Monday, November 29, 1999

U.S. Airways river landing was correct - safety board

News posted by www.newsinfoline.com

A US Airways crew made the right decision by ditching their plane in the Hudson River rather than try to glide back to New York's LaGuardia airport with both engines effectively disabled by a bird strike, U.S. safety investigators said on Tuesday.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also recommended in its final report on the celebrated January 2009 landing known as the "miracle on the Hudson" that regulators pay closer attention to potential damage caused when smaller jet engines swallow big birds.Investigators also recommended that regulators consider equipping all commercial flights with floating seat cushions and life vests for each passenger, even when plans do not call for traveling over water.NTSB Chairman Debbie Hersman, said that Flight 1549 heading for Charlotte was equipped with forward and side rafts and other safety devices that helped save all 150 passengers and five crewmembers.The recommendations for the Federal Aviation Administration are not binding but the agency said it is reviewing its bird-strike guidelines.The Airbus A320 struck a flock of Canada geese about a minute after takeoff from LaGuardia.Investigators said Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and co-pilot Jeff Skiles considered returning to the airport or trying to land in New Jersey but determined neither was an acceptable without sufficient engine power.Sullenberger put the jet down just minutes later in the Hudson, a decision the board concluded was the best chance at survival. The cabin crew was also praised for conducting a fast evacuation onto the wings.Each of the two CFM-56 engines sucked in at least two geese. Birds bent or broke fan blades and damaged parts deep inside the engine, safety investigators said.The engine is made by CFM International, a venture by General Electric Co and France's Safran SA.The size and number of birds involved in the incident "well exceeded" current performance certification standards for engine tests, the safety board said.FAA certification for engines on that model aircraft require engines to withstand strikes from birds weighing up to 4 pounds. The birds that hit the US Airways plane were about 8 pounds, investigators said.The NTSB recommended the FAA consider changing test standards for smaller jet engines.Most bird strikes occur at takeoff or while climbing sharply when engines are at or near maximum power. Flight 1549 was at 2,700 feet with engines running normally at less than takeoff power.A spokesman for GE's aviation unit said the company is reviewing the safety board recommendations.(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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