Speculation Focusing on Inoperative Reversers And Short, Slick Runway

In the wake of Brazil's deadliest air disaster last month, TAM Airlines has established a new policy that bans its aircraft from landing at the Congonhas Airport in Sao Paulo without the thrust reversers activated.

The airline said the new policy was introduced shortly after the crash that killed 199 people on July 17 and would remain in effect until "more detailed information" was uncovered in the investigation, according to the Associated Press.

Marco Aurelio Castro, TAM's head of security, informed a congressional panel investigating the accident of the policy change Tuesday.

As ANN reported, the Airbus A320's right thrust reverser was inoperable, and video from airport security cameras shows the aircraft on the runway at a much faster speed than necessary for landing... prompting some to speculate the pilots may have been trying to take off again.

Castro insisted the airline doesn't believe the cause of the accident was the inoperative thrust reverser and that was not the reason for the policy change but, rather, on government-approved safety measures.

The airline's policy also applies to landings at Rio de Janeiro's Santos Dumont airport due to the short runway there, Castro said.

TAM has also ordered software to warn pilots if throttles are on an incorrect setting during a landing.  There is speculation the July 17 accident was caused by the A320's throttles being set in the wrong position as well as on the short, slick runway, according to the AP.

Castro said such speculation is "imprudent."

Alex Frischman, who is responsible for the airline's A320 fleet, told the congressional panel human error could not be ruled out because "the pilots had very little time to make a decision after the plane touched down and the problem occurred."

FMI: www.tam.com.br, www.infraero.gov.br/usa