Thu, Jul 20, 2006
Recommendation Comes After Of CO MU-2 Accident
An urgent plea from the NTSB to the
FAA... fix the software in the audible alert link between en route
control centers and local control towers, and eliminate barriers
that prevent the transfer of such warnings when an aircraft if more
than five miles away from the airport.
That very glitch, says the NTSB, prevented approach controllers
at Denver International from transmitting an altitude-terrain
warning to the tower at Centennial -- and eventually to the pilot
of an MU-2 on a night IFR approach last year.
According to a safety bulletin issued by the safety board this
week, eleven aviation accidents have been linked to software
problems with the Minimum Safe Altitude Warning system. MSAW is
used to warn controllers and pilots of terrain hazards.
The NTSB says controllers at DEN got the warning early on the morning of August 4,
2005... accompanied by an on-screen alert. But because
of the delay... the MU-2 continued toward the hazard until it was
within five miles of Centennial.
The controller at Centennial relayed the warning to the pilot
within five seconds... but never got a reply. Two seconds after he
issued the warning... the MU-2 hit the ridgeline, killing the
pilot.
The FAA won't yet talk about the issue, but controllers in
nearby towers will.
At Jefferson County Airport, FAA tower supervisor Sharon Wilkins
tells the Denver Post she's instituted a new procedure. If Denver
approach controllers get a MSAW warning involving an aircraft in
her tower's vicinity... they are required to give her a call
instead of relying on the automatic system.
And at Centennial... officials say they're unaware of any new
procedures involving MSAW activations.
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