"Near Miss" at Sydney Airport 23/09

[NickN]

Thought it sounded like a run-of-the-mill go around.

[Karl M]

Another thing that happens every day around the world! and the Media jump's up and down.

When is this going to stop?

[NickN]

I wonder who the "employee with 20 years experience" was that said it was the closest thing to an accident he had seen there in his life.

[damien b]

Originally Posted by NickN

I wonder who the "employee with 20 years experience" was that said it was the closest thing to an accident he had seen there in his life.

I'm guessing someone who didn't see the actual accidents or near misses that have occured at Sydney in the last twenty years (maybe not even an industry person?). I do recall an incident where an aircraft under tow illegally entered the runway with an aircraft on approach and cleared to land, there was also the Ansett 747 nose wheel collapse, the recent crash in Botany Bay (and many that i have forgotten or have no knowledge of)- a few in other words.

I'm surprised the media didn't report on the missed approach by a Virgin Blue aircraft on Sunday morning - with all the media there i was wondering if that would make the news. Maybe it would have, had it been a Qantas aircraft?

[Nigel C]

Ahh, they might have, but they were too busy looking at the great white dugung in Hangar 96!

[NickN]

It does resemble a Dugong.... perhaps modelled somehow on the Baluga?

[Robert Zweck]

I have done more go-arounds than I care to remember

And not one of them made the media

Which was probably because I failed to terrify my passengers

[Greg McDonald]

Originally Posted by damien b

I'm surprised the media didn't report on the missed approach by a Virgin Blue aircraft on Sunday morning - with all the media there i was wondering if that would make the news. Maybe it would have, had it been a Qantas aircraft?

Or even the VERY late missed approach by a QF A330 also on Sunday....Was listening on my scanner and the pilot declared a missed approach due to a wind gust. He must have only been about 5 metres off touching down when declared as he was already over the keys.

[NickN]

Greg just out of curiosity, wouldn't it be better to continue to land an aircraft that is 15 feet off the ground rather than perform a go-around? I know nothing about go-around procedures or SOPs for the airlines but with such a small distance to the deck it seems weird to go-around.

[Nigel C]

Originally Posted by NickN

Greg just out of curiosity, wouldn't it be better to continue to land an aircraft that is 15 feet off the ground rather than perform a go-around? I know nothing about go-around procedures or SOPs for the airlines but with such a small distance to the deck it seems weird to go-around.

Not if your wheels were over the runway edge line because of said gust...

If you're not happy with the approach profile, no matter how low, then go-around and have another crack. Better to be safe than be sorry!