Says Pilots Need Additional Training Immediately

Russia's aviation authority has called for the immediate grounding of all passenger flights on Boeing 737 airliners, following the September 14 downing of an Aeroflot-Nord aircraft that claimed the lives of 88 passengers and crewmembers.

It was not clear whether the ruling applies to all 107 Boeing 737s in service in Russia, or only older Classic models similar to the -500 that crashed on approach to land in Perm, in the Ural Mountains. It's also unclear how long the suspension will last.

Citing statements by RIA Novosti, the Associated Press reported Thursday that Federal Agency of Air Transport spokesman Sergei Samoshin said pilots need additional training on the differences between Russian attitude indicators, and the Western-style AIs used in Boeing planes.

Though investigators have not yet determined a cause of the accident, officials note the captain of the Aeroflot-Nord flight has relatively little experience in the 737, having flown Soviet-made planes for most of his career.

As ANN reported, the focus of the accident investigation has shifted from earlier witness reports of an engine fire, to an air traffic controller's claims the 737's pilot acted strangely in the moments leading up to the crash.

Irek Bikbov told Russia's Channel One network last week the pilot disobeyed instructions as the plane was on final approach to land in Perm. Bikbov says the 737 climbed after he told the pilot to descend, and that the aircraft turn in the wrong direction after going missed on the first approach. The jet crashed shortly after.

The pilot, whose name has not been released, reportedly told Bikbov all was normal onboard the plane. Investigators hope the plane's cockpit voice and data recorders -- both heavily damaged in the fiery crash -- may still shed light on what was happening in the cockpit during the flight's final moments.

FMI: www.mak.ru/english/english.html, www.aeroflot-nord.ru/english/