What occurred to that Emirates aircraft when it took off?
The flight in query is Emirates EK231 from Dubai (DXB) to Washington Dulles (IAD), which ought to take off on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 2:25 a.m. The flight was operated by considered one of Emirates’ latest Boeing 777-300ERs, with license plate A6-EQI.
The pilot didn’t set the SID departure altitude within the MCP window as standard. After take-off, the flight director flew additional down, referring to the zero altitude within the MCP window.
Primarily based on what I used to be advised and was capable of put collectively:
- The crew who carried out the flight earlier than had set the altitude within the MCP-ALT window (Grasp Management Panel Altitude Maintain Mode) to zero; The crew of this flight was purported to set 4,000 because the altitude for departure, however didn’t accomplish that
- The pilot in flight determined to “observe” what the pc indicated, particularly zero toes altitude
- Whereas the plane sometimes spun at a a lot slower pace, the plane was nonetheless on the bottom at 216 knots and even rolled over the usual runway space and took off within the runway security space
- The plane was already flying over homes at a top of 75 toes and reaching a minimal pace of 234 knots
- The plane barely gained any altitude and was solely 175 toes at a top of 262 knots
- After takeoff, the plane’s nostril dropped to the purpose that the plane was 175 toes and flying at 262 knots; For comparability: below regular circumstances, the plane flies at this altitude at properly beneath 200 knots
- Whereas, given the runway overflow and flap speeds, it could be commonplace to return to the airport to evaluate the injury, the pilots determined to fly on to Washington
- So far as I do know, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now investigating this incident and all 4 pilots have a minimum of been suspended or probably fired
For the curious, beneath some information from Flightradar24 for the flight in query in comparison with a “commonplace” flight on the identical route. It’s best to have a look at the 2 proper columns, the place the left column is altitude and the suitable column is pace.
Listed here are the dates for the flight in query:
Then listed here are the dates for a similar flight a couple of days earlier:
As you may see, these dates differ considerably. That sounds worrying – a Boeing 777 (presumably) filled with passengers and gas sank proper after takeoff, making it decrease than many high-rise buildings in Dubai, and it was flying very quick.
What stands out most right here is the full lack of management the crew had over the aircraft. The crew managed the computer systems as a substitute of flying the aircraft. What on earth would make a crew cease spinning at greater than 200 knots if the aircraft was high quality?
Emirates has despatched pilots a memo
Though Emirates has not but formally commented on this incident, the airline despatched the next warning to pilots in the present day, primarily associated to the incident:
Crews are reminded that there are NO NORMAL FCOM PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS TO CHANGE THE MCP AFTER LANDING OR SHUTDOWN. THE MCP “ALTITUDE WINDOW” HAS BEEN SET TO THE AIRPORT ALTITUDE WHAT MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS DURING THE FOLLOWING DEPARTURE. CREWS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ADJUST THE AIRPORT ALTITUDE ON THE MCP AFTER LANDING OR SHUTDOWN.
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