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The fateful flight into San Francisco International Airport last July where the Boeing 777 flew in at 30 knots below normal approach speed and a dangerously nose-high attitude has been investigated by the NTSB and has released details of a hearing held Wednesday December 11.
The NTSB has just released new footage of the Asiana crash.  The captain of the Boeing 777 who piloted the fateful flight was flying manually. At one point on the approach, the speed of the jet dropped substantially, and the jet hit the seawall at an airspeed that was 34 knots to slow.
The NTSB’s investigation has uncovered that the captain of the jet was concerned and stressed out by the visual approach.  The approach was made with aid of the PAPI lights but without the vertical assistance that would have been provided by the ILS (Instrument Landing System). The captiain proclaimed that it was very difficult to make the approach in such a heavy airplane.  According to the Asiana air operations safety divisions director, the captain, an employee of the airline for eight years, Lee Kang Kuk, was an experienced pilot with no record or poor performance or disciplinary actions. The landing should have been no problem for him.
The fact that this landing caused such considerable stress is disconcerting, and many are wondering and asking the question which is so de rigueur these days – is there an over reliance on automation?
The NTSB has released new surveillance video of the crash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bNfDUTGOEj0

Alicja Gados

I was born in Europe (Poland) and moved to Calgary as a young kid and grew up in Canada. I began graduate school in Edmonton, Alberta where I also began ground school and my private pilot’s license training at Edmonton city centre, the now closed, Blatchford field, CYXD (most operators have moved a short way west to Villeneuve). I moved to the rocky mountains, I transferred flight schools to very busy, and windy Springbank airport – CYBW near Calgary. This move was overwhelming, at best. This is a blog about my experience learning to fly, acquiring more flight experience and ratings but also about general aviation topics, news and gear reviews. I’ve discovered that flying takes a lot of studying, work and dedication, but is very rewarding! I started flying just out of graduate school, so I have struggled with paying for my lessons, and as a result, I have to take many breaks, which means that getting licensed has taken many more hours than normal. I am a commercial and multi IFR rated licensed pilot. I completed my PPL and CPL in Calgary-Springbank and multi IFR (group one) ratings in Abbotsford, BC at Chinook Helicopters. If you are learning to fly, interested in learning to fly or just interested in aviation, please join us. I trained as an economist before becoming a pilot and switching to aviation full time. I enjoy climbing, mountaineering, hiking, camping and backcountry skiing. It’s a great time to be in aviation. The industry is growing.

One Comment

  • Harold Bass says:

    Why did the number 2 notice how stressed the Captain was and added some info. without being punished?was there not a woop woop pull up on board?

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