Boeing 777 runs out of air

On 18 Jan, 19:41, "R. Mark Clayton"
wrote:
"Phi" wrote in message

m...

In order to reduce the carbon footprint and the amount of fuel carried on
long haul flights, pilots need accurate (calibrated) fuel gauges.

They would have to have radioed in an emergency (or at least a PAN) if they
were low on fuel and they radioed nothing. *BA sacked a Concorde pilot for
going below 30 mins intentionally.

Apparently the "engines failed to respond". *There are several seconds delay
in the response of large aero engines and this caused the loss of Air France
296 at an airshow at Mulhouse-Habsheim.

Perhaps more likely the engines had been throttled back (on approach!) and
airspeed had dropped too low leading to a stall [warning]. *Once this was
realised they throttled up again and apparently announced they were going
round, but too late to prevent a short landing.

It looked like classic wind-shear... air currents pushing the aircraft
up to pushing it down in very short space, the same wind patterns may
also cause sudden loss of air-speed. The aircraft banking erratically
on approach which may also suggest the same.

The fact the undercarriage was ripped off could be due to landing on
the grass as much as the severity of the landing.

Running out of fuel is also a suspect, but reportedly was not the
case.

wrote in message
...
On 18 Jan, 19:41, "R. Mark Clayton"
wrote:
"Phi" wrote in message

m...

In order to reduce the carbon footprint and the amount of fuel carried
on
long haul flights, pilots need accurate (calibrated) fuel gauges.

They would have to have radioed in an emergency (or at least a PAN) if
they
were low on fuel and they radioed nothing. BA sacked a Concorde pilot for
going below 30 mins intentionally.

Apparently the "engines failed to respond". There are several seconds
delay
in the response of large aero engines and this caused the loss of Air
France
296 at an airshow at Mulhouse-Habsheim.

Perhaps more likely the engines had been throttled back (on approach!) and
airspeed had dropped too low leading to a stall [warning]. Once this was
realised they throttled up again and apparently announced they were going
round, but too late to prevent a short landing.

It looked like classic wind-shear... air currents pushing the aircraft
up to pushing it down in very short space, the same wind patterns may
also cause sudden loss of air-speed. The aircraft banking erratically
on approach which may also suggest the same.

The 777 is very large and Times descibes the conditions as good visibility
with slight cross winds averaging 18mph. Far too liitle to affect the
trajectory of a large aircraft going nearly ten times that.

OTOH it might have been too close to the plane in front and hit vortexes (as
with AA 587 on 2001-11-12)

The fact the undercarriage was ripped off could be due to landing on
the grass as much as the severity of the landing.

Indeed, heavy aircraft, high descent rate, very wet ground - it will sink in
a long way.

Running out of fuel is also a suspect, but reportedly was not the case.

Possible, but unlikely that both engines would cut out together, and
apparently quite a lot of fuel spilled out afterwards.



One wonders if someone in Club Class was just making that mobile call to say
"I will be home in half an hour dear..."