Two SpiceJet pilots grounded
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded two SpiceJet pilots after a plane carrying 183 passengers overshot a wet runway while landing at the Mumbai airport earlier this week. “Thepilots havebeengroundedpending aninquiry. Oneoftheissuesis thatiftheaircraftisnot stabilised, thenyoushoulddo ago-around. TheDGCAhas alsoissuedacircularinforming pilotsthattherewillbeno inquiryagainstthemiftheydo ago-around. Allthoseissues willhavetobeestablished,” a DGCAofficialsaid. ground was levelled using gravel, stones and sand,” he said.
This was simultaneously being carried out along with developing the recovery plan. An aircraft recovery plan (ARP) is developed based on local conditions, along with discussions with the airport operator and the airline. An airport operator will want the aircraft to be removed as soon as possible to normalise operations but the airline’s concern will be to minimise damage to the aircraft. Airports like Mumbai, which operate with a single runway, are faced with the difficult challenge of obtaining equipment via ground transportation, which significantly delays the receipt of the critically needed gear and causes longer runway closure times.
“We had to ensure that the aircraft was retrieved fast, quickly but with as little damage as possible. We gained rapid access to the site along with the recovery kit,” Jagannath said.
The equipment weighs about seven tonnes and consists of inflated airbags.
The airbags help in raising the aircraft from the ground, making it possible to check the landing gear to find out the extent of damage.
Jagannath explained that it normally took about 30 minutes to inflate each bag and all bags needed to be inflated simultaneously to be put into the designated areas of the aircraft. “This is the most crucial part as there are four or five points where the airbags can be put, it has to be done with proper care and takes time,” he said.
More than 24 hours after it skidded off the runway, the aircraft was pulled out and towed away to the hangar. “These are unforeseen situations, I amglad that we could do the job in as little time,” he said.