Most of Phuket Air’s fleet grounded amid safety concerns
Leithen Francis, Singapore (13Apr05, 08:00 GMT, 473 words)
Phuket Air’s flight schedule is in disarray today as 11 of its 16 aircraft are grounded following a call from Thailand’s Transport Ministry for the carrier’s fleet to be inspected following operational incidents that raised safety concerns.
Executive VP Capt Chawanit Chiamcharoenvut tells ATI Phuket Air has only one of its two Boeing 737-200s, one of its eight Boeing 747-200/300s, its single Boeing 757-200 and two of its five NAMC YS-11s operating today.
Of the seven grounded 747-200/300s, at least four are in Indonesia undergoing heavy maintenance checks at GMF AeroAsia, says Chawanit.
Phuket Air has had to cancel some flights and is offering refunds in accordance with international regulations, says Chawanit, who adds that today the carrier has services to some domestic destinations as well as to London Gatwick.
He says Thailand’s Ministry of Transport this week has been inspecting Phuket Air’s aircraft – two per day on average – and insists the inspections apply to other airlines too, “not just Phuket Air”.
Chawanit also says the carrier’s “safety is up to standard”. The Bangkok Post newspaper today quotes Thailand’s deputy transport minister, Phumtham Vejjayachi, as saying the carrier could lose its licence if it fails to improve its operations.
This week’s aircraft inspections were sparked by incidents earlier this month in which Phuket Air 747-200/300s experienced mechanical troubles that came to the attention of passengers as well as civil aviation authorities in Thailand and overseas.
The latest incident reportedly occurred on 9 April, when a 747-200 that was due to depart from Bangkok for Amsterdam was found to have had a hydraulic problem. It was the same aircraft that experienced an engine problem on 6 April soon after leaving London Gatwick. On that occasion the crew decided to return to London Gatwick rather than continue operating the aircraft on only three of the four engines.
On 3 April there was an incident involving another Phuket Air 747, which was delayed at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates en route to London Gatwick. The 747 in question completed a scheduled refuelling stop in Sharjah and was about to take off with 366 passengers on board when fuel spilled from the vent of a surge tank.
“At that time, a few passengers…panicked, misunderstood [the situation] and [incorrectly] screamed fire,” says Chawanit.
“A flight attendant then reported to the pilot the situation” on board the aircraft so “the pilot then decided to return to the parking bay” and have the aircraft undergo a “thorough examination” in Sharjah while the passengers waited in hotels. The next morning passengers boarded the aircraft for London Gatwick, he says.
Some news reports in Thailand say the UK CAA inspected the aircraft upon arrival and discovered inoperative evacuation safety lights. These reports say the CAA let the aircraft return to Bangkok but authorities insisted that no passengers be carried.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
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