Aussie Westwind ditches at sea, all survive
11-18-2009, 05:55 PM
#1
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Aussie Westwind ditches at sea, all survive
CareFlight/Pel-Air Medical Evacuation Incident - Samoa to Melbourne Thursday, 19 November 2009
A CareFlight medical evacuation flight operated by Pel-Air Aviation from Apia (Western Samoa) to Melbourne was scheduled to land at Norfolk Island for a planned fuel stop on Wednesday evening when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions.
After several unsuccessful approaches and with diminishing fuel, the pilot-in-command, Captain Dominic James, made the decision to carry out a controlled landing onto the water off the coast of Norfolk Island.
The aircraft, a specially-equipped medical retrieval Westwind jet carried out a successful landing on the water and the patient, accompanying spouse and two medical crew as well as the pilots evacuated safely. They were rescued by boat and brought to the local Norfolk Island hospital for observation. The Captain reported that all passengers and crew did not have any apparent injuries.
John Sharp, Chairman of Pel-Air Aviation said that he was very proud of the Captain and the First Officer. “They performed an intricate landing on water in darkness resulting in the evacuation of everyone safely and quickly. The training of both the Pel-Air and CareFlight crew came to the fore as everyone kept together and remained calm. Their professionalism stood out on the day and made a substantial difference to the outcome.”
“I also want to thank the rescue team and the local authorities for their prompt action and dedication which resulted in a speedy rescue and evacuation to the hospital.”
CareFlight Chief Executive Officer, Derek Colenbrander, said the successful outcome was testimony to the skill and training of the pilots, the prompt action of local authorities and the efforts of the medical team in continuing to care for their patient.
Arrangements are being made for the patient to be repatriated to Australia.
A CareFlight medical evacuation flight operated by Pel-Air Aviation from Apia (Western Samoa) to Melbourne was scheduled to land at Norfolk Island for a planned fuel stop on Wednesday evening when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions.
After several unsuccessful approaches and with diminishing fuel, the pilot-in-command, Captain Dominic James, made the decision to carry out a controlled landing onto the water off the coast of Norfolk Island.
The aircraft, a specially-equipped medical retrieval Westwind jet carried out a successful landing on the water and the patient, accompanying spouse and two medical crew as well as the pilots evacuated safely. They were rescued by boat and brought to the local Norfolk Island hospital for observation. The Captain reported that all passengers and crew did not have any apparent injuries.
John Sharp, Chairman of Pel-Air Aviation said that he was very proud of the Captain and the First Officer. “They performed an intricate landing on water in darkness resulting in the evacuation of everyone safely and quickly. The training of both the Pel-Air and CareFlight crew came to the fore as everyone kept together and remained calm. Their professionalism stood out on the day and made a substantial difference to the outcome.”
“I also want to thank the rescue team and the local authorities for their prompt action and dedication which resulted in a speedy rescue and evacuation to the hospital.”
CareFlight Chief Executive Officer, Derek Colenbrander, said the successful outcome was testimony to the skill and training of the pilots, the prompt action of local authorities and the efforts of the medical team in continuing to care for their patient.
Arrangements are being made for the patient to be repatriated to Australia.
11-19-2009, 04:28 AM
#3
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Click Here timesonlines news.
Aircraft was a 1989 model Westwind 1124A, reported as attempting 4 approaches, ditching occurred at 21:30, 2 nautical miles off shore, the aircraft landed into 7 foot swells and sank in less than 3 minutes.
Crew and passengers had 3 life jackets, and tread water until rescued at 23:00 by rescue boat.
Crew and passengers were being treated for possible hypothermia, but had no visible injuries.
Aircraft was a 1989 model Westwind 1124A, reported as attempting 4 approaches, ditching occurred at 21:30, 2 nautical miles off shore, the aircraft landed into 7 foot swells and sank in less than 3 minutes.
Crew and passengers had 3 life jackets, and tread water until rescued at 23:00 by rescue boat.
Crew and passengers were being treated for possible hypothermia, but had no visible injuries.
11-21-2009, 05:46 AM
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11-21-2009, 06:16 AM
#6
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Please don't second guess a pilot's decision until you know all the circumstances; what the weather was, what type an approach they were doing, what instrument equipment was and was not working?
Come on guys
Come on guys
11-21-2009, 06:32 AM
#7
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I can think of dozens of approaches that I would rather land in the ocean than go below minimums. Ever heard of mountainous terrain, man made obstructions, circling MDA's. Unless It was an ILS I would have done the same thing except I hate sharks so I would have cried like a little girl while I waited for rescue.
11-24-2009, 08:15 PM
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Being that the Norfolk Islands airport doesn't have a precision approach, I would say that it was a good decision. What would YOU have done? ....I mean, besides talking out of your butt?
11-25-2009, 12:29 AM
#10
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What would I have done? Divert. I'm glad you think a low vis landing in an ocean at night next to a sparsely populated island is a "good decision." I don't.
