Deathstar??? Someone please tell me this is not so!

[Sprucegoose]

Jetstar flight crew feared death
By Geoff Easdown From: Herald Sun March 19, 2011 12:00am


Jetstar crew feared for their lives, inquiry told
Jet 'would not climb, stalled for several minutes'
This is a NoNews Story..........quite dramatic. Any one know more than reported?

Pilot, first officer 'were*convinced they would crash'
A JETSTAR flight crew feared for their lives late last year after their plane came close to crashing during a tropical storm over Darwin, a Senate inquiry has heard.

The hearing was told that the A320 passenger jet would not climb and stalled for several minutes.

A Qantas A380 captain, who gave evidence on behalf of the pilot of the Jetstar plane, told the inquiry that a report given to him of the incident told how the pilot and first officer were convinced they would crash.

Richard Woodward, the A380 captain representing the Australian International Airline Pilots' Association, said it was strange the Australian Transport Safety Bureau had closed an inquiry given that the incident was so serious.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/flight-crew-feared-death/story-e6frfq80-1226024517141

Mod Note from Markis10 - I have edited this post to reflect the travel news reporting guidelines re quoting and source acknowledgement.

 

[munitalP]

Don't worry! The new safety devices on the A320's (helium filled wings) allow the plane to float for several minutes while it gets over it's stall.

Again we see a brilliant case of bullsh!t reporting coming from the no-news website designed at taking a shot at QF or JQ whenever they can.

The hearing was told that the A320 passenger jet would not climb and stalled for several minutes.

 

[Mal]

Again we see a brilliant case of bullsh!t reporting coming from the no-news website designed at taking a shot at QF or JQ whenever they can.

Well the transcript should be available here: Parliament of Australia: Senate: Committees: Rural Affairs and Transport Committee: Pilot training and airline safety including consideration of the Transport Safety Investigation Amendment (Incident Reports) Bill 2010 in a few days. Will be good to read and compare.

 

[Nigelinoz]

It's my understanding that there was no stall and the inquiry was not told anything of the sort,a positive rate of climb was maintained however it was severely degraded ,the rate of climb fell from 2000 fpm on takeoff to 200 fpm and the aircraft did get to only 180 feet above the ground.
I can imagine that it would have been a scary experience but No News is wrong in reporting that the aircraft stalled,the whole incident lasted only 12 seconds.
To be honest I do find it a bit strange that the ATSB decided not to investigate the incident without at least talking to the pilots but then I'm not experienced in investigating aircraft incidents.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Sprucegoose]

Fascinating reading. P13, a senior executive had to excuse his attendance at the hearing to attend his sisters wedding.

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/S13559.pdf

P20 a nurse who revived a Jetstar patient and had to overnight in DRW hospital as a result had an issue with an airfare adjustment. Not good form there Jetstar.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Well the transcript should be available here: Parliament of Australia: Senate: Committees: Rural Affairs and Transport Committee: Pilot training and airline safety including consideration of the Transport Safety Investigation Amendment (Incident Reports) Bill 2010 in a few days. Will be good to read and compare.

Thanks Mal, these reports contain an incredible amount of information.

 

[eastwest101]

I think its time that Airbus and its operators take an interest on the Air Data Inertial Reference Unit and FBW technology following recent similar Qantas incidents on A320s & A330s, exhibiting sudden uncommanded maneuvering and lack of control at low speeds. It would seem that there is a growing body of evidence about the complexity and doubts about controllability in different flight and throttle modes.

I would suggest people do a little research of "Controlled" flight into terrain and missed approaches with different flight mode & throttle settings on the A320 family, even if you go back as far as the the original AF296 incident.

Remember that with ADIRU's and FBW technology there is no longer a direct physical link between the pilot in control and the flight surfaces and engines.

I know the Ansett pilots used to the Ansett A320 Skystar the "Deathstar", not sure for what reason..... perhaps someone from back then would be able to enlighten us?

 

[drron]

I feel the one thing this article shows is poor journalism.Surely there were a few more facts mentioned during the hearing.Was the only problem the pilots throwing up their hands screaming we are all going to die?

 

[Sprucegoose]

I feel the one thing this article shows is poor journalism.Surely there were a few more facts mentioned during the hearing.Was the only problem the pilots throwing up their hands screaming we are all going to die?

Yes very much like the fatalist attitudes you see in some countries that can sometimes have a religious flavor!!

 

[Mal]

Transcript available here: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/S13676.pdf

And as far as I can see ... the NoNews article is not factual, and seems to be misguided at best, malicious at worst.

This appears to be the transcript part used for the article:

Senator XENOPHON—Because I have limited time, could you take some of that on notice. I
just want to ask you about another incident. This relates to the Jetstar aircraft departing Darwin
at the end of October last year with a severe weather encounter. I make it very clear that there is
no suggestion that the crew were at fault; in fact, they behaved impeccably. I think that is the
information that you have been provided as well. There was a concern that that could have
resulted in a hull loss. The ATSB has indicated in questions on notice that they are aware of the
event but they have decided not to investigate it further at this stage as I understand it. What is
your understanding of that event? Presumably those pilots and crew were AIPA members.

Capt. Woodward—Yes they were and I have a minute that the captain wrote to us outlining
what had happened. He was quite concerned. In his view they thought they were going to die
because of the severe weather event the aircraft encountered. It actually stopped climbing for
quite some period of time. The reason appears to be a downburst from a thunderstorm—in other words, a severe wind shift after take-off. They did their best to see if the weather was around but
they could not see it because it was right over the airfield.

There is no mention of "stall" anywhere in the transcript. Yes, the pilots did fear for their lives (according to the transcript), but nowhere is a stall mentioned.