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March 5, 2001
Emergency Landing Sites
More airlines are jumping on the polar route bandwagon, offering direct flights that shave hundreds of miles (and operating costs) off current routes. For example, according to the polar route joint study by NavCanada and Russia's Federal Aviation Authority , the traditional route from Detroit to Beijing involves a flight of some 6,600 NM. The distance over the polar region of 5,700 NM shaves some 900 miles off the trip. However, in-flight emergencies may require a diversion to remote airfields in Siberia where, in the winter, temperatures can plummet to -70 degrees F. One pilot, who has flown many ETOPS (extended range twin engine operations) flights, and who believes engine reliability is nothing short of amazing, nevertheless offered a few cautionary thoughts. "I'd rather press on with one engine for more than 3 hours (a reference to the current 180-min. ETOPS limit for all twinjets except the B777) than land at some God-forsaken airport in Siberia having no taxiways that permit exiting the runway, no shelter for the people on board, and certainly no way to hangar the airplane to keep the fuel from gelling." If the fuel gels while the aircraft is on the ground during a wintertime landing, the auxiliary power unit will flame out and, without heat, the cabin will soon get colder than a meat locker. (By the way, we are advised that the portable air stairs at Siberian airfields are rather like those rickety stands seen at office supply superstores. Moreover, anxious passengers will have to "step" down about 4 feet to plant their feet on the top platform of these stairs. Carriers flying polar routes could, of course, preposition proper stairs.) Also, this pilot reminds, "There's the '30/30/30' rule: in a 30-kt wind at -30 degrees F, exposed flesh freezes in 30 seconds. If an airplane ever does land at such an airport, getting some 80-year old 'grandma' off the airplane and into a waiting van may be more than grandma can take. She may freeze into a human totem- pole just going down the stairs to the ramp." "With no way to get people off the airplane and into suitable quarters, everyone will soon freeze to death. Is that part of the ETOPS risk equation?" he asks. This pilot, who confessed to indulging in a bit of tongue in cheek, nevertheless said that when it comes to flying polar routes "I am NOT landing in Siberia unless I'm on fire!"
From: Air Safety Week at 05. March 2001 at 23:25:09 |
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