Flight international

AIR TRANSPORT

14 | Flight International | 15-21 August 2017 flightglobal.com

A

n Air Canada A320 crew de-

scended to 59ft above a

crowded taxiway at San Francis-

co International airport on 7 July

before aborting the approach, the

US National Transportation Safe-

ty Board (NTSB) has disclosed.

Flight ACA759 was approved

to begin a final approach to San

Francisco’s runway 28R at 23:46,

the NTSB says. But the crew in-

advertently lined up on the par-

allel taxiway C after confusing

28R with 28L, which has been

closed for construction since

February.

As the A320 (C-FKCK) ap-

proached, the crew saw what ap-

peared to them as lights on the

runway and asked the tower if

they were still cleared to land,

says the NTSB report.

However, as the A320 was

lined up to the right of 28R, the

aircraft did not appear on the

controller’s displays.

“When [the aircraft] was about

0.3 mile from the landing thresh-

old, the local controller confirmed

and recleared ACA759 to land on

runway 28R,” the report adds.

At that point, the first aircraft

on taxiway C transmitted that

flight 759 was lined up on the

taxiway instead of runway 28R,

and the second aircraft turned on

its landing lights.

After crossing the taxiway

threshold at 85ft, the crew of the

Air Canada jet commanded

thrust for a go-around. The air-

craft descended a further 26ft be-

fore climbing, the NTSB says.

“In post-incident interviews,

both incident pilots stated that,

during their first approach, they be-

lieved the lighted runway on their

left was 28L and that they were

lined up for 28R,” the report says.

The A320 captain had more

than 20,000h of experience, in-

cluding 4,000h in the A320, while

the first officer had 10,000h, with

2,000h on the type.

The incident remains under

investigation. ■

For a full analysis of airline safety and

losses in the first half of 2017, go to:

flightglobal.com/safety

NTSB image shows flight ACA759 (circled) during aborted descent

US National Transportation Safety Board

About 200 pilots were trained as part of the move to Embraer type

Austrian Airlines

R

omanian flag-carrier Tarom is

seeking three leased widebod-

ies for a planned return to long-

haul operations.

It has not specified a particular

type – beyond stating that it re-

quires fuel-efficient widebody

aircraft – but says it would prefer

current-generation twin-engined

models, ideally “sister ships”.

The aircraft would need to be

similarly configured, with 225-

270 seats in either two or three

classes, according to its formal

tender document.

Cabin interiors should include

crew rests, in-flight entertain-

ment, wi-fi and leather seats.

Tarom is aiming to source air-

craft which are less than five

years old, with a minimum range

capability of 5,200nm (9,630km).

It has not indicated specific

routes on which it intends to use

the aircraft. The airline used to

operate long-haul services with

Airbus A310s but retreated to a

short-haul and regional network

several years ago.

Its fleet comprises a mix of

A318s and Boeing 737s, as well

as ATR turboprops. ■

See World Airliner Census P

L

ufthansa Group carrier Austri-

an Airlines has completed the

introduction of 17 second-hand

Embraer 195s to its operation,

with the final aircraft entering

service in early August.

Austrian received its first E

in 2015 and began operating it

commercially in January 2016.

The aircraft are replacing its Fok-

ker 70/100 regional jets.

Although four Fokker 100s are

still operated by Austrian, these

will be phased out by December,

the airline says.

In 2015, Austrian had a total of

21 Fokker 70/100 jets, fitted with

70 and 100 seats, respectively.

Austrian’s 120-seat E195s were

previously part of Lufthansa City-

Line’s fleet and were built be-

tween 2009 and 2012.

For the fleet replacement pro-

gramme, Austrian trained about

200 pilots, 600 flight attendants

and 80 technicians.

KLM has likewise opted to end

its Fokker 70 operations later this

year and replace the aircraft

with E-Jets. ■

FLEET MICHAEL GUBISCH LONDON

Austrian completes E-Jet switch as Fokkers fade

STRATEGY

DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW

LONDON

Tarom targeting

‘sister ships’ for

long-haul revival

INCIDENT STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC

Air Canada jet was just 59ft

above San Francisco taxiway

US investigators detail final approach of A320, which had twice been cleared for landing