SAA A346 Runs of Runway in Capetown

then why the comparitively thirsty quads engined A340s?

Yes you’re right..you’ve caught me with my head up my proverbial clacker..i was thinking of the aircraft in question as a twin..’God’ help us it’s going to be a long summer

Probably because the more fuel efficient twins carry just as many pax these days..and the bean counters always get the last say

then why the comparitively thirsty quads engined A340s?

Would you care to expand upon what you know about SAA’s “politics” ? Are you suggesting they shouldn’t have bought the A346 and perhaps ordered new 747’s ?

There certainly have been some complaints by A346 operators regarding performance, but I haven’t heard any complaints regarding mechanical integrity.

I’m all ears…

I’m suggesting that they were too hasty in phasing out the B747-400, it is not only the aircraft but everything that goes with it. These aircraft are not being replaced with new aircraft and SAA could have got a lot more mileage out of the fleet. SAA lately has a habit of pouring money into various fleets and then at a drop of a hat, changing direction.

The early A340’s got off to a bad start with SAA due to poor performance and the lack of PAX comfort. That said the A346 is performing better and I believe maintaining a mixed fleet would have been a healthier option until the A346 had established itself within SAA.

No doubt but that is not my point, you need to understand SAA politic’s and I’m only refering to the situation within SAA. I’m not going to enter into a pissing contest over which aircraft is better, but I feel that SAA has made a gross error in withdrawing the B747 from service. Role on 2010 😮

Would you care to expand upon what you know about SAA’s “politics” ? Are you suggesting they shouldn’t have bought the A346 and perhaps ordered new 747’s ?

There certainly have been some complaints by A346 operators regarding performance, but I haven’t heard any complaints regarding mechanical integrity.

I’m all ears…

Is there any more information? Was there a fault with the aircraft, or crew error?

Judging by the picture, the NWS was functioning and it would appear on first impressions to be crew error – not foregoing brake failure of course 🙂

These things are obviously best left to the investigation but it would appear from first reports to be a combination of crew error and numerous problems with the airport such as closed taxiways and poor markings on the taxiway etc.

I’m certain that the odd 747 has left a runway or two at zero feet in the past 36 years ?

No doubt but that is not my point, you need to understand SAA politic’s and I’m only refering to the situation within SAA. I’m not going to enter into a pissing contest over which aircraft is better, but I feel that SAA has made a gross error in withdrawing the B747 from service. Role on 2010 😮

36 years of reliable service comes to mind, phased out with a good few more years in them.

I’m certain that the odd 747 has left a runway or two at zero feet in the past 36 years ?

The word “overshoot” sounds dynamic and dangerous, when actually the aircraft left the taxi-way at low speed due to either a malfunction of misjudgement of the pilot. Fear Of Taxi once again.

36 years of reliable service comes to mind, phased out with a good few more years in them.

Probably because the more fuel efficient twins carry just as many pax these days..and the bean counters always get the last say

Some more pic,s;

Why are you so enamored with SAA’s 747’s

36 years of reliable service comes to mind, phased out with a good few more years in them.

That will teach them for withdrawing the B747 from service :diablo:

At least some good came of this, SAA had to hastly put a B747 back into service for the run to Perth

Why are you so enamored with SAA’s 747’s

At least some good came of this, SAA had to hastly put a B747 back into service for the run to Perth;)

Best report that I’ve seen so far;

What happened to the plane at CT airport?

November 03 2007 at 09:25AM

By Helen Bamford and Bronwynne Esbach

An Airbus flight SA 333 from Johannesburg overshot the main runway at Cape Town International Airport on landing on Friday, causing delays at airports around the country.

The airport was closed to all inbound and outgoing traffic for about two-and-a-half hours following the incident at 2.40pm.

Some passengers blamed the pilot who, they claimed, had misjudged a right turn.

Others speculated that the plane’s front wheel had burst or malfunctioned, causing it to veer off the runway.

Springbok rugby player Bobby Skinstad and property tycoon Pam Golding were both aboard the flight.

No injuries were reported but the Airbus blocked the airport’s only two runways, causing a knock-on effect of delays around the country and further afield.

Among those affected were 1 380 Irish builders flying to Cape Town with the Niall Mellon Township Trust for a week-long house-building blitz in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain. They were due to arrive on Friday night.

Tony Greenwood, the general manager of Nashua, said the Airbus had landed and been taxiing down the runway when the pilot had tried to make a right turn.

“She misjudged it and drove straight off the end of the runway. The front wheel sank at least a metre into the sand. The engines were about a foot off the sand.”

He joked that it was the first time he’d been flown by a woman pilot. “And she lands up running the plane off the tarmac.”

Greenwood said passengers had watched the entire scenario unfold from a camera on the front of the plane.

“There was one very frightened young lady but the rest of us were having a giggle.”

Golding said the pilot had been extremely professional.

“She told everyone to keep calm and not move and that we would all be evacuated.”

She said passengers only realised something was wrong when they felt a “slight bump”.

“It was only frightening when I saw the fire engines coming towards us but I’m absolutely fine and it is good to be home.”

The passengers were able to disembark normally via stairs.

Speaking from OR Tambo Saturday Star news editor Ray Joseph, who was waiting for a flight to Cape Town, described the situation as “total chaos”.

“They’re running out of food. They’re running out of water. People are just lying around everywhere.

“No one is saying anything. They just keep announcing that flights are being delayed because of technical problems,” Joseph said.

A chaotic scene was also unfolding at the terminals in Cape Town International airport, where hundreds of passengers were making cellphone calls, or sitting hopelessly on their luggage.

Others struck up conversations with fellow passengers in an attempt to lessen the boredom.

Airport officials tried to keep people updated on developments over the public address system and through loudhailers.

Springbok rugby players Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers, who were supposed to be on their way to Durban, passed the time restaurant-hopping.

Mxolisi Sokatsha of Kimberley said the delay was costing him time and money. “I have to go to Kimberley, because I must leave for a business meeting in Upington tomorrow. I’m quite nervous when I think of how long we could be spending here.”

SAA spokesperson Robyn Chalmers said the 300 passengers on board suffered no injuries and disembarked safely.

She said the flight SA333, operated by an Airbus A340-600, from Johannesburg had landed safely at Cape Town airport at approximately 2.41pm.

“However, an attempt to turn the aircraft sharply to the right as directed by air traffic control authorities led to its front wheel slipping off the side of the cross runway. The aircraft’s nose, or front wheel, was buried in the soft sand off the runway and technicians worked swiftly to dig it out and pulled the aircraft backwards.”

Chalmers said aircraft had been taxiing at a very low speed on the runway after landing when the incident occurred.

The aircraft had been taken to the airline’s technical hangars for damage assessment.

Apparently it was a problem with the front nose gear. The flight was from Joburg.

That will teach them for withdrawing the B747 from service :diablo: