Recent shenanigans at Heathrow
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Recent shenanigans at Heathrow
Other Pprune contributors at least as long in the tooth as myself, will remember the tragic circumstances surrounding the snow covered runway accident - was it Manchester and did it feature a BEA Elizabethan turbo prop - carrying the Manchester United football team, most of whom were killed in the crash that followed an attempted departure from a snow covered runway.
I recall - and my memory is imperfect - that the AAIB investigation concluded that a build up of slush/snow under and in front of the a/c wheels was responsible for its failure to reach V1. I don't know whether the a/c was at MAUW.
The chaos at Heathrow and other places where 4 or 5 inches of snow lay deep and crisp and even prompts me to enquire as to the feasibility of successfully operating large jets with their available thrust capability enhanced by a limit on their all up weight.
Is anyone aware of any experimentation with heavy commercials and a range of payloads and fuel in snowy conditions ? It might be feasible to replicate the aforementioned with the help of some well designed computer software.
I recall - and my memory is imperfect - that the AAIB investigation concluded that a build up of slush/snow under and in front of the a/c wheels was responsible for its failure to reach V1. I don't know whether the a/c was at MAUW.
The chaos at Heathrow and other places where 4 or 5 inches of snow lay deep and crisp and even prompts me to enquire as to the feasibility of successfully operating large jets with their available thrust capability enhanced by a limit on their all up weight.
Is anyone aware of any experimentation with heavy commercials and a range of payloads and fuel in snowy conditions ? It might be feasible to replicate the aforementioned with the help of some well designed computer software.
Capt Kremmen: Air Disasters by Stanley Stewart gives an excellent account of this tragic accident which occurred to a BEA Elizabethan (turbo-charged piston) at the old Munich airport in 1958. The captain, one James Thain, was treated abysmally by the authorities in Germany, the UK and finally his own employer.
Knowledge of the effects of slush and other contaminations with respect to aircraft performance were rudimentary to say the least in those days.
In my opinion, this tale is a "must read" for all pilots new to the game and an insight into what can happen if you are unlucky enough to be involved in a serious incident. ( do not assume that your employer will always take the view that you were acting "in their best interests". )
Knowledge of the effects of slush and other contaminations with respect to aircraft performance were rudimentary to say the least in those days.
In my opinion, this tale is a "must read" for all pilots new to the game and an insight into what can happen if you are unlucky enough to be involved in a serious incident. ( do not assume that your employer will always take the view that you were acting "in their best interests". )
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Slush - Munich accident - tests
Please have a look at Flight International from 1961 and 1962
boac | 1961 | 0097 | Flight Archive
transport publications | atlantic city | new york | 1962 | 0037 | Flight Archive
1962 | 2314 | Flight Archive
boac | 1961 | 0097 | Flight Archive
transport publications | atlantic city | new york | 1962 | 0037 | Flight Archive
1962 | 2314 | Flight Archive
