupidity doesn't allow an airline to avoid liability on an international flight.
ExXB is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 17:37
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: About to move
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fasten seat belt signs

Why not have them displayed in two colours?
Green or red.
Slow and curious is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 17:53
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
More pilots would cycle the seatbelt sign according to ride conditions if the annoying PA announcement wouldn't automatically come on every time the seatbelt sign is turned on.
viking767 is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 17:57
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: U.S.A
Age: 56
Posts: 497
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
"Continually 'crying wolf' has the effect of devaluing the warning"

Ian is spot on.

Another exanple of how this industry is not managed properly.

Seat belt sign paranoia has completely undermined the entire reason for it being there.
oicur12.again is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 19:01
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Auckland, NZ
Age: 79
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nervous pax point of view: I always have my seat belt fastened, quite tightly actually, except when actually leaving my seat. The annoyance with permanently-on signs is that it does NOT just mean "Fasten Your Seatbelt": it also means "Do Not Leave Your Seat," even if you have been keeping up your hydration on a ten-hour flight.
FlightlessParrot is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 19:17
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bedford, UK
Age: 70
Posts: 1,319
Received 24 Likes on 13 Posts
How about you stop calling your customers stupid? I am a regular customer, keep my seat belt fastened but do have to go to the toilet every now and again. Ian W is right. So all you people who think you are smarter than me please put your hands up.
Mr Optimistic is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 19:58
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Timbukthree
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This thread has comments nearly identical as the one started on Jan.5 regarding an Air Canada Boeing 777 diverting to CYYC due to severe turbulence. The media reports and passenger comments are also predictably similar..

Any current research being done on CAT (Clear Air Turbulence)?

Northwest's (Northwest Orient Airlines) meteorologists, led by Dan Sowa, pioneered the first clear-air turbulence forecasting system in 1957, important since the airline flew many northern routes over turbulence-prone mountain areas. Northwest remained a leader in turbulence prediction, providing TPAWS (turbulence prediction and warning services) to other airlines.

A strong predictor of CAT is a sudden rise of OAT, (outside air temperature). Flying near the warm sector of the jet stream core also counts for plenty.. I think they experimented with a warning system that would alert pilots if the OAT rose rapidly while in cruise above a predetermined flight level. Whether the warning would be enough time for the pilot to react and the passengers and aircrew to buckle-in remains a question.
evansb is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 20:07
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I find that when the flight deck announces over the PA "Cabin crew take your seats now" it tends to mean the roller coaster is about to start. Not heard it often, but more than once.
llondel is offline  
Old 25th Jan 2016, 20:19
  #20 (permalink)  
AR1
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Nottinghamshire
Age: 63
Posts: 710
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
Clunk Click, every trip used to be my motto. I still do it, I just don't use the motto.
AR1 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.