Regional Jet "Flown Blind" for Four Hours....

[FN FAL]

Regional jet 'flown blind' for hours

February 13, 2006

A PLANE carrying 145 passengers flew for hours without navigation and communications systems over Indonesia before making a safe emergency landing.

The systems on the Boeing 737-300, of Indonesian regional airline Adam Air, broke down at 10.20am on Saturday, 20 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta's international airport, according to Kompass newspaper.

The pilot flew without knowing where he was going for about four hours, then made an emergency landing on the eastern island of Sumba after seeing a runway, which was only 1800m long.

 

[EagleRJ]

"Wait! I thought YOU were the IOE Captain!"

 

[CA1900]

A 737-300 is a "Regional Jet" now?

Heaven help us all!

 

[A Squared]

I'm not a 737 pilot, but I'd think that 5,900 ft would be no big deal for a 737, especially one which had been flying for 4 hours, so presumably was relatively light.

 

[FN FAL]

"Wait! I thought YOU were the IOE Captain!"

I'll never be an IOE CA. but I'll be one of the reasons he has an early stroke!

I know what you're saying, but I had to ad-lib.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Yaaa!

"The pilot flew without knowing where he was going for about four hours,"

The pilot knew EXACTLY "where he was going"!

He just didn't know where he was!

I do that all the time...

 

[FN FAL]

Yaaa!

"The pilot flew without knowing where he was going for about four hours,"

The pilot knew EXACTLY "where he was going"!

He just didn't know where he was!

I do that all the time...

Ditto?

 

[Photoflight]

turning around is for women....point this thing west and we'll see where we are in a four hours.

 

[Thedude]

A 737-300 is a "Regional Jet" now?

Heaven help us all!

The orginal 737 was marketed as a regional jet.

 

[dumblonde]

turning around is for women....point this thing west and we'll see where we are in a four hours.

Well there's your problem. Try pointing it south.

 

[JimG]

Makes you appreciate those old Pan Am Clipper captains of old.

No GPS, VORTACS, or autopilots.

Just a compass, attitude indicator, stars, and MAYBE a good working ADF.

(oh...and a hope/prayer that the guy on the other end was going to remember about what time you'd be getting there so he could turn on the radio for you to tune into)