Air France Flight 447 Final Report Released

As expected, the French accident investigation bureau has identified problems with the aircraft and human error as the cause of the crash of AF 447 on 1 June 2009. Now, with the findings official, arguments pro and con will no doubt flame up again, not least about the role of proper training, or the lack… Continue reading Air France Flight 447 Final Report Released

A personal reflection on the AF447 accident

I write from the perspective of a long retired pilot who only flew on old fashioned round dial types (Britannias, VC10s, 707s and 747s). This does not mean that I decry the modern Airbus and Boeing systems – far from it, I think the Airbus philosophy has made a great contribution to air safety. The… Continue reading A personal reflection on the AF447 accident

The final minutes of Air France Flight 447

There are few things in aviation more nightmarish than an unsolved, major accident. When, on the night of 1 June 2009, an Air France Airbus A330-203 plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on its flight from Rio to Paris it was easy to feel that such a nightmare was about to unfold. The plane went off… Continue reading The final minutes of Air France Flight 447

Air France 447 – Second Interim Report published. Cause still unknown.

News from EUROCONTROL’s aviation safety knowledge base SKYbrary The loss of AF447 over the Atlantic Ocean on 1 June 2009 is proving to be every bit the nightmare of accident investigators and safety experts alike. The French accident investigation bureau BEA has now published their second Interim Report which includes new findings and makes a… Continue reading Air France 447 – Second Interim Report published. Cause still unknown.

Same time, same place, same level…16

Navigation, the art of getting lost – Part 1 Faultless navigation plays an all important role in the safe operation of aircraft. There are scores of instruments both in the cockpit and on the ground, the purpose of which is to make sure that pilots and controllers are constantly aware of where their airplanes are… Continue reading Same time, same place, same level…16