The agency declined to elaborate on the nature of its investigation but CBS News reported a pressurization issue was involved in the Autoland activation. The Fox News affiliate in Denver reported that the local fire department was puzzled by the emergency response to the airport since neither of the men on the plane required treatment or transport to a hospital. In the event of a depressurization, the Garmin system immediately begins an emergency descent to 15,000 feet and if the pilots do not intervene the Autoland sequence begins automatically.
The NTSB is also looking into it and it, too, is not providing any detail. “We are aware of the event and currently collecting information to determine if it meets the criteria for an investigation,” the NTSB said in a statement.
Garmin earlier confirmed it was the first non-test use of its Autoland system. “Garmin can confirm that an emergency Autoland activation occurred at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado,” the company said in a statement Sunday. “The Autoland took place on Sat., Dec. 20, resulting in a successful landing. We look forward to sharing additional details at the appropriate time.” Garmin also confirmed that it was the first use of the system that was not a test or a demonstration.
Social media posts from flight tracking hobbyists reported a King Air 200 squawked 7700 about 2 p.m. local time today. The Autoland system was initiated and landed the aircraft at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver. A recording from LiveATC’s feed of the airport’s tower frequency includes a robotic female voice declaring a pilot incapacitation and the intention to land on Runway 30. The aircraft landed successfully and there have been no reports of injuries. The nature of the incapacitation and the condition of the pilot have not been released. VASAviation put together this nice animation of the event below.
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The NTSB is also looking into it and it, too, is not providing any detail. “We are aware of the event and currently collecting information to determine if it meets the criteria for an investigation,” the NTSB said in a statement.
Garmin earlier confirmed it was the first non-test use of its Autoland system. “Garmin can confirm that an emergency Autoland activation occurred at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado,” the company said in a statement Sunday. “The Autoland took place on Sat., Dec. 20, resulting in a successful landing. We look forward to sharing additional details at the appropriate time.” Garmin also confirmed that it was the first use of the system that was not a test or a demonstration.
Social media posts from flight tracking hobbyists reported a King Air 200 squawked 7700 about 2 p.m. local time today. The Autoland system was initiated and landed the aircraft at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver. A recording from LiveATC’s feed of the airport’s tower frequency includes a robotic female voice declaring a pilot incapacitation and the intention to land on Runway 30. The aircraft landed successfully and there have been no reports of injuries. The nature of the incapacitation and the condition of the pilot have not been released. VASAviation put together this nice animation of the event below.
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Autoland Saves King Air, Everyone Safe, FAA, NTSB Launch Probes (Updated) - AvBrief.com
Aircraft landed safely at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver on Saturday afternoon.
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