Tue, May 03, 2005
US Agency Recommends Modifications To 747 Flight Management
Software
It happened more than two years ago as a Singapore Airlines
747-400 was taking off from Auckland, New Zealand, headed for
Singapore. The flight crew rotated to V1 -- but far too early,
according to New Zealand investigators. As a result, the plane's
empennage dragged along the runway for more than 1,500 feet before
V2.
Instead of rotating to V1 at 163 knots, the jumbo jet rotated at
130 knots. The reason? An error in the weight and balance computer
entry made by the copilot showed the aircraft weighing 100 tons
less than its true weight. That resulted in the cockpit crew's
decision to use less-than-needed thrust on take-off.
The aircraft got off the ground, but not before using up a lot
more runway than planned. New Zealand's Transport Accident
Investigation Commission also found pilots didn't respond properly
when they heard a stall warning.
Now, the NTSB has recommended the FAA mandate an Airworthiness
Directive aimed at forcing modifications to the 747's flight
management software.
"The NTSB added its weight by
recommending to the United States Federal Aviation Administration
that it require the equipment manufacturer to modify its aircraft
flight management system software, which would result in a global
fix to a technology shortcoming that was found during the
investigation," said TAIC chairman Bill Jeffries -- who's also head
of the International Transport Safety Association. He was
quoted by the New Zealand Press Association.
The ITSA is meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, this week.
As for the Singapore Airlines 747, which had 389 passengers and
crew on board, the aircraft circled Auckland and dumped fuel before
safely returning to the airport.
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