Fri, Aug 10, 2007
Loaded Airliner Settles Onto Tarmac
Well, this certainly doesn't help
matters. Ireland's City of Derry Airport -- already working to
regain credibility, after a forced closure earlier this year over
safety concerns -- was the scene of an embarassing incident
Wednesday night.
The Belfast Telegraph reports an inbound First Choice charter
flight to the airport was redirected after landing to a remote
taxiway, in order to free up room for two other planes. A
spokeswoman for the Derry City Council, which owns the airport,
said diverting the Airbus A320 onto a vacant taxiway was "normal
practice" -- but what happened next wasn't SOP.
"Passengers onboard the flight were subsequently transported by
bus to the arrivals area," she said. "While the aircraft was
stationary, it settled into the tarmac for a time and was
subsequently maneuvered to the main area of the airport to allow
passengers to board the outbound flight to Salou/Reus, which
departed at 17:36."
As ANN reported, the airport was closed for
four days in May by the Civil Aviation Authority due to safety
concerns.
The CAA, the UK's aviation regulator, provisionally suspended
the City of Derry's license May 24 as the result of safety concerns
that developed during an inspection --including lack of an
effective bird control plan, unsuitable temporary repairs to an
aircraft parking area and poor runway drainage.
Somewhat oddly, the sinking incident occurred as the Airport
Committee met with managers in City of Derry, to select a new
airport manager to replace the ousted Seamus Devine -- who was
suspended in the wake of the closure.
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