Irish air traffic controller uses 'text' to land plane
Thursday, 7 August 2008
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A quick-thinking air traffic controller's texting saved an aircraft with five people on board which had lost all communications and electrical power.
The Piper Seneca light aircraft had taken off from Kerry airport on a flight to Jersey last November when it had a complete electrical failure.
The pilot flew south to clear the coast and clouds and to see the ground. He tried to contact Kerry airport and air traffic control in Cork on his mobile phone. He briefly made contact with Cork, telling them about the problem.
He then received a text message on his mobile from the controller at Cork advising him that he was on radar and that Cork would allow the plane to land.
He followed the controller's instructions given by text. The undercarriage gear had to be lowered manually. The aircraft did a fly-by of the control tower so that controllers could check visually that the wheels were down.
The aircraft landed safely and an air accident investigation report published yesterday said the loss of all aircraft electrics during such a flight was considered very serious.
The report, by investigator John Hughes, praised the "positive and proactive " initiative of the air traffic controller who texted his instructions to the pilot.
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Dear Sir,
Please sir i would like you to forwrad more notes about communication system, becuase shortlisted me for Civil Aviation Course after i pass the test they are going take me for CAA on spot. Moreover you tell me more detials about how they set the test and also forward for notes.
Thanks,
Marial Akech Puouyum.
Posted by Marial Akech Puouyum, Rumbek/Juba, South Sudan/Lakes State | 27.08.08, 14:11 GMT
What a clever fellow he is!! smart air traffic controller!
Posted by tabin | 08.08.08, 08:39 GMT
He did not call him because the guy was in small plane with two loud propeller engines a few feet away from the pilot. Cell phones have absolutely no effect on radar/instruments/electronics. It is an old theory that has been proved false. Cell phones are essentially banned on aircraft now because of comfort issues for other passengers instead of for safety. It is also better to turn off your cellphone because when your up in the air you use up your battery quickly because your phone is constantly picking up different towers. Sounds like in this case there was patchy cellphone service that did not allow for a call to work but did allow a text message to get through since they are kept on the cell server until it can be delivered.
Posted by Thomas | 07.08.08, 23:47 GMT
The ATC didn't call the pilot because radar interrupts the direct link, whereas a text is a quick burst of radio waves with all the information at once to get through radar.
Posted by yourevilgod | 07.08.08, 21:45 GMT
A voice call was probably difficult to hold because the relative distance to phone towers makes interference greater when you are above them in a plane. The "briefly made contact" was probably the pilot making a voice call before the signal dropped out.
SMS only requires a very short clear window to be sent, and it sounds like it worked more reliably than voice.
Posted by David | 07.08.08, 21:38 GMT
I've had many times where I had good enough service to send and receive text but not enough to make a phone call.
Posted by deez | 07.08.08, 21:14 GMT
Air traffic controllers are always the unsung heroes of every pilot on almost every flight and most especially when things go wrong. We put our life in their hands every time we fly. It's good to see one getting the credit he deserves.
Kudos to you my friend, you are a hero in my eyes.
Posted by j barnfield | 07.08.08, 21:04 GMT
If the controller had the cell phone number, it may have been easier to just call the pilot. How did he get the cell number? Is this a fake story?
Posted by dean | 07.08.08, 20:54 GMT
Give That Person a nice Paid Vacation. they earned it!
Posted by Alan Knockwood | 07.08.08, 20:09 GMT
Cellphones will cause the plane to crash!!!!
well according to the faa anyway :p
Posted by tenio | 07.08.08, 19:29 GMT
why didnt he just call him?
direct communication > texting.
Posted by Kevin | 07.08.08, 18:47 GMT
I could've done that
Posted by wheelnut53 | 07.08.08, 18:38 GMT
Makes you wonder if a SMS number for each ATC facility should be posted in the flight guides. Light signals are a time tested procedure, but won't help during the enroute conditions or in IMC.
I'm not sure if texting would be my first priority in the cockpit during an emergency though. Land first, apologize later.
Posted by Keith | 07.08.08, 16:48 GMT
Do a fly over so that I can check that ur weels r dwn. Oh dear, ur weels have fallen off. Only jokin, lol. ;-)
Posted by Liam | 07.08.08, 15:46 GMT
hav u n rdr & u r cleard 2land. lwr ur weels by hand x
Posted by Elliott | 07.08.08, 14:55 GMT
That's the way to wing it!!!
Posted by nugget | 07.08.08, 14:12 GMT
Emergency situations like this are quite common, and the normal approach that an aircraft and control tower will take involves a system of light signals. The mobile phone approach seems more efficient
Posted by Erin Kiley | 07.08.08, 13:54 GMT