NEWS: Dreamlifter wrong airport => Departure live feed !

[cHabu]

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Updated: Thu 4:14 AM, Nov 21, 2013

A Boeing jet is sitting on the runway at Wichita's Jabara Airport - and may be stuck there for awhile.

Elizabeth Cory with the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington tells KAKE News a Boeing 747 LCF Dreamlifter landed at Jabara around 10:20 Wednesday night. Statements from the city of Wichtia confirm the cargo plane was heading for McConnell Air Force Base.

It's not clear if the jet landed at Jabara by mistake, or for some other reason. Cory says the F.A.A. will investigate that deviation from schedule. But radio transmissions posted online suggest the crew thought it landed at Beechcraft.

Boeing sent a tug to Jabara Airport to turn around the jet. It had a law enforcement escort, because it had a top speed of about 13 miles per hour. But a Sheriff's Department officer told KAKE News the tug reached the airport in about 30 minutes.

Several people tell KAKE News the Dreamlifter is too large for the Jabara runway. It also may be too big for takeoff from Jabara's 6,100-foot runway.

The Wichita Airport Authority tells KAKE News it is assembling a "packet of information" for the media, concerning what happened.

The jet reportedly is owned by Atlas Air of Purchase, New York, and had a two-person crew.

Wichita emergency crews say they were not sent to the airport, so no one was injured in the landing. No property damage is reported at Jabara.

This is a developing story; watch for updates as we get them.

Credit: Kaka.com

[cHabu]

A Boeing spokesman confirmed in an emailed statement that the 747 "bound for McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita safely landed [Wednesday] evening at nearby Col. James Jabara Airport instead."

The spokesman added that "we are working to determine next steps" and would share additional information Thursday morning.

According to air traffic control recordings of the flight, the aircraft was cleared to land in light winds and the crew confirmed its clearance back to controllers at McConnell AFB.

After landing the crew sought instructions from the tower on taxiing, at which point the controllers notified the crew that the jumbo had not landed at the Air Force base,
which is home to Spirit AeroSystems Inc., maker of the forward body section of the mostly carbon fiber composite Dreamliner.

"Yes sir, we just landed at the other airport," the crew of the 747 radioed back.

The recordings indicate that the crew was still disoriented about its location, believing it had landed at Beech Factory Airport, which is home to Beechcraft Inc.'s facilities.
In fact, the jumbo jet had landed at Jabara Airport just to the north.

Credit: The Wall Street Journal.

[frank kramer]

Looking at Google Maps, it would seem that this was something waiting to happen: there are three airports/runways almost lined up one after another: from north to south Jabara, Beech Airport and then McConnell. Seems they landed on the first runway they encountered, instead of the third... Will be an interesting take-off to watch, although 6,100 foot should be within limits if the Lifter is light enough. Might be more a question of the amount of weight the runway can bear (LCN).

[Bennie]

Looking at Google Maps, it would seem that this was something waiting to happen: there are three airports/runways almost lined up one after another: from north to south Jabara, Beech Airport and then McConnell. Seems they landed on the first runway they encountered, instead of the third... Will be an interesting take-off to watch, although 6,100 foot should be within limits if the Lifter is light enough. Might be more a question of the amount of weight the runway can bear (LCN).

The amount of weight a runway can sustain is expressed as PCN (Pavement Classification Number). LCN is the weight an aircraft is putting on that pavement.

[Hurricane]

What wonders me is how come nobody noticed the a/c was way to low for the destined airport?
That should be visible on radar as the approach was way lower then normal (I would expect).

[frank kramer]

"McConnell to Dreamlifter: "Dream on, dream on" "

[Wildpicture]

What wonders me is how come nobody noticed the a/c was way to low for the destined airport?
That should be visible on radar as the approach was way lower then normal (I would expect).

I can imagine you might get mistaken visually. But surely these pilots must have looked at their GPS navigation.......
They should have known in advance that there were more airfields closeby, so that they should be very careful. How about flight planning and situational awareness?
Wonder if they are already looking for new employment.

[cHabu]

What wonders me is how come nobody noticed the a/c was way to low for the destined airport?
That should be visible on radar as the approach was way lower then normal (I would expect).

My thoughts exactly.

[cHabu]

UPDATE:

Watch Live: Boeing Dreamlifter to take off from Jabara at 1:00

link

[Rene Klok]

That seemed like a rather effortless take off.

[James]

on luchtvaartnieuw is an article which contents also the communication between the pilot and the tower at McConnell
Very interesting to hear that it took a while to figure out where the a/c landed.

I always hv a problem copying links so if U want to hear it luchtvaartnieuwds.nl