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ICAO4U – aviation language Multi-System Failure Air India. Cockpit Instrument Failure.

Multi-System Failure Air India. Cockpit Instrument Failure.

  • face incredible challenge
  • visual range
    cite unstable approach indications

The two pilots aboard an Air India Boeing 777-300 flight from Delhi faced incredible challenge carrying 370 passengers approaching New York’s JFK International Airport. As the big Boeing was descending through 300 feet with an airport runway visual range reported at 3,500 feet, the crew executed a missed approach citing unstable approach indications.

  • unusable
  • remaining
  • capability

Watch/ listen HERE

As the aircraft climbed back up through 2,000 feet, the pilots told approach control they’d lost some equipment, a number of instruments, in fact, including the localizer, one of two radio altimeters and two of three remaining barometric altimeters. The Airplane’s auxiliary power unit was also unusable, as well as the Boeing’s autoland capability.

  • they realized the failures deprived them of … 
  • allow for … 
  • report
  • … was beginning to get tight on fuel 

The pilot handling the radios told approach they wanted another try at 4 Right, but wanted a long turn on to the final approach course, but then realized the failures deprived them of the ability to fly the ILS. The crew asked approach about local airports with weather that included at least a 600-foot ceiling that would allow for a non-precision approach. The flight’s original alternate and secondary airports, Newark and Stewart both reported ceilings lower than 600 feet. The crew learned Albany’s ceiling was right at 600 feet so they then asked for Boston’s weather. By now, the 777 was beginning to get tight on fuel.

  • consider options
  • set up for the runway …

Approach told the Air India crew the best weather they could locate was at Bradley Connecticut, 100 miles northeast. As the pilots considered their options, the ceiling at nearby Newark had increased to 400 feet so the crew decided to head to New Jersey. The pilots climbed the aircraft to 5,000 feet as approach control set them up for the runway 4 Right ILS at Newark. The crew reminded approach they’d lost ILS capabilities and needed the LNAV/VNAV to the 10,000-foot long Runway 4 Right.
WATCH HERE THE REPORT on Air India multi-system failure.

  • available information indicates
  • advise no other assistance is necessary

Available information indicates the crew eventually flew the EWR GPS Y approach to Runway 4 Right. While inbound on final approach however, Newark Tower issued the pilots a low-altitude alert and re-issued the current altimeter. Ninety seconds later, and some 38 minutes after the missed approach at JFK, the Boeing 777 landed safely at Newark. The crew advised no further assistance was necessary.

Inspired by’Professional Pilots Train Regularly, just in Case’, HERE.

DANGEROUS SITUATION