Brazil Crash

[towerguy]

Yes Wellington is a trouble spot and even had (still has?) a 'Black spot' rating due to the lack of overrun areas and the fact that there were 'tank traps' at either end as well as gas lines and electric cables/wires as well. It's not a case of 'harden up' but one of tidy up. Just because a major accident hasn't happened doesn't mean it can't or won't. If the problem is known then it should be fixed and I believe the Wellington Airport Co. are looking at several ways to minimise or eliminate the dangers. If they are doing this then yes, the airport does have a problem, and if a crash occurred in the mean time then the fault may indeed partially lay with the airport, it's layout or the immediate environs.

As for the Dash incident - definitely on approach to NZPM - as a controller and ALPA member at the time I am very much aware of the incident and all of the resulting flak and the many 'bun fights' that came out of it and are infact still arising because of it.

Phrases like 'Harden up' or 'Suck it in' etc are all very well for the sports field but really have no place in aviation anymore. Where small mistakes or lapses can have disasterous consequences the last thing we need are macho heros pushing things to the limits. If you want to do that ( go to the limits), go get an aerobatic rating and learn the real boundaries and limits away from others or join up. either way I think you'll find that that attitude is not welcome there either.

[chopper_nut]

The CAA regs governing runway overrun areas came out a couple of years ago. WIAL had already started the RESA project when this happened. The Southern RESA is now completed at WLG and we are in the throws of starting the Northern RESA at this time. There is nothing that can be done about the electrical lines at the Northern end of the strip as these are owned by the city council. There is a fail safe system where they trip out if the connection is broken however there is nothing to stop some idiot at Stagecoach turning the power back on. The option of building over SH1 was investigated but was dropped after opposition from the city council and lack of money I believe. I dont think that the airport has a black mark against it now, I may be wrong though. There is an attitude mainly from health and safety 'gurus' now that we have to have the 'cotton wool' treatment for everything. If we keep going this way then half the airports in the world will be shut down.

[ardypilot]

Isn't NZWN having a runway extension to increase safty?

[chopper_nut]

QUOTE(Trolly @ Jul 27 2007, 04:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't NZWN having a runway extension to increase safty?

Not an extension, just RESAs

[ZKTOM]

I'd say that the a/c was at fault seeming a plane earlier landed safely. The only weather related thing that could've contributed is windshear.

[Charl]

So last night there was an "electrical failure" in Brazil which knocked out most of the ATC radar.
Bit of a scramble to get everything down in one piece.
I'm giving my Brazil trip a miss this year.