Thu, Jul 11, 2013
Plane Was Flying 30 Knots Below Target Approach Speed
The pilots flying Asiana Flight 214 that went down on landing at San Francisco International Airport (KSFO) have told federal investigators that they had properly set the auto throttles on the Boeing 777 for approach, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
Data gathered from the Flight Data Recorder indicate that the triple 7 was flying 30 knots below the target 137 knot approach speed during the visual approach. The ILS system for KSFO was inoperative at the time of the accident while it is being relocated, but the NTSB and FAA have said that the localizer and other systems were functioning properly.
NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said in a briefing that Lee Kang-kook was in the left seat for the approach. He was being supervised by Lee Jung-min, who had been certified as a training pilot in the type June 15. The relief first officer was in the cockpit jump seat monitoring the approach.
Hersman said that setting the auto throttle does not absolve the pilots from the responsibility of monitoring the approach. "Let me be clear," she said. "The crew is required to maintain a safe aircraft, which means that they need to monitor. They have a monitoring function, all three of them in the cockpit. One of the very critical things that need to be monitored on approach to landing is speed."
Lee Kang-kook has nearly 10,000 total flying time, and had reportedly made the approach into KSFO 39 times as a co-pilot aboard Boeing 747s. Lee Jung-min has 12,000 hours, and had made 33 approaches into the airport.
At a media briefing in Seoul Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Young-doo said the pilots were "excellent" and well qualified to make the approach into KSFO.
(Image from file.)
More News
Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]
ILS PRM Approach An instrument landing system (ILS) approach conducted to parallel runways whose extended centerlines are separated by less than 4,300 feet and at least 3,000 feet >[...]
Aero Linx: FlyPups FlyPups transports dogs from desperate situations to fosters, no-kill shelters, and fur-ever homes. We deliver trained dogs to veterans for service and companion>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
Also: NBAA on FAA Reauth, DJI AG Drones, HI Insurance Bill Defeated, SPSA Airtankers The Beechcraft Denali continues moving forward towards certification, having received its FAA T>[...]