| Pilot error blamed for Emirates near disaster |
A near disaster involving an Emirates jet at Melbourne Airport was the result of human error by two apparently alert pilots, air safety investigators believe.
The March 20 scare, when an Airbus A340 struggled to get airborne, was caused by an “inadvertent” keystroke on a flight computer.
The error meant the Dubai-bound aircraft was flown on the basis that it was carrying 100 tones less than it actually was, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said.
The ATSB’s interim report said the first officer “inadvertently inserted a takeoff weight of 262.9 tones, instead of 362.9 tones”, and the pilot failed to pick up the 100-tonne shortfall, leaving the aircraft with insufficient takeoff thrust.
The investigation revealed 17 similar incidents around the world since 1982. The ATSB will examine each one as part of a wider safety project.
Investigators are still looking at the possibility of other “human factors”, including medication or personal problems. But there was nothing to suggest either was a factor, investigator Ian Sangston said.
Airbus announced in July that it had developed software to automatically check data entered into flight management and guidance systems.
Emirates also introduced safety improvements, including a second on-board laptop computer to independently calculate takeoff data.
Emirates head pilot Capt Alan Stealey said both the pilot and first officer of the damaged jet had said they were “well rested” before takeoff, after a 38-hour layover.
He said the ASTB findings were consistent with the airline’s own investigations.
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