747-400 down in Kyrgyzstan

Rob- A real shame, especially considering all the collateral damage and fatalities.

 

A friend of mine might have been on that plane. Am trying to find out now.

 

LiveLeak.com - Drone captures devastation at crash site of Turkish cargo jet

 

What is the technical definition of a go around? Does it require an approach with the intention of landing, or is a holding pattern at relatively low altitude due to traffic or weather considered a go around?

Thanks

 

I got a note this morning: my friend is okay. He was neither on that plane or on the ground!

 

I haven't followed this, but if it was very foggy, there's a good chance the autopilot was performing an autoland. In this case, a go around is the click of one button and performed by the autopilot.

If the autopilot did an autoland and landed long, it's possible the crew decided to go around after touchdown. I'm not actually sure what would happen if you hit the TOGA buttons after you touchdown. A lot of things are working against you at that point. Autobrakes, autospoilers, leading edges can retract depending on reverse, etc. You're best to disconnect everything at that point. I wouldn't want to ever be at that point.

All that said, I've had an autoland go badly wrong, where I had to disconnect at a low altitude and save the landing.

Glad your friend is okay.

 

Thank you, LouBG747.

Crud: another member of my family may know someone in the crash. Word will come slower this time, I fear.

 

Lou- Zero, zero landings sound like no fun at all. Worst for me has been about 100' and 1/4 mile. Bad enough, but without auto-land.

 

That doesn't sound like a lot of fun either. How fast? 150 or so? I bet no harness is needed at that point.

 

TOGA's aren't active after touchdown, that's what got the EK 777 crew in Dubai. I was surprised to read this happened on the go around. First thought in those kind of conditions is always a botched approach and crash short of the runway.

 

Brian- 130 knots plus fuel weight at 16 degree wing sweep. Seat cushion fully internalized. Aircraft commander on instruments, WSO making altitude calls and searching for the runway. The old fashioned way.

 

What's the procedure for extracting the seat cushion?

 

Glad we don't live in old fashioned days anymore.

 

Eat Mexican food.

The old fashioned days were way more fun, except when the weather was really bad. Usually we just diverted and then flew home later. Easy in the UK with dozens of bases in the 80s and 90s. Funny thing is, have dropped dozens of bombs in zero zero at 200-1000' with no sweat, but not the same as landing.

 

Not terribly surprised. Finding the ground by feel is a bit different.

 

That is really crummy weather. Doubt they saw anything before they hit it.

 

It was a 47, could have been clear on the runway but 0-0 on the 'second story'.

 

Especially if the nose wheel is still in the air.

 

Sounds like maybe they were trying a "smooth missed approach." Although it seems unlikely any former 89th guys would be flying 747s for MyCargo...