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Pilot didn't report weather obstacle
By T.S. Shankar
CHENNAI, OCT. 2. The communication between the Chennai airport
Air Traffic Control radar unit and the pilot-in-command of the
Indian Airlines Airbus-300 jet, which made an emergency landing
here after a traumatic, 65-minute mid-air drama on September 25,
has revealed that at no point of time did Capt. E. Chandrasekhar,
convey to the ATC that the aircraft was in distress due to a
weather obstacle.
The pilot only said ``we have a terrible technical snag. We are
reducing height drastically. We are going up and down''.
However, he did pinpoint the nature of the technical snag during
the crucial hour 142 nautical miles south-east of Chennai over
the Bay of Bengal.
The ATC tape transcript, which provides vital clues to the
probing team of officials of the Directorate-General of Civil
Aviation, also pointed out the coordination between the radar
controller and the ATC tower officials and the pilot.
Following are details of the communication between the pilot and
the Chennai ATC radar controller:
3-30 a.m.: IAC-555 Report reaching flight level 29,000 ft.
IAC-555 Roger.
3-39 a.m. :IAC-555 requests 20 miles deviation to right due
weather. Control: Roger approved.
3-45 a.m. : IAC-555: Chennai once cleared of weather. Can I
proceed direct to ATIDA (an en route reporting point on the
Chennai-Singapore air route). Control: Roger approved.
3-53 a.m.: Control: IAC-555 Go ahead. IAC-555: We have terrible
technical snag. We are likely to come back. We attained 29,000
ft, descended to 22,000 ft. Now aircraft is slightly not under
control. Likely to come back.
3-54 a.m.: Control: IAC-555. You are identified on radar. Set
course to Madras Very high frequency omni-range (VOR).
Immediately. We are monitoring you. IAC-555: We are reducing
height drastically. We are going up and down.
3-54 a.m.: IAC-555 Suddenly we are losing height and speed.
3-56 a.m.: Radar-Roger maintain as much as possible.
Radar-IAC-555 radar contact lost.....Radar-IAC-555 Your position
142 miles South East of Chennai.(No reply heard from IAC-555).
3-57 a.m.: Control: We are monitoring you.
IAC-555 -We are going up and down Sir. We got you on radar. We
are heading you to Chennai.
Radar-IAC-555 If you can make heading 325 for runway to closest
runway. IAC-555 Roger heading 325. Radar-IAC-555 Chennai Radar.
You are 119 miles south-east of Chennai, Sir.
Radar-Your altitude as per radar 27,500 ft IAC-555 Request runway
in use. Radar-We are bringing you to the closest runway
practically calm. Radar-IAC-555: Descend at your discretion to
flight level 10,000 ft. Radar-IAC-555. Radar 74 miles to
touchdown.
Runway 25. Wind is calm. Radar- 555. 60 miles South East off
Chennai. IAC-555: We like to do one orbit to dump the fuel.
Radar- I suggest closer to Chennai or as you wish to do make an
orbit now. IAC-555 Around 40 miles, Sir. Radar-Are you
comfortable. No problem on board. IAC-555 - We are under control.
4-09 a.m.: Radar-You can dump the fuel on 40 DME and advise us.
We are monitoring you on both radar. IAC-555 Chennai IAC-555. Now
we can make an approach. IAC-555 request weather.
Radar- Chennai wind calm. Visibility 4,000 metres. Present
weather haze cloud. You can choose convenient runway if you are
alright IAC-555 Roger. Radar-25 is the closest runway, Sir.
Radar-IAC-555. 36 miles south-east of Madras and 37 miles run to
touchdown. Radar-30 miles to run to touch down Radar-IAC-555 at
your discretion descend to 3,000 ft. IAC-555 Approaching 3,000 ft
IAC-555.
4-29 a.m.: Radar-IAC-555 maintain altitude 3,000 ft.
You are 18 miles to touchdown. Radar-10 miles south-east of
Madras at your discretion. Descend to 1,600 ft IAC-555-Roger
1,600 ft Radar-Descend at your discretion, Sir. You are 6 miles
to touchdown. Radar. Runway is at 10'0 clock to you. IAC-555
Roger copied, Sir. We have field in sight. Radar-IAC-555-cleared
to land runway 25. Radar-IAC-555 services are on standby, Sir for
you. Radar-Landing surface. Wet due drizzle. Radar-IAC-555 Radar
cleared to land. 3 miles to touchdown. Radar-One and a half miles
to touch down. Cleared to land. Radar-One mile to touchdown, Sir.
Cleared to land. Surface wind calm.
4-35 a.m.: IAC-555-Thank You. Very good Vector.
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