Oops! Pilots on Qantas Airlines Forget to Lower Landing Gear
Qantas flight JQ12, a Boeing 767, was on approach at Syndney Airport on October 26th, when the pilots received a “gear too low” warning at about 700 feet. They had forgotten to put their landing gear down. They reacted quickly, aborted the landing and flew around again. Normally the aircraft should lower its gear between 2000 and 1500 feet.
It appears there was a communication breakdown between who was lowering the gear. Both pilots have stepped down during the investigation.
“The incident was reported to the ATSB and the pilots were stood down. We are supporting the ATSB’s investigation and our own investigations will determine what further action might be warranted,” a Qantas spokes person confirmed.
The airline states there was no “flight safety issue,” which I would have to disagree with. If the warning system had malfunctioned, this incident could have turned out much different. Putting down the landing gear is one of those important things to remember on a pilot’s landing checklist and should not be taken lightly when overlooked.
A Qantas Boeing 767, was on approach at Sydney Airport on October 26th, when the pilots received a “gear too low” warning at about 700 feet. They had forgotten to put their landing gear down. They reacted quickly, aborted the landing and flew around again. Normally the aircraft should lower its gear between 2000 and 1500 feet.
It appears there was a communication breakdown between who was lowering the gear. Both pilots have stepped down during the investigation.
“The incident was reported to the ATSB and the pilots were stood down. We are supporting the ATSB’s investigation and our own investigations will determine what further action might be warranted,” a Qantas spokes person confirmed.
The airline states there was no “flight safety issue,” which I would have to disagree with. If the warning system had malfunctioned, this incident could have turned out much different. Putting down the landing gear is one of those important things to remember on a pilot’s landing checklist and should not be taken lightly when overlooked.
Nothing like a good ‘ol fashion false alarm hijacking to get the heart beating! A Delta Air Lines flight left from Northwest Florida Regional Airport bound for Atlanta last Wednesday. Shortly after takeoff, the plane was ordered by the TSA to return to the airport. Apparently a TSA employee who was on the flight was not properly screened.
This would have turned out to just be an annoying time delay, but no one informed the Air Force base near by for the flight change. When the military noticed the plane was altering its filed flight path, they were afraid it might be a highjack situation.
The USAF base sent word to the local Sheriff’s office stating, “at this time advising that there is a poss(ible) hijacked airplane in progress.’
Further communication states: ’œOkaloosa airport cannot make contact with the plane at this time and this is considered a security breach.’
It took about 20 minutes for the situation to get cleared up. The plane landed, the TSA employee successfully was screened and the flight was on its way back to Atlanta.
Currently, the TSA is, “reviewing the incident and will take appropriate action if necessary”, Sari Koshetz, spokeswoman for the TSA said. “If necessary?” They don’t see that maybe this is not the best practice? The simple solution is making sure TSA employees are screened properly, but if that solution doesn’t sound right, then maybe informing the USAF base next time a flight is diverted? Just my two cents.
I remember when flying wide bodies was a common thing to do. Catch a DC-10 or even Boeing 747 from one coast to another. Today, you are more likely to be on a Boeing 757 or Boeing 737. In 1974, TWA was proud of their Lockheed L1011 service to the East, where you got extra cushioning and even a steak meal in coach.
Ah, the good ‘ol days when you could get a steak in coach. Of course remember, you can fly today from coast to cost for a little over $100 one way. I think I can handle the peanuts for that cost!
Every week I try to show a different airline livery. I have always been facinated with airline liveries. This week I came across what I think is the ugliest one I have seen so far. It just doesn’t make any sense. You have this silver body, with white tale, and a big white stripe running down the middle?
What makes this better? They have rotating images on their website and on shows a Boeing 747-400 with a different (and better) Albanian Airlines livery, but it is obviously photo shopped. (although maybe they will get one soon? Their website says, “we are in the process of adding our fleet by B747, 757, 767.”)
They only have four aircraft, one MD-82 (pictured) and three BAe 146’s. The BAe’s have a different livery (the best of the three in my opinion) than the MD-82 or the photo shopped Boeing 747, which makes me think the MD-82 is sporting a livery of the previous airline they bought the jet from and they slapped their logo on it.
I can understand saving a few bucks, but it doesn’t help them create a recognizable brand and would make me think twice about flying. However, they were using just TU-134s only eight years ago and I much rather fly on an ugly livery’d MD-82 than a pretty and matching TU-134.
Ryanair has over 200 Boeing 737-800’s, which allows them to save on maintenance, training, parts, etc. However, this also lessens their ability to negotiate effectively if Boeing knows Ryanair is not likely to start buying other aircraft types.
Ryanair is one of Europe’s biggest airlines and they feel they can keep growing. They are so confident about their ability to grow, they are looking to purchase another 200 airplanes and they say Boeing is not working hard enough to make a good deal.
“We see no point in continuing to grow rapidly in a declining yield environment, where our main aircraft partner is unwilling to play its part in our cost reduction programme,” Michael O’Leary, the famous CEO for Ryanair, said about the situation.
O’Leary says they have cash on hand and if Boeing doesn’t want it, they will just pay their stockholders in dividends instead (why not put the money to providing some actual customer service? Nah’¦).
This seems it might just be O’Leary doing what he does, trying to squeeze every last dime out of Boeing. I find it hard to believe that Ryanair would move to having two aircraft types or willing to shell out the money to convert their entire fleet into one. My bet is either they really don’t want to buy 200 planes or if they do, they will all be Boeing 737’s.
Take a look at the winglet and tail. This is a new Boeing 737-800 for Ryanair.
Ryanair has over 200 Boeing 737-800’s, which allows them to save on maintenance, training, parts, etc. However, this also lessens their ability to negotiate effectively if Boeing knows Ryanair is not likely to buy other aircraft types.
The airline is one of Europe’s biggest and they feel they can easily keep growing. They are so confident about their ability to grow, they are looking to purchase another 200 airplanes, but they say Boeing is not working hard enough to make a deal.
“We see no point in continuing to grow rapidly in a declining yield environment, where our main aircraft partner is unwilling to play its part in our cost reduction programme,” Michael O’Leary, the famous CEO for Ryanair, said about the situation.
O’Leary says they have cash on hand and if Boeing doesn’t want it, they will just pay their stockholders in dividends instead (why not put the money to providing some actual customer service? Nah’¦).
This seems it might just be O’Leary doing what he does, trying to squeeze every last dime out of Boeing. I find it hard to believe that Ryanair would move to having two aircraft types or willing to shell out the money to convert their entire fleet into one. My bet is either they really don’t want to buy 200 planes or if they do, they will all be Boeing 737’s.
