Fri, Feb 07, 2014
ATC, Airport Officials Asked About Opening Main Runway Before Cargo Plane Went Down
Airport officials are heard on audio recording posted on the FAA website asking about re-opening the main runway at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport shortly before a UPS A300 cargo plane went down last August. The accident resulted in the fatal injury of the two pilots on board.
In the recording, an air traffic controller asks a Birmingham Airport Authority worker about the possibility of re-opening the main runway which was closed for maintenance, about two minutes before the plane was due to land. The 7,000-foot alternate runway on which the pilot was attempting to land does not have the same ILS equipment as does the 12,000-foot main runway.
The Associated Press reports that the recording shows a FedEx jet landed safely on the main runway shortly after the UPS plane went down.
The main runway had been closed for maintenance to its lighting system and was scheduled to re-open a few minutes after the accident occurred. The approach to the alternate runway is considered to be more challenging because it utilizes a localizer approach rather than a full ILS system, and because of the hill at the end of the runway which the UPS jet ultimately impacted.
The pilots on board the UPS aircraft are heard agreeing to the approach to the alternate runway. About two minutes later, the plane impacted the hill at the runway's end. The pilot of the FedEx airplane is heard saying he had reduced his speed, and landed on the main runway moments after it was officially re-opened at 0500 local time.
(NTSB Image)
More News
DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]
"General aviation is at the forefront of developing and introducing innovative technologies that will transform the entire aviation industry..." Source: Kyle Martin, Vice President>[...]
Direct Straight line flight between two navigational aids, fixes, points, or any combination thereof. When used by pilots in describing off-airway routes, points defining direct ro>[...]
Aero Linx: Women in Corporate Aviation Women in Corporate Aviation support individuals seeking career advancement and professional development in the business aviation industry. Me>[...]
“We would like to thank the many volunteers that help throughout the year to pull off the event, as well as the several reviewers, judges, and SURVICE staff that provide team>[...]