You've got to feel sorry for these guys...

Actually, the controller wouldn't notice that unless he was paying attention to the altitude. The KAAO runway is perfectly aligned with the approach to KIAB.

Did they use Apple maps to navigate? And - why not having a look at your phone where you are and then problem is solved. Bit amazed that in their multi-million dollar plane there is no good mapping system or what is going on there... (but what do I know)?

From KIAB Airfield Additional Remarks:

This is small potatoes compared to the AMTRAK train getting lost in Philadelphia. How the hell does a train get lost?

Best chart found far for those who are not aware of the location difference for situational awareness:
http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1312/06234ILD18.PDF

I wrote a long post with images and links that the mods have not yet approved (if they will even approve).

Bottom line:

• The initial approach segment of the GPS 19L approach into KIAB passes directly over the KAAO runway, is perfectly aligned with the KAAO runway but not aligned with the KIAB runway
• The glide slope from IAF to KAAO runway is 3.65
• Names of IAF and FAF fixes are similar
• A simple confusion in the cockpit mixing up IAF and FAF (however unforgivable that may be) would easily lead to this outcome

Yes, I see what you mean.
If anything like the RAF; to newly arrived USAF pilot on sector recce: "That's Jabara, that's Beech, that's Cessna and (pointing to 'kin enormous lump of concrete) that's us!"

Except at night that 'ing enormous concrete of yours is invisible. Only lights are visible. From the IAF, KAAO's lights at 7 miles away may just look bigger and brighter than your lights 14 miles away that are not even aligned with the approach path.

No kidding! Why is it that when I'm sailing with my chart plotter I know where I am within a few feet at all times, but these guys can land a 747 8 miles from their destination and not know where they are? This seems more than strange. It reminds me of Northwest Flight 52 which landed in the wrong country, while 241 passengers in back knew exactly where they were. And this was in 1995! DC-10 misses Frankfurt runway - by 300km

Doesn't someone think it's time that pilots knew where they were?

DTG(distance to go) on FMC? On ND?

Low altitude alert from ATC?

They should have used an atlas. See what I did there.

In the 60s AF put a 707 with pax into Cartierville Quebec instead of Dorval. Cartierville was a closed airport and the runways had large 'X's at either end. They ultimately got it out and ferried to YUL.

Clearance for landing at different airport?
 

How come they were Cleared to land though by the atc KIAB tower?

I would like to think that training techniques and technology have moved on a little since the 60's!!

not as good as a US airline 747 landing in Brussels(Belgium) instead of Frankfurt (Germany) some years ago , speeding up the cleaning and the cabin because of course they were 45 minutes ahead of time, just to realize on final that it was not the proper runway...

Any takers on how the captain realized their mistake ?

Somebody screwed up.
The man who never mistake never made anything.

Nobody died, nobody injured, no damage except to someones pride.
BIG DEAL.

I wonder how many explanations of the perfectly aligned rwys that are 10 miles away from each other would be flying around on this thread if the crew was Korean....!:rolleyes:

Well, Toto, at least we are in Kansas
 

I'll bite.

:}

He finally recognized the accent as closer to French than German?

:bored: