https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/01/09/boeing-indonesia-passenger-jet-domestic-flight/6607641002/ Robb
Reports suggesting that 737 dropped 11xxx feet in a minute or so. That’s a pretty significant angle of attack. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
11,000 fpm is like a fighter dive bomb or terrain following let down. Pretty steep, if there was any forward velocity.
Reports coming out that the aircraft had some recent history of autothrust issues.. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/boeing-jets-throttle-becomes-focus-in-indonesia-crash-probe
Preliminary report should be out on 10 Feb https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/preliminary-report-into-sriwijaya-air-crash-expected-on-feb-10-14136666
Here it is .. http://knkt.dephub.go.id/knkt/ntsc_aviation/baru/pre/2021/PK-CLC%20Preliminary%20Report.pdf
Basically RH throttle stuck at high thrust while left one reducing ,rolls past 45 deg to left, crew failed to recover from unusual attitude ,AT not disconnected until 5 secs after aircraft had started descending. Co pilot air speed indicator was u/s, AT had several problems previous few days,but had been cleared.
Very experienced crew, sad. What switch do you use to disconnect the autopilot and auto throttle on a 737? We had a paddle switch on the stick but I have no airliner experience except as pax. Third world maintenance does not seem too trustworthy.
I've read a lot of books about airline safety, but this is honestly the first one that scared me. It doesn't deal entirely with maintenance issues, but that is a big part of the book's content: Image Unavailable, Please Login
A/P disconnect button on yoke or push button on MCP (moving trim switch will also do it) A/T disengage push buttons on outside of thrust levers or paddle switch on MCP Rule one if things going tits up disconnect and fly the frikkin airplane. Full report not out yet but looking very similar to Tarom 371 crash with A/T problems , combined with Capt incapacitation .
Thanks, something off in training if something that basic is not practiced regularly, at least in the sim. I was surprised to hear the autopilot was engaged shortly after take-off. Is that normal in the airline business?
Generally yes. The minimum altitude depends on aircraft type and an often higher company SOP. On a complicated SID with busy traffic/weather etc most will engage it at minimum SOP of lets say 1000' , on the other hand at quieter times the PF may decide to hand fly it for longer up to say 10000',briefing the PNF beforehand because his workload will increase . Some Airlines encourage manual flying but most require maximum use of automation whenever possible. Airlines do more upset training nowadays in the sim ,however it is mostly briefed beforehand and expected so the reaction might not be the same in the real world . The CVR should give some indication of what was going on ,if they find it.
Thanks, totally different to the military flying I did, but our autopilots in older fighters were not as sophisticated and no auto-throttle. We only used the autopilot when straight and level at altitude or when using terrain following radar low level.
You had a lot more fun for sure,went to airshows at Lakenheath back in the day..then ended up doing my PPL at Van Nuys..long story .
Missed Libya, but was there for Desert Storm. We did not lose an F-111F in Desert Storm, but did lose one in Desert Shield. Most of the time, the only USAF PGM aircraft there were us and the F-117As. Later a few F-15Es. Lots of practice dropping LGBs.