Hailstones
I note that Manchester Airport spokesperson had mentioned AAIB had been informed, interest will mount when this report if any is published.
On the subject of diverting, the thought had to have crossed his mind seeing as though there was significant upset and very obvious (windshield) damage. The bang everyone felt and heard ?? may well have been attributed to the lightning strike ?? but as we know that is not a cause for diversion unless significant internal (systems) damage has been caused ?? Every passenger will describe severe turbulence as screaming in the aisles, plane plunging, and banging and crashing about.
The captain is in command of that aircraft and he will stand by his decision to continue the flight.
Anyone have any further info on sigmet local weather where the incident occurred, as he should have reported this turbulence to ATC so others can avoid.
On the subject of diverting, the thought had to have crossed his mind seeing as though there was significant upset and very obvious (windshield) damage. The bang everyone felt and heard ?? may well have been attributed to the lightning strike ?? but as we know that is not a cause for diversion unless significant internal (systems) damage has been caused ?? Every passenger will describe severe turbulence as screaming in the aisles, plane plunging, and banging and crashing about.
The captain is in command of that aircraft and he will stand by his decision to continue the flight.
Anyone have any further info on sigmet local weather where the incident occurred, as he should have reported this turbulence to ATC so others can avoid.
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Were the crew on duty doing a MAN-Cyprus-MAN (A very long day) or was it just a Cyprus-MAN?
Loved the ceefax report saying the "8 crew were applauded for their excellent landing". Big cockpits in those A321's eh?
Loved the ceefax report saying the "8 crew were applauded for their excellent landing". Big cockpits in those A321's eh?
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It is interesting that some say that hail does not show up on radar. All of the radars I have used on A320/330 have shown it up. Maybe it is because there is always a mixture of heavy rain with the hail in the cu nim? That definitely shows up as purple! But it is not an exact science as DrSyn points out.
'nough said
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Every passenger will describe severe turbulence as screaming in the aisles, plane plunging, and banging and crashing about.
Yes it felt like a roller coaster, yes the plane was bouncing around like a yo-yo, sometimes I couldn't even tell if we were upside down or going nose-down to the ground. In fact the wind was so severe I wasn't even aware we had landed when we did since we were severely being jostled about the runway too. There were people on the plane screaming, some were praying, some were being sick, some items flew out of the overhead bins, some of the catering equipment broke loose etc. And oh dear, even the CC looked like they'd lost of bit of colour.
I wish the w*****s that keep on stating on this forum that passengers over-exaggerate the conditions would stop treating us like idiots. We are not in control of the aircraft, we are not aware of the physical limitation of the aircraft, we do not know if the pilots are competent to handle the situation or are under pressure to get the airplane back to the correct hub (don't come telling me that it hasn't happened before).
I have been on many flights with bad turbulence, esp. mid-west USA and over the Alps - and I, and I'm sure most passengers, can tell the difference between a few bumps and the severe turbulence as described above. What do you expect, that we should come off praising the pilots for savings us from having to go to Chessington for the same experience? Don't get me wrong the whole crew of that flight were excellent in the way they dealt with it, my hat goes off to the PF for coping with the conditions, though I have a little doubt that a divert would have been preferable to save us from the experience. Unsurprisingly I haven't set foot on another plane since then and, at the moment I would rather not to since the events of that night. The comments I read from 'professional' pilots or even 'professional' aircraft maintenance engineers aren't exactly encouraging either.
If you haven't been directly involved in the incident either as crew or pax I would suggest you refrain from commenting/criticizing other people's accounts of events in such a childish manner,
and especially when the facts are not out yet (ie AAIB).'nough said.
ps. Oh yeah, we clapped too, possibly out of nervousness more than anything.
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AAIB reportability
Regarding AAIB reportability, as far as I am concerned there is no doubt that this incident justifies an investigation. Afterall a baggage truck striking a fuselage causing relatively minor damage is a reportable occurence according to the AAIB reports. Surely any incident causing damage to the airframe of a public transport aircraft would be checked out, and as a result recommendations made.
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amanoffewwords
For a man of few words, you can't half talk. Calm down dude.
I have been in a/c in severe conditions too. I still think the news and passengers exaggerate.
Oh, and I didn't have to resort to swearing in my post!
For a man of few words, you can't half talk. Calm down dude.
I have been in a/c in severe conditions too. I still think the news and passengers exaggerate.
Oh, and I didn't have to resort to swearing in my post!
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the collins WX radar on the 767 will as mentioned by a few others only show the wetter returns....hail does not show up terribly well, and some storms you just have to go through, doing of course the best you can to avoid the yellow and definately the red/magenta returns on the wx radar....of course WX radars play up, and in many cases you can see a difference between the left and right WX radar systems. It also depends on how that WX radar had been calibrated and last but not least the individual using it.......
Everyone has different ideas about how to get the best picture from it, so there are a few variables and it is not always just a matter of "why didnt he avoid the hail"
Everyone has different ideas about how to get the best picture from it, so there are a few variables and it is not always just a matter of "why didnt he avoid the hail"
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From the ever correct JAR centre in the Netherlands:-
*Wet hail gives the best returns
*Dry SMALL hail gives very small returns!
There we have it, the almighty and accurate JAR word has been spoken!!
Bring on the RNAV paper!!!!
*Wet hail gives the best returns
*Dry SMALL hail gives very small returns!
There we have it, the almighty and accurate JAR word has been spoken!!
Bring on the RNAV paper!!!!
Am I the only one who finds it sickening that the 'expert' David Learmonth finds it necessary (Daily Mail 28 May) to instantly place the blame on the crew. Why is this guy given any credence whatsoever?
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birdstrike
Ah David Learmouth!
Don't get me started. The guy is a complete gasbag, who makes me cringe every time I see him on my TV, or read his name in a paper. But he's got to do something to bring home a crust on the basis of no talent or scruples whatsoever!
'credence' - You said it!
Ah David Learmouth!
Don't get me started. The guy is a complete gasbag, who makes me cringe every time I see him on my TV, or read his name in a paper. But he's got to do something to bring home a crust on the basis of no talent or scruples whatsoever!
'credence' - You said it!
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Well, coming out of Split in a C130 a few years ago we had a similar incident. Following a procedural departure, a route check as well, nothing severe showing on (lets face it a crap e290) radar. We hit the most severe turbulence and hail I have experienced going back some 40 years!. The pax, all marines, were strapped in and thought it was great fun. We had no indicatios of damage in the cockpit so continued to Edinbrough. On taxying in the marshallers eyes were like organ stops!! When we looked the nose cone was completely shredded, spinners dented, IR pods trashed and leading edges dented in a few places!!! There was no change to the radar picture even with this nose cone damage. If there was an easy way of posting pictures I could show you this lot.
The point is, don't blame the pilots, there may not have been anythign showing on the radar. Its all too easy these days to point the finger without knowing the full facts.
The point is, don't blame the pilots, there may not have been anythign showing on the radar. Its all too easy these days to point the finger without knowing the full facts.