With July's fatal crash and a year of turmoil in the Brazilian airline sector, it has been a tough year for Brazil's TAM Linhas Aéreas. Following months of air traffic controller strikes, airport delays and flight cancellations, one of Tam's Airbus A320s overran the runway at São Paulo Congonhas airport in a catastrophe that claimed 199 lives.
TAM president Marco Antonio Bologna has been feeling the brunt of Brazil's favorite blame game: "who is responsible?" Bologna is reluctant to discuss the accident other than to describe the measures taken by TAM to assist the victims' families.
What did cause the crash?
Brazil's aviation industry continues on in a climate of fear and mistrust.
2007/10/25
2007/10/23
Pleas for Brazil to Drop Criminal Investigation
Brazil's air traffic control problem did not begin in July when a TAM Linhas Aereas SA Airbus crashed into a warehouse in Sao Paulo, killing 199 people. There was another crash the year before, a crash which led to a criminal investigation.
The criminal investigation relates to this event: the mid-air collision between a GOL Boeing 737-800 and an Embraer Legacy executive jet last year The Boeing crashed into the Amazon jungle, killing all 154 people onboard. The business jet landed safely.
The International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations claims that "The bottom line is they've got the cart in front of the horse on this. If they're serious about improving air safety in Brazil, they've got to wait for the (technical) report and swiftly apply any recommendations made by it."
IFALPA is asking the Brazilian government to suspend the legislative inquiry and the Justice Ministry to adjourn criminal proceedings."
Joseph Lepore of Bay Shore, New York, and Jan Paladino of Westhampton Beach, New York are the Legacy's two American pilots. Additionally four Brazilian controllers face charges in the criminal case in connection with the accident.
The probe by Brazil's air accident investigation body has yet to publish its findings.
The pilots' association claims that "A Federal Police investigation running in parallel with the independent accident investigation ... risks obscuring the benefits of a proper investigation." The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers also criticizes the police probe.
U.S. and Brazilian officials say the Legacy's transponder and its collision-avoidance system were not functioning at the time of the crash, and that this went unnoticed by its American pilots. However, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warns that pilots flying Embraer Legacy executive jets can accidentally switch off the transponder when placing their feet on a footrest under the instrument panel. The pilot's left shoe can touch the switch controlling both instruments and accidentally switch them into "standby" mode.
The criminal investigation relates to this event: the mid-air collision between a GOL Boeing 737-800 and an Embraer Legacy executive jet last year The Boeing crashed into the Amazon jungle, killing all 154 people onboard. The business jet landed safely.
The International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations claims that "The bottom line is they've got the cart in front of the horse on this. If they're serious about improving air safety in Brazil, they've got to wait for the (technical) report and swiftly apply any recommendations made by it."
IFALPA is asking the Brazilian government to suspend the legislative inquiry and the Justice Ministry to adjourn criminal proceedings."
CRIMINAL CHARGES
Joseph Lepore of Bay Shore, New York, and Jan Paladino of Westhampton Beach, New York are the Legacy's two American pilots. Additionally four Brazilian controllers face charges in the criminal case in connection with the accident.
The probe by Brazil's air accident investigation body has yet to publish its findings.
The pilots' association claims that "A Federal Police investigation running in parallel with the independent accident investigation ... risks obscuring the benefits of a proper investigation." The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers also criticizes the police probe.
U.S. and Brazilian officials say the Legacy's transponder and its collision-avoidance system were not functioning at the time of the crash, and that this went unnoticed by its American pilots. However, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warns that pilots flying Embraer Legacy executive jets can accidentally switch off the transponder when placing their feet on a footrest under the instrument panel. The pilot's left shoe can touch the switch controlling both instruments and accidentally switch them into "standby" mode.
2007/10/20
Gol Linhas Aereas Buyback Under Consideration
The Tam Air crash revealed defects in Brazil's civil aviation system. The system has been stressed subsequent to air traffic controller strikes and work slowdowns that have been causing mass delays and cancellations and damaged Brazilian airlines.
Gol Linhas Aereas Intelligentes SA shares dropped since Brazil's deadliest air accident in.July, when theTAM passenger jet crashed in Sao Paulo and killed 199 people.
Following the crash, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva responded to pressure by firing the defense minister in charge of civil aviation, and the government is imposing a plan to reduce air traffic at Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport, the site of the crash and the nation's busiest airport.
The family-run fund that controls the company announced it is considering a share buyback.
Gol Linhas Aereas Intelligentes SA shares dropped since Brazil's deadliest air accident in.July, when theTAM passenger jet crashed in Sao Paulo and killed 199 people.
Following the crash, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva responded to pressure by firing the defense minister in charge of civil aviation, and the government is imposing a plan to reduce air traffic at Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport, the site of the crash and the nation's busiest airport.
The family-run fund that controls the company announced it is considering a share buyback.
2007/10/04
Gol Goes On and On
According to Brazil's Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, critics are "playing politics" when they disparage the state of Brazil's aviation industry, in which occured in the past year, the crash of a Gol jetliner over the Amazon in which 154 people died, and July's disaster when an Airbus crashed into a warehouse in Sao Paulo killing 199 people.
Nevertheless, during a seminar in the United States, the President of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers, Marc Baumgartner criticized the Brazilian Air Force which oversees Brazil's air traffic control system for trying to punish the controllers. "The Brazilian Air Force invested lots of energy to arrest and prosecute its own workers but none to fix its (air traffic control) system." He also said that "it's a question of time before a new air accident happens again in Brazil."
So far, a military court has declined to indict five Brazilian air traffic controllers for the GOL crash. Two American pilots face charges in a civilian criminal court in connection with the same crash. A Congressional commission report supports the indictment of pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino.
Nevertheless, during a seminar in the United States, the President of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers, Marc Baumgartner criticized the Brazilian Air Force which oversees Brazil's air traffic control system for trying to punish the controllers. "The Brazilian Air Force invested lots of energy to arrest and prosecute its own workers but none to fix its (air traffic control) system." He also said that "it's a question of time before a new air accident happens again in Brazil."
So far, a military court has declined to indict five Brazilian air traffic controllers for the GOL crash. Two American pilots face charges in a civilian criminal court in connection with the same crash. A Congressional commission report supports the indictment of pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino.
2007/10/01
Flight Recorder Details Heard
Just before TAM Airlines Flight 3054 skidded off a runway and exploded as it slammed into a building, pilots screamed, “Slow down!” and “Turn, turn, turn!” as recorded by flight recorder transcripts disclosed Wednesday.
If the congressional commission investigating air safety find that mechanical failure or pilot error contributed to the accident in São Paulo, that conclusion would take some heat off a government widely blamed for failing to improve the challenging runway. Pilots worldwide liken landing on it to landing on an aircraft carrier.
According to the tapes, pilots were unable to activate the spoilers, aerodynamic brakes on the Airbus A320’s wings, as they touched down on the short, rain-slicked runway at Congonhas airport, according to the transcripts.
The pilot, Kleyber Lima, 54, said “Only one reverser — spoiler nothing,” in the transcript, the first indication that something was wrong. The co-pilot, Henrique Stephanini Di Sacco, 54, says: “Look at that. Slow down, slow down.” Mr. Lima replies: “I can’t. I can’t. Oh my God! Oh my God!” Mr. Di Sacco’s last words are: “Go! Go! Turn! Turn! Turn!”
The recording ends with screams and a woman’s voice, followed by an explosion.
The July 17 crash killed all 187 people aboard the jetliner and 12 people on the ground.
One of the two thrust reversers used to slow planes during landings, was inoperative. The airport’s runway is so short that pilots are warned to abort landings if they make any errors while touching down. TAM’s press office declined comment until the investigation is finished.
Airbus spokeswoman, Barbara Kracht, said the aircraft manufacturer could not comment on the investigation, citing international aviation rules.
If the congressional commission investigating air safety find that mechanical failure or pilot error contributed to the accident in São Paulo, that conclusion would take some heat off a government widely blamed for failing to improve the challenging runway. Pilots worldwide liken landing on it to landing on an aircraft carrier.
According to the tapes, pilots were unable to activate the spoilers, aerodynamic brakes on the Airbus A320’s wings, as they touched down on the short, rain-slicked runway at Congonhas airport, according to the transcripts.
The pilot, Kleyber Lima, 54, said “Only one reverser — spoiler nothing,” in the transcript, the first indication that something was wrong. The co-pilot, Henrique Stephanini Di Sacco, 54, says: “Look at that. Slow down, slow down.” Mr. Lima replies: “I can’t. I can’t. Oh my God! Oh my God!” Mr. Di Sacco’s last words are: “Go! Go! Turn! Turn! Turn!”
The recording ends with screams and a woman’s voice, followed by an explosion.
The July 17 crash killed all 187 people aboard the jetliner and 12 people on the ground.
One of the two thrust reversers used to slow planes during landings, was inoperative. The airport’s runway is so short that pilots are warned to abort landings if they make any errors while touching down. TAM’s press office declined comment until the investigation is finished.
Airbus spokeswoman, Barbara Kracht, said the aircraft manufacturer could not comment on the investigation, citing international aviation rules.
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