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KLM pilot gets lost flying over India
When you take a road trip, you have a map to help you find your way. When you fly, you have a lot of fancy controls and tracking devices; but you still need to have a general idea of where you are going. Apparently that was not the case for the Dutch pilot of a KLM flight that flew from Amsterdam to India this weekend. The flight was destined for Shamshabad -- Hyderabad's new airport which just opened on Saturday -- but because the pilot knew nothing of the airport, he diverted and flew to Delhi and then on to Mumbai, creating a detour of about 1500 miles, according to the Times of India. The pilot apparently was not aware of the new airport, and was flying in the direction of the old facility Begumpet. Traffic control directed him to Shamshabad, to which the pilot's response was "What's Shamshabad?"
In the pilot's defense, he did say that he was not willing to land at the new airport because he had not received the "notam" (notice to airmen) about the Begumpet closure from KLM corporate headquarters. Still, there is no denying the fact that he did get a little lost. Maybe our in-house pilot Kent Wien can weigh in on the situation and tell us if it's as ridiculous as it sounds.
[Via Today in the Sky]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kent Wien Mar 24th 2008 4:19PM
The fault in this one might lie with the company. In fact, from what this report says, http://tinyurl.com/2djzah some of the airplanes FMS computer database didn't even have any information on the new airport.
With no approach plates and nothing in the database of the GPS, I would go to the alternate as well. But you would certainly try to talk to your company before going there.
I think we'll know more about what happened in a few days.
Priyam Mar 25th 2008 8:01AM
Today's Times of India carries a clarification from KLM on the matter. It goes as follows:
Hyderabad: Reacting to a report titled “Shamshabad... what’s that?” published in Monday’s edition of TOI, KLM in a statement said: “KLM was fully aware of the new airport. Flight 873 departed prepared for the new airport Shamshabad at Hyderabad. In India, the weather was below the published limits therefore the crew decided to go to an alternate airport in Mumbai. The passenger and the crew stayed in hotels in Mumbai and left the next day for Shamshabad.” TNN
Meanwhile, the pilots still seem to be having trouble with the new airport as per this report. "Terrain, terrain, pull up. Too low" may not be their favorite phrase.
Priyam Mar 25th 2008 8:07AM
Oops... link over here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/_New_Hyderabad_airport_gives_pilots_the_jitters/articleshow/2896343.cms
kingair200driver Mar 25th 2008 4:15PM
Having flown for 2 years in India, I am not surprised by this incident. The DGCA is still operating as though it is the 1940's. Aviation has exploded in India and the government is so far backed up and behind in getting things done it will be years before it even starts to make sense. Every DGCA employee is afraid to make a change for fear of rocking the boat. They need someone who actually knows what they are doing to be in charge and get the changes implemented.
Mike Mar 25th 2008 7:26PM
You can drink a lot of Heineken between Amsterdam and Shamshabad- hickup! We should all just be thankful that those decadent Europeans manage to keep their clothes on until the plane is emptied!
GIGI Messick Mar 25th 2008 9:31PM
I fell, that at least the plain did not crash, and every one was safe. any one can make mistakes. right.