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Split-second from disaster
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The chilling official report about the airliner that lost sight of the runway shows that Gibraltar could have been a split-second away from a major disaster.
The procedures for a missed aproach is to turn the aircraft onto a north-easterly heading to ensure that the aircraft remains well clear of the Rock itself. This was not followed, and the air traffic control tower "became concerned that the aircraft was heading towards high ground." The aircraft was turning towards the 'Rock' itself...
This serious incident raises many questions about flying to an airport which is like an over-sized aircraft carrier. It requires special briefing and crew qualification. The local topography can result in wind variations resulting in strong turbulence and rapidly changing visibility and cloud conditions. These aspects must be considered in relation "to the location and characteristics of the runway and the lack of approach aid," says the UK department of transport report.
It also highlights "the low intensity of runway lighting, lack of effective approach lighting and proximity of other cultural lighting" which means that "visual acquisition of the runway is difficult to achieve and maintain."
In the first place, it has taken the prospect of a near tragedy for there to be made a recommendation to review the airport lighting at Gibraltar, providing for runway approach lighting and improved runway lighting.
And secondly, the public will be concerned about the Gibraltar policy of continuing to make matters worse, by this penchant of erecting high-rise buildings in the proximity of the runway.
The MOD has been expressing concern about certain developments affecting the airfield.
Some will argue that what is done is done, and others will say that a stop must be put to such a short-sighted and dangerous policy.
In this particular instance, the aircraft was heading for the Waterport area instead of the runway. Alerted by traffic control, it steered clear and ended up overflying the harbour and exiting at Europa Point.
Given that everyone knows that this is a difficult airfield, is the Gibraltar Government not making it more difficult by building a housing estate at Waterport Terraces, which runs parallel to the vitally sensitive runway approach from the bay?
And right opposite the Waterport Terraces, where the old MOT operated from, a massive reflective office block is to be built. This will be the new beacon pilots will have to contend with on their tight and difficult western approach to the runway.
Says the official report: "With the limited airport lighting, this currently means that one crew member must continually maintain visual contact with the runway strobe lights, thereby reducing his capacity to monitor the flight parameters." LIGHTING
And it adds: "Given the high intensity of the cultural lighting in the vicinity of the airport, more effective approach and runway lighting would provide more capacity for the crew to monitor these parameters."
Accidents happen when they happen. Because of the Gibraltar airfield problems, only nominated pilots are allowed. The crew in this particular case had experience of flying to Gibraltar. Yet, "the crew did not follow the correct missed approach procedures but ATC (air traffic control) provided effective heading control to avoid the high ground," the report notes.
At just 2 miles range, the controller noted that the aircraft appeared to be right of the required track... and the controller asked the crew to, confirm that they were still visual with the runway.
The report adds: The crew responded that they were not visual and were going around. The controller monitored the aircraft track and noted that the aircraft was apparently in a right turn. He considered that it was turning towards the 'Rock'...
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