CTL at 50 feet shurley knott
 

Scotland’s footballers have been involved in a mid-air flight drama.
A jet carrying the squad from Glasgow to Heathrow had to pull out of landing moments before it was due to touch down in London.
It is thought that another plane was still on the runway as the British Airways flight carrying the footballers made its final approach.
The plane circled the airport and landed safely 15 minutes later. Nobody was injured in the incident.
Manager George Burley and his team were travelling on BA flight 1479 when the incident happened.
They were stopping in London to catch an onward flight to Japan, where they are playing a friendly on Saturday.
Scottish Football Association (SFA) spokesman, Rob Shorthouse, who was on board the plane, said: "We were around 50ft off the ground.
"The front of the plane was too close to another plane, so we had to lift upwards.
"The players reacted in the same way as everyone else onboard the plane. There was a lot of nervous giggling, but everyone is okay."
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, travelling with the Scotland party, played down the incident.
He said: "We were on our way down and then we took off again.
"If you were not a frequent flier then it might have been something but it has happened to me before.
"Indeed, the pilot said, `I'll have another go at it,` and everyone started laughing."
A BAA Heathrow spokesman said the team's plane arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule, adding that the airport had "no record" of the incident.
The squad is due to arrive in Japan at lunchtime on Thursday

Heavens be praised they survived that drama.

Go arounds are remarkebly often treated as ''near disasters'' in the media.
You gotta love 'em :bored:

Note that it was the FRONT of the plane that was too close to the other traffic. Had everyone moved to the back it would, presumably, have landed OK.

Big drama due to Scotland squad on board. God forbid that we could have lost all that "talent":{

Well done the pilot for deciding to lift upwards !

Journos and footballers; relative intelligence - discuss.

Gotta be more dramatic than anything that's happened on the pitch in a while anyway!

Once again, bored by Wendyball stories... :}

CapitainKirk

A go-around from 50ft is perfecty safe. I can understand why it is concerning to the passengers, but to the pilots it isn't a problem as they've done it many times in the simulator (often with an engine failed).
In 1976 I was involved in trials to determine the most efficient height to commence a go-around (minimum height loss). It was found to be 20ft, and this was adopted as the decision height on CAT3B landings, where the state did not approve No DH landings.
During Base Training details I have carried out several go-arounds from the flare (below 50ft) without any drama. However, I don't blame the passengers for being concerned, as some of them might not have been PPRuNers and therefore not as informed.
Hope this helps.

Dave

Captain Airclues

It is a long long time since i landed at LHR as PIC (not as long since i was on the jump seat though - obviously pre 9/11) as LGW was my base. BUT what i was trying to say was i for sure would never have been at 50 feet without being Cleared To Land.

I know things are a bit tighter at LHR nowadays BUT i cant ever see the PIC or PNF continuing until 50 feet watching other traffic pissing about on the active runway before aborting the landing. So i doubt if they were anything like 50 feet when they decided to abort that landing.

Expect late landing clearance.................aye right .....that is pushing the envelope.

DAMM>>>>>:ugh:

I must admit i have seen a few go-Around`s at LHR and yes they do make a good view however, i wish i had seen this one as i`ve never seen one "circle" the airport. I take it that it must of been extremely low on fuel i.e enough to fill a lighter.

Makes you think how many other storys they "big up". Have they not heard of the "interweb". Its quite easy to gain knowledge on this type of subject.

I take it that the captain/FO had enough fuel to light his/her "smoke".:D

RANT OVER

<< i`ve never seen one "circle" the airport>>

Usually when the press report aircraft "circling" an airport they mean holding and this often occurs away from the airport.

However, in this case the aeroplane almost certainly flew a "circuit", i.e turn after the go-around then a turn downwind, then a turn to base leg and back on to final approach. No low fuel, no "smoke" (where on earth did that come from?), no excitement, no big deal, just a bog-standard go-around and everyone lived happily ever after.

CapitainKirk

My apologies if I was teaching grandmother........etc. However, you don't give any details of your experience on your profile.

I was recently returning from holiday on an A320 when I heard the autopliot being disconnected. The aircraft immediately began a PIO. I warned Mrs A to get ready for a go-around, which occured at about 50ft. Sure enough, the captain came on the PA and blamed an aircraft being slow to clear the runway. One of my contacts in ATC confirmed that this was not the case. Very hard to believe, but even airline pilots sometimes lie (white of course).

Dave

HD have you ever heard the term "BAnter" meaning "circle" fly around the airport and land,,,and "Smoke" meaning, Cigar.pipe, etc etc... Keep up.:mad: YOu sound like a JOurno///

Thanks for the rude comments ukdean.... and your professional aviation expertise is in what spere?

My post was intended to help, not hinder.

As an "Umble" ATSA who wos sat in the j/s and did a G/A at a lot higher height....200ft [BAe146, in cloud, D/H Cabin not Secure] no drama at all
As has been said before, It is a daily occurrence at most Major Airports

Capitain - my take on it:-
1) It is quite safe - the g/a 'technique' from 50 is no different to that from 500'
2) At LGW and other 'busy' places, the 'late clearance' becomes an important tool in ATC's toolbox.
3) In many cases, you can see that the traffic will be clear, but you have not had the 'official nod' from tower. It seems a dreadful waste of ALL resources not to utilise this.

ukdean
Back off sonny.If you read some of the posts HD Has made on PPRUNE you may begin to understand he has a far greater knowledge than you will ever have when it comes to the intracasies of ATC and the reasons for go arounds.
You sound like a journo to me.