News5 mins ago
Too early to speculate on cause of Heathrow crash...
But do you think it could have just run out of fuel?
The fuel tanks in a Boeing 777 are in the wings which were extensively damaged, but no fire occurred. The engines shut down 20 seconds before landing, so there was no time to dump the fuel.
Fuel tanks on Boeing 777
damaged wing
The accident interim report is due within 48 hours, any thoughts before that?
The fuel tanks in a Boeing 777 are in the wings which were extensively damaged, but no fire occurred. The engines shut down 20 seconds before landing, so there was no time to dump the fuel.
Fuel tanks on Boeing 777
damaged wing
The accident interim report is due within 48 hours, any thoughts before that?
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Having been an aircraft accident investigator for a number of years, the apparent fact of double engine failure would have, in th epast, been highly suggestive of a fuel related problem, as many have alluded. However, with the advent, many years ago now, of the fly-by-wire aircraft many dearly held preconceptions are out of the window, so to speak.
Problem is, any number of things can become critical when dealing with computer controlled aircraft. Once was that a sturdy length of aircraft quality control cable ran from the pilot's hands and feet to the flight controls. That, eventually was supplanted or at least supplemented by hydraulics. Now, nothing goes from the pilot directly to the controls without first going, via electronics, to and through the various computers. All great advances, but why do you think you can't use your cellular phone or other electronics on today's aircraft? I've been an airline pilot for more years than I like to remember (except being in the left seat of a venerable Boeing 727, Douglas DC-9 or 10 and seeing the sun come up off the left wing over any number of the world's mountains) and if managed almost all advances are great.
Remember this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b1pkKR-Acc
The crew had a perfectly good aircraft but still couldn't command enough power to keep out of the weeds (trees in this case).
The preliminary reports on BA's unfortunate experience mention a previously experienced fire on this aircraft... my investigation would start there... But give ir some time... the causal factor(s) will become known over the next few months...
Problem is, any number of things can become critical when dealing with computer controlled aircraft. Once was that a sturdy length of aircraft quality control cable ran from the pilot's hands and feet to the flight controls. That, eventually was supplanted or at least supplemented by hydraulics. Now, nothing goes from the pilot directly to the controls without first going, via electronics, to and through the various computers. All great advances, but why do you think you can't use your cellular phone or other electronics on today's aircraft? I've been an airline pilot for more years than I like to remember (except being in the left seat of a venerable Boeing 727, Douglas DC-9 or 10 and seeing the sun come up off the left wing over any number of the world's mountains) and if managed almost all advances are great.
Remember this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b1pkKR-Acc
The crew had a perfectly good aircraft but still couldn't command enough power to keep out of the weeds (trees in this case).
The preliminary reports on BA's unfortunate experience mention a previously experienced fire on this aircraft... my investigation would start there... But give ir some time... the causal factor(s) will become known over the next few months...
I agree with smudge, the aircraft wasn't heavily loaded , he was within gliding distance of the airport, I should think, and he knew he had to put it down for his own safety. Similar situation, in many respects, to a bus driver runnng out of road space. I applaud him for his actions, as a result of the excellent training aircrew receive in this country. In WW2 we sometimes referred to the pilot as the 'bus driver'.
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