V Aus bakes an engine in LA.

[Montague S]

first for our friends from the other flag carrier.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/v-australia-passengers-see-flames/story-e6frf7jo-1226039477226

[Andrew M]

Some quality reporting as always :rolleyes:

Channel 9 journalist Kristie Carter, who was on the flight, said everything seemed fine as the plane went to take off.

"Then there was a really loud bang. The whole cabin shook, the next minute we hit back on the runway and the plane came to a screeching halt," she said.

[Jayden Laing]

And now the airline's story!!

http://www.vaustralia.com.au/MinorIncidentReport/index.htm

I would tend to believe what the airline says over the media.

[Andrew P]

V Australia news release is 100% spin and nothing else

[Justin L]

What exactly is spin about the VA press release and what more do they need to say really? It is about informing guests on arrangements for their flights, which at the end of the day is what most people are concerned about when they have travel bookings.

[Jack B]

Low speed aborted take off? Preposterous.
Crashing down onto the runway, screeching to a halt, flames everywhere, passengers fearing for their lives, 777 the new scare-bus? Makes sense to me.

:rolleyes:

[Robert S]

Some quality reporting as always :rolleyes

I like how that article takes "Then there was a really loud bang" and converts it into "The plane was carrying about 350 passengers who described the incident as an explosion".

What exactly is spin about the VA press release and what more do they need to say really?

I wouldn't worry about it. There are few impartial members of this board it's not unusual to see a bit of spin in these parts.

Fairly matter of fact article in AA here: http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/04/lax-rejected-takeoff-for-v-australia-flight/

This one is also interesting - not sure of the veracity of the quotes (as media normally seems to do a hopeless job of transcribing ATC audio): http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/15/355603/v-australia-grounds-777-after-engine-problem-aborts.html

And just for laughs, see if you can count the errors here: http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/sydney-bound-flight-makes-emergency-landing-after-explosion-006060 :rolleyes:

[Matt_L]

A few things to add guys,

1.) I doubt this would have made the news if Kristie Carter wasnt onboard- typical media beatup!

2.) V Aust are looking at putting the remain pax on a NZ744 for those interested..not sure if chartered or via AKL (EDIT- this is per AA article too- posted before!)

[Nigel C]

I like how that article takes "Then there was a really loud bang" and converts it into "The plane was carrying about 350 passengers who described the incident as an explosion".

So when I shoot birdfrite, does it go off with a bang, or an explosion?

[Jayden Laing]

Originally posted by Nigel C
So when I shoot birdfrite, does it go off with a bang, or an explosion?

Let's call Kristie Carter & ask her hey Nigel!!!;)

[NeilP]

So when I shoot birdfrite, does it go off with a bang, or an explosion?

Man with gun on runway almost brings down departing Jumbo!...

"I was watching out the window as we were about to take off when I saw a man with a gun standing near the runway. I was petrified as this man was obviously a terrorist who had escaped Sydney's lax security and ran onto the airport. Then I heard a really loud bang, I saw smoke from the terrorist's gun and the pilots pulled the plane up, in what was obviously a panicked evasive manouvre. It was really scary, especially as I saw birds scattering everywhere, I thought maybe some of them would be sucked into the plane's engines, and we would crash into Botany Bay just like that one in America a little while ago"...

[Will H]

This one is also interesting - not sure of the veracity of the quotes (as media normally seems to do a hopeless job of transcribing ATC audio): http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/15/355603/v-australia-grounds-777-after-engine-problem-aborts.html

I transcribed those ATC quotes so I hope I can assure you of their veracity. ;)

The Air NZ 747, at last word from Virgin, was flying to Aus to fly to LA and then conduct the return trip.

Number of sectors they expect to use the Air NZ 747 on isn't definite but the expectation is a "few" (see above article).

[Jayden Laing]

Originally Posted by Will H
The Air NZ 747, at last word from Virgin, was flying to Aus to fly to LA and then conduct the return trip.


Not sure about that Will (I don't doubt your source as it came from the horse's mouth) BUT ACARS has VPD ferrying in & operating VA1

From ACARS (www.16right.com (http://www.16right.com))
VH-VPD VA9072 15/04/2011 10:23 V Australia B777-3ZG(ER) --------
VH-VPD VA0001 15/04/2011 12:46 V Australia B777-3ZG(ER) Sydney-Los Angeles

[Daniel M]

V Australia news release is 100% spin and nothing else

How was your romantic dinner last night with Andrew C?
:rolleyes:

[Erik H. Bakke]

So when I shoot birdfrite, does it go off with a bang, or an explosion?

An explosion of feathers?

[Robert S]

I transcribed those ATC quotes so I hope I can assure you of their veracity. ;)

That does give me more confidence. :)

I'm a bit jaded after all the garbage in the media transcribed from the Air France A380 incident (and others before it).

[Adam P.]

So when I shoot birdfrite, does it go off with a bang, or an explosion?

What about those remote controlled cannon thingies eh Nigel??

Brings new meaning to 'explosion of feathers'... :eek:

[David Ramsay]

You were reading my mind, Adam. ;)

[Nigel C]

I was waiting for you to arrive, Mr Ramsay...

Feathers? What feathers?

[Mike W]

Of course, DJ and NZ are best buddies now

http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/6ed19dbc/air-nz-plane-called-on-to-replace-virgin-boeing-in-la.html

Air NZ plane called on to replace Virgin Boeing in LA

Friday 15th April 2011

Air New Zealand has rushed to the aid of Virgin Blue group's long-haul subsidiary, V Australia.
The Australian airline was forced to ground one of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in Los Angeles yesterday after it experienced unspecified engine problems and aborted its takeoff.
Aircrew for other airlines reported they saw a "fireball" out of the number one engine on flight VA2, bound for Sydney, shortly before midnight.
V Australia has chartered a Boeing 747-400 from Air New Zealand "to maintain schedule integrity", and the New Zealand plane was today flying from Australia to Los Angeles. The Australian airline could not say how long the aircraft would be chartered for but that it was expected to complete at least a few flights.

[David Ramsay]

Of course, DJ and NZ are best buddies now

Since NZ is in the same part of the world and has spare 744 capacity right now, it makes perfect sense to charter one.

[Mike W]

^ That's what I was referring to David

[Montague S]

who the hell is Kristy Carter?

[Andrew P]

How was your romantic dinner last night with Andrew C?
:rolleyes:

see V Australia has amended the 1st line of the press release to take out the spin they had about the pilot and put a more realistic comment

maybe they read this board to see what the realists are saying

[Matt_L]

who the hell is Kristy Carter?

Channel 9 news reporter who was on the flight..

[Radi K]

Just to clear up a few things

Low speed reject rwy 25R
Take off power was set
The 350 pax on board statement was slightly exaggerated
A flame was observed from the left engine
There was NOT an engine failure - nor did the plane 'bake an engine'
GE are conducting tests still on the engine and some parts are being changed
A compressor stall and/or engine surge seems likely

Cheers

[Nigel C]

Meh...I preferred the dramatic version....

:p

[Chris Q]

Meh...I preferred the dramatic version....

:p

Exactly!
no one would buy any newspapers or watch TT/ACA if that was the report! :D

[Ken M]

I was on this flight? Well for all of 10 seconds. The aircraft commenced it's take off run, less than 200m down the runway there was a loud 'thud' and the aircraft came to a halt. There was no explosion and no fire.

The captain told us there was an 'indication' on the flight deck and he aborted the take off as a precaution. The term 'surge' was used?

A flight attendant told be she saw a flash come from the left engine that she thought was the fire extinguisher going off.

After the fire tenders established there was no apparent damage we taxied to what I assume was the Virgin America maintenance ramp, where we were off loaded.

There was a certain amount of confusion regarding baggage collection and accommodation however all thing considered, I think V Australia did a great job.

We were squeezed on VA 2 the next night for medical reasons but were told that other wise we may have been held in LA up to 3 days whilst alternative flights were found.

Whilst waiting for the flight the next night I over heard other passengers complaining about the 'chaos' they'd experienced the night before, however I wondered if they would have preferred V Aus to be 100% on top of the situation because it happened regularly???? Personally I was glad they weren't because it means that it doesn't happen often.

This was my first major overseas flight and I would throughly recommend V Australia.

[Adrian B]

Ken,

Good post, but you may want to be careful about posting a comprehensive, direct, non imflamatory (no pun intended) nor non-exagerated description of what happened. Knowing that several of our uneducated media review this forum for anything they can turn into trash, they may report you to the admins for inappropriate posting :D

[Robert S]

The term 'surge' was used?

Yes, the more level headed reports do seem to have converged on it being an engine surge. Not a great thing to happen, but it appears it was handled as it should have been.

Does anyone know the current status of the aircraft? Is the Air NZ 744 still on relief duties?

they may report you to the admins for inappropriate posting :D

I'm surprised there haven't been any cries of "spin" yet. :):rolleyes:

[Radi K]

VOZ has been back in service since Monday of this week.