Group: aus.aviation · Group Profile
Author: Sr20goerSr20goer Date: Aug 8, 2008 15:02
>> Controller erred before plane crash
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>> August 07, 2008
>>
>> A VICTORIAN air traffic controller wrongly assumed a pilot changed his
>> flight path before the plane crashed and killed six people on board, an
>> inquest has heard.
>>
>> Air traffic controller Kevin Carey today gave evidence he received two
>> alarms indicating the Piper Cheyenne aircraft on route from Bankstown
>> Airport in Sydney had veered 7.5 miles off its path before crashing into
>> a ridge northeast of Melbourne on July 28, 2004.
>>
>> Mr Carey said it appeared the aircraft was making a safe approach to
>> Benalla Airport so he cancelled the alerts.
>>
>> "I felt at the time that the pilot knew what he was doing and the
>> aircraft was tracking as he felt he was where he wanted to be, where he
>> wanted to go,'' he said.
>>
>> "My actions were honest and legitimate.''
>>
snipped
To my understanding, they WERE honest and legit.
Evidently the percentage of RAM alarms that are legit "risk" is <1%%.
Since the accident, ATSB recommendations have been picked up by Airservices
and MATS has been altered.
The matter was OCTA and the aircraft was manoeuvering for the GPS approach
and I believe below radar cover when things went wrong.
Rumour is the GPS or the data may be the problem.
Brian
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