Mid-air blunders are on the rise, report finds

[Blackadder]

Mid-air blunders are on the rise, report finds | News.com.au

AIR travel is becoming dangerous with toxic fumes, planes flying close and potentially deadly jet blasts on the rise.

• Plane accidents more common than widely believed
• Increase in incidents involving commercial air transport
• In 2011 there were 130 accidents, 121 serious incidents

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/...ts/story-e6frfq80-1226372138280#ixzz1wFDfptlc
​

 

[mannej]

I like the Perth now title!

Plane accidents 'more common than believed' | Perth Now

 

[Isochronous]

This corresponds with the rise of LCCs and Deathstar.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Media beatup. What a load of rubbish.

 

[mannej]

Just reading into the article, was it not a Virgin pilot who toppled off his stairs, not a 747 FO?

 

[simongr]

Loathe as I am to read the article - given the ongoing increases in air travel would the absolute number of incidents also increase? Also given more information is more immediately available - things which would previously have not been reported now get reported?

 

[oz_mark]

Just reading into the article, was it not a Virgin pilot who toppled off his stairs, not a 747 FO?

Indeed - the 747 was the blaster, not the blastee.

On 14 October 2011, a Qantas Boeing 747-400 aircraft, registered VH-OEH, was taxiing away from a gate at Brisbane Airport under its own power. The aircraft was asked by ground control to hold to wait for passing aircraft, positioning VH-OEH behind a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 aircraft which was parked at a gate (registered VH-VUM). At the time, the first officer of the VH-VUM was alighting from the rear door of the aircraft using push stairs to speak to the refueller. As the first officer was about to descend the stairs, VH-OEH was given a taxi clearance and considerably higher thrust was applied than what was recorded for taxiway movements on preceding days. The jet blast generated toppled the stairs (with the first officer still on them at the top) onto their side and pushed them several metres from the aircraft. A number of other ground staff took shelter behind buildings on the ramp to protect themselves from the jet blast. The first officer sustained serious injuries to his arms and legs, and was taken to Royal Brisbane Hospital. Neither aircraft was damaged (AO-2011-137).

http://atsb.com.au/media/3607162/ar2012025.pdf