Flight return as precautionary landing

By Dele Ore 

When an aircraft enroute for Abuja after having just taken–off from Lagos made a precautionary landing back in Lagos, a local newspaper had it reported that: “Pilot averts crash, lands plane with one engine”.

This report was alarmist, uninformed and capable of eroding public confidence in the aviation despite every effort being made to ensure flight safety. We need to set the records straight for proper education of a segment of the media as well and reassuring the flying public.

First and foremost we commend the professionalism and airmanship exhibited by the crew of aircraft. The capable handling of the situation makes the crew members to be an asset to the industry.

When a single engine aircraft has lost the only engine, then there could cause for concern but if one engine fails on a twin-engine aircraft there should be no alarm if the crew members have been well trained.

An air return could be as a result of any one or combination of the following as highlighted in Part 5:5:1:4 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2006 captioned “Reporting of failures, malfunctions and defects which may occur after the aircraft must have been airborne.

Any of the conditions could be responsible for an air-return, which must be reported. Those conditions include but not limited to the followings:-

(a) Owners or operators of aircraft over 5,700 kg maximum take-off weight or of any aircraft used in a commercial operation shall report to the Authority any failures, malfunctions, or defects that result in at least the following—

*Fires during flight and whether the related fire-warning system properly operated;

* Fires during flight not protected by a related fire-warning system;

* False fire warning during flight;

* An engine exhaust system that causes damage during flight to the engine, adjacent      structure, equipment, or components;

* An aircraft component that causes accumulation or circulation of smoke, vapour, or toxic or noxious fumes in the crew compartment or passenger cabin during flight;

* Engine shutdown during flight because of flameout;

*Engine shutdown during flight when external damage to the engine or aircraft structure occurs;

*Engine shutdown during flight due to foreign object ingestion or icing;

* Shutdown during flight of more than one engine;

* A propeller feathering malfunction or inability of the system to control over speed during flight;

* A fuel or fuel-dumping system failure that affects fuel flow or causes hazardous leakage during flight;

*An unintended landing gear extension or retraction, or opening or closing of landing gear doors during flight;

* Brake system components failure that results in loss of brake actuating force when the aircraft is in motion on the ground.

 Ore is President, Aviation Round Table