Business Maverick reports industry experts as saying that an SAA flight from South Africa to Brussels on 24 February 2021 ‘didn’t go well’, as the plane’s crew allegedly miscalculated the take-off weight (TOW) of the Airbus 340-600 that collected the second consignment of J&J Covid-19 vaccines. The crew miscalculated by almost 90 tons.
The result is that the take-off speed was calculated as far too low (low TOW, low takeoff speeds). Fortunately, the Airbus is designed to correct takeoff speeds, but not the speeds for flap retraction. When the crew retracted the flaps the plane went into an “alpha floor” event.
An “alpha floor” event occurs if the airspeed is too low and the aircraft is in danger of stalling. Disaster was averted because the aircraft’s safety systems took over, adding power and lowering the nose slightly, preventing it from stalling.
Such an incident must be reported to Rolls Royce (engine manufacturer) and to Airbus (airframe manufacturer).
The incident must also be reported by the pilot and co-pilot to SAA, which must then inform the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa). Sacaa has to conduct an investigation.
Aviation incidents must be reported by between 24 and 72 hours after the event, depending on the type of incident. Sacaa was only informed on 17 March, three weeks later.
Grant Back, the head of the SAA Pilots’ Association said “We have written to SAA management and the business rescue practitioners, raising our concerns as to the state of SAA’s Safety Management System and asking that Sacaa-approved processes be followed in order to establish what occurred.
“We have not received a response and hope that the correct policy and procedures will be followed in the investigation of this safety event.”
[Photo: Airway]