'Our lives in their hands'
SriLankan Airlines recently awarded 'Wings' to a batch of cadet
pilots after a stringent training programme. They obtained the CAASL
licence (Civil Aviation Authority), a globally recognised certification.
The Nations' flag carrier recruits two cadet batches each year for
training and presently has a total strength of approximately 267 pilots
serving in its cadre.
With the commissioning of an A320 Full Flight Simulator facility at
the Airlines' own Flight Academy, future trainee pilots with SriLankan
will have the advantage of obtaining Flight Simulator experience.
With plans for expanding the fleet size to 30 aircraft by 2015, it is
expected that more recruitment will be initiated to meet growing demand
to increase its route network.
Easy accessibility of air travel encourages people to travel
frequently nowadays. Aero engineers and designers have over the years
contributed immensely to come up with up-to-date models for the
convenience and safety of air travellers. Level of luxury in the latest
range of planes varies from the normal business class to advanced
facilities such as complete office environments for the business class
traveller with comfortable sleeping and showering facilities.
Given that backdrop, airline operators, pilots and engineering
sectors carry a gargantuan responsibility morally and legally for
hundreds of thousands of air passengers they transport on a daily basis
throughout the world.
Mishaps
Air accidents, by far, are rare, but there have been several
instances where human error, sheer negligence on the part of pilots,
technical hitches and/or poor aircraft maintenance from engineering
sections of airlines were accountable.
An amateur video footage showing an out-of-control Russian jet plane
above Moscow became a web sensation in May 2011. The video showed the
'dancing plane', Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft veering from side-to-side above
a military aerodrome in Russia.
The skillful professionalism and supreme ingenuity of the pilot
managed to land on the second attempt at Chkalovsk aerodrome safely
avoiding any casualties.
On May 7, 2011, it was reported that a plane carrying about 25
passengers and crew crashed into the sea during a downpour in Eastern
Indonesia, killing everyone on board.
In April 2010 an aero plane operated by Merpati Nusantara overran a
runway after landing in Manokwari in West Papua, breaking into three
pieces and injuring 44 out of more than 100 people on board.
During an internal flight, in 2009, a Twin Otter plane operated by
the same airline crashed into the side of a mountain in remote Papua,
killing all 16 people on board.
In 2007, a plane operated by the now-defunct Adam Air with 102
passengers and crew crashed in deep water off the coast of Sulawesi,
with no survivors.
A Russian Airbus went down in Siberia in April 1994 with a full
complement of passengers without a single survivor.
The actual blame was thrust upon the co-pilot who was alleged to have
given 'flying lessons' to his young son in the cockpit! The assumption
was that the 'trainee' must have made an error that put the aircraft
into an uncontrollable nose-dive!
On April 26, 1994 Airbus, 300-600R belonging to the China Airlines
crashed killing all but nine out of 271 passengers on board. It was due
to accidental flipping of a cockpit switch which was supposed to have
activated a system to automatically increase the jet's engine thrust, so
that it could gain height and attempt another approach.
On January 20, 1992, an Airbus 320 had a fatal crash near Strasbourg,
France, which prompted an official enquiry by the French Aviation
Authorities.
Engineering section of airlines take an enormous responsibility on
the safety aspect of the planes.
SriLankan Engineering is a holder of the prestigious EASA 145
certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency, and is
recognised as the Best Global Operator of both A330 and A340 from Airbus
Industry.
Life drama
Experience inside an aircraft during stormy weather or turbulence
could be quite horrifying. Here's a typical 'replay' of a life drama:
Video mechanism inside the aircraft warned passengers to wear
seatbelts. Then a voice on the intercom alerted of a minor turbulence
and requested all passengers to fasten seatbelts.
Many of the travellers became apprehensive. Little later, the same
calm voice announced: "Sorry we are unable to serve the meal at this
time. Turbulence is still ahead of us."
The ominous cracks of thunder and a storm could be heard even above
the howl of the engines.
Lightning illuminated the darkened skies, and within split seconds
the huge plane tossed around on the celestial ocean like a cork. One
moment it was lifted on terrific currents of air, the next, it dropped
as if it were about to crash. Passengers shared the discomfort and fear
of those around them; nearly all the passengers were alarmed, and some
praying and were wondering whether they could make it through the storm.
For a little girl seated alone the storm meant nothing. She tucked
her feet beneath her and read a book. Sometimes she closed her eyes,
then she read again; then straightened her legs, but worry and fear were
not written on her face.
When the plane buffeted by the terrible storm and all adults were
'scared to death', the cool child remained completely self-possessed.
The plane finally reached its destination safe and sound and all the
passengers were hastening to disembark. The passenger seated next to the
child whispered in her ear:
"Why were you not afraid during the storm darling" ..........?
The sweet child replied,
"Sir, my Dad is the Pilot, and he is taking me home - No
worries.........................!"
The skill of a pilot depends on how he controls his aircraft during
take-off and particularly during landing operations so that passengers
do not feel uncomfortable but safe. When passengers step into an
aircraft everyone settles down into their seats with full of confidence
and placing their lives literally in the capable hands of the
professional pilot of the aircraft while they travel in 'God's land'!
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