Emergency Qantas landing?

[NYCguy]

Fairfax are now reporting the compensation with the angle that "pointy end flyers get more compensation". They then advise how First (hehe) customers get vouchers worth ~$10K whereas Economy pax get vouchers for around $2K.

Gotta love integrity, correctness and honesty in journalism.

I emailed them about the 333 only having 2 classes of service.

They have changed the story.

 

[Mal]

I emailed them about the 333 only having 2 classes of service.

They have changed the story.

BrisbaneTimes still has the old story (yep, Queensland is behind the times

Terrified passengers who were thrown around and injured or shocked when QF72 suddenly plunged have been offered compensation by Qantas, depending on whether they were travelling first class, business or economy.

The airline has pledged to give each passenger on the turbulent flight from Singapore to Perth a voucher - ranging in value from $2000 for economy travellers to around $9000 for those in first class.

 

[straitman]

BrisbaneTimes still has the old story (yep, Queensland is behind the times

Yep. About 20 years and 1 hour at the moment :!:

 

[NYCguy]

When it's all said and done, one certainly wouldn't want this to happen half-way between SYD and JNB. Or EZE.

Messy.

 

[docjames]

When it's all said and done, one certainly wouldn't want this to happen half-way between SYD and JNB. Or EZE.

Messy.

Note that QF fly 747 not A330 to these destinations (but agree injured Pax a prolem still!). Flying SCL-AKL (as i've recently done) is pretty intimidating when it's 6hrs either way to a decent airstip (wonder how long to the Antartic airstrip? Yes i know it's not 747 or A340 sized!)

Also noone has yet said how many were restrained and how many were in toilets / walking around cabin.

 

[straitman]

Also noone has yet said how many were restrained and how many were in toilets / walking around cabin.

Other than the majority of those injured were at the rear of the aircraft, which makes sense to me.

 

[Sprucegoose]

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the aircraft was manufactured in 2003 and has registration number VH-QPA, and serial number 0553. I'm still looking for values for the number of flights and flight hours.

Cheers SPRUCE:shock:

 

[oz_mark]

Todays press release from the ATSB is at http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008.../2008_40b.aspx

The most relevant paragraph about the issue at hand:

Detailed review and analysis of DFDR data is ongoing to assist in identifying the reasons for the events. At this point, the event appears very complex. The aircraft contains very sophisticated and highly reliable systems whose interaction is very complex. As far as we can understand, there seems to be issues with some on-board components. Further examination of the auto-pilot system, data sources used by flight control computers and the flight control computers themselves, along with the interaction of the flight crew with the aircraft's systems is necessary to achieve a better understanding of the event.

 

[nlagalle]

Todays press release from the ATSB is at http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008.../2008_40b.aspx

The most relevant paragraph about the issue at hand:

As far as we can understand, there seems to be issues with some on-board components.

That really leaves things open to all kinds of mis-interpretations!!!

 

[oz_mark]

That really leaves things open to all kinds of mis-interpretations!!!

Err. yes, point taken.

 

[oz_mark]

I liked this letter in the smh

Regarding the Qantas passengers seeking compensation (smh.com.au, October 10) , this aircraft thing is pretty simple. It flies at 10,000 metres. It flies at nearly 1000 kilometres an hour. It gets you to the opposite side of the world in less than a day for about a grand (unless you are in business, where it seems your life and your seat are worth more). It's called an aeroplane. Wear a seatbelt, you muppets.

 

[straitman]

I liked this letter in the smh

Priceless :!:

 

[Sprucegoose]

I liked this letter in the smh

A friendly reminder of the physics put in a way muppets could understand.

When i sleep on planes I always lengthen the seat belt and cover my torso for that 1 in 1m possibility we will drop from the sky for some reason and survive.

It is QF policy that if you are seated you need to be belted. However I havent seen this enforced. Al least not at the pointy end.

Has anyone seen this enforced on their travels?

cheers SPRUCE:shock:

 

[serfty]

Certainly; on BA flights there is a warning (as part of the safety demo) that if you wish to sleep under a blanket/covering then the seat belt needs to be done up over the top of the blanket so they can see it. If the fasten seat belt sign comes on mid flight and they cannot see your belt done up you will be woken to check.

One or twice I have heard this on Qantas.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Certainly; on BA flights there is a warning (as part of the safety demo) that if you wish to sleep under a blanket/covering then the seat belt needs to be done up over the top of the blanket so they can see it. If the fasten seat belt sign comes on mid flight and they cannot see your belt done up you will be woken to check.

One or twice I have heard this on Qantas.

I would say now it will become enforced standard practice and not just dependent upon the whim of the crew.

Cheers SPRUCE

 

[JohnK]

....sounds like clear air turbulence, and I guess confirms the recommendation to always have your seat belt on.

I cannot understand why anyone would remain in their seat without their seatbelt fastened and even more important for those that like to lie across 3 or 4 seats during a flight.

 

[oz_mark]

Another letter from the SMH, which takes another perspective of Qantas.

Despite its problems Qantas is still a safe bet - Letters - Opinion - smh.com.au

The media has allocated a lot of time and space to ensure that Australians - and the world - are aware that Qantas's standards are "plunging earthwards" ("Dozens injured as Qantas jet plunges", October 8).

The plight of Perth-bound flight 72 only added fuel to a firey attack on Qantas as the (supposedly) "safest airline" in the world following the oxygen explosion, door failure and hydraulic fluid leak earlier this year.

While these emergencies are traumatic and passengers have been injured, I think it is dangerous to overlook the high standard in how they were dealt with. Our Qantas pilots landed each of those planes with no loss of life. Many other international airlines have not been so lucky under similar circumstances. Overcoming problems under this pressure is a testament to the high standard of Qantas personnel.

There is a risk, small but real, in air travel, just as there is in car, train, space and moped travel. But if I was on a plane that hit trouble, I'd want a Qantas pilot behind the stick.

Let's not forget the reasons why plane maintenance has had to be outsourced: Qantas, like all of us, has had to deal with the economic problems and has done what is necessary to ensure that we can still fly on our own airline at a reasonable cost.

The media are predators and now they have a taste for Qantas blood. But - for now - I'm not turning my back on this airline.

 

[nlagalle]

I cannot understand why anyone would remain in their seat without their seatbelt fastened and even more important for those that like to lie across 3 or 4 seats during a flight.

Those people think it will never happen to them. I sat on a flight to Hobart and the clown next to me didn't have his seat belt on for the entire flight. As i was sitting next to him i wasn't going to alert the FA etc. But next time i think i'll mention it to them in the galley. I don't want them becoming a flying missile at me if something goes wrong.

I actually find it uncomfortable not wearing a seat belt.

 

[JohnK]

I actually find it uncomfortable not wearing a seat belt.

I always check to make sure that the seat belt is fastened when I am seated. That being said I have forgotten on a few occasions.

And yes there are people that think it will never happen to them....

 

[straitman]

If we didn't need seat belts then they would not be installed :!: