Posted on 09/21/2005 4:21:43 PM PDT by kingu
A Jet Blue aircraft just did a low altitude flyby of Long Beach airport after reporting some concern with their forward gear. The television helicopter caught an image of it - the gear is turned sideways and tilted.
Aircraft is heading out towards the ocean to drop fuel, will turn around, and attempt a 'soft field' landing, keeping the nose up as long as possible.
This guy on the KABC feed is saying that there is a problem landing with a load of fuel also.
Gosh, how bad is it when everything DOESN'T go well?
Really dumb idea... The gear will still snap off when it hits the water, the plane sinks, and everyone drowns.
The main gear will work and take the brunt of the weight... they've done a lot of landings with bad nose gear. Hold the nose gear off the ground and bleed off as much speed as you can.... when the nose drops, it will either turn, bend, or snap off, but the nose dragging should not cause a catastrophic situation.
Are landing gear problems any more of an Airbus problem as compared with Boeing?
Longbeach tower
I can't even imagine what it is like to be on the plane. I freak out enough on a normal flight.
Longbeach tower
Airport Communications
CTAF: 119.4
UNICOM: 122.95
ATIS: 127.75(562-595-8564)
WX ASOS: PHONE 562-424-0572
LONG BEACH GROUND: 133.0(NORTH & EAST OF RY 12/30) 135.8(SOUTH & WEST OF RY 12/30) 257.6 [0615-2345]
LONG BEACH TOWER: 119.4(RY 30 APCH RY 12 DEP) 120.5(RY 12 APCH RY 30 DEP) 257.6 [0615-2345]
SOCAL APPROACH: 124.65
SOCAL DEPARTURE: 127.2
CLEARANCE DELIVERY: 118.15
EMERG: 121.5 243.0
IC: 119.4(RY 30 APCH RY 12 DEP) 120.5(RY 12 APCH RY 30 DEP)
Amen!
The guy KABC in Los Angeles is interviewing ("John" Regional Safety Director, Airline Pilots Assn.) has flown the A319 and A320 and claims no fuel dump capability.
Max landing weight is 142,000 pounds v. max weight of 170,000 pounds. Relatively little disparity as far as commercial aircraft go, so not much need for fuel jettison capability -- except in situations like this.
Don't believe the news reports on the details.... they're always wrong.
Going to LAX...per FNN
Some environmentalist group will probably sue them for contaminating the ocean.
everybody dies?
Thanks, you know what you're talking about.
OMG -- those people. Is the flight full?
The danger here is having a ground loop when the nose gear hits the runway..
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=3447066
Live Vidoe link to local ABC news.
I would guess that if the plane does NOT have fuel dump capability, they would keep it in the air for the next 3/4 hours to burn the fuel off.
Apparently the steerable nosewheel is locked in a turning position. That is what FOX is reporting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.