How embarrassing

I'd hate to be on the crew of the plane in the following news report.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25032380

I imagine that's it now. For the rest of their lives they'll be on the receiving end of much joviality.

Basically, they've landed a massive humongous aeroplane at the wrong airport and now they're stuck. They should have landed at an airport that has a runway longer than the plane's recommended minimum of nearly 3km, but they've put it down 8 miles away at a little local airport with a runway only half what they really need to take off again.

Apparently engineers have done the necessary sums and worked out that they can probably get airborne again. I hope the engineers are right though, and that the pilot's taking off skills are better than his navigation skills. I dread to think what would happen if they ran out of runway at almost take off speed.

 

How did the mistake happen? Good luck to them ... in their Dreams(lifter)...

 

It all looks very similar from up there.

 

I thought all modern planes had sat nav. Actually, maybe that's it. Satnav usually makes you do three laps of the general area of your destination before directing you into the nearest field and telling you you're there.

Seriously though, I though that in addition to the skill of the pilot and co-pilot, I thought there there was sat nav, computers on practically driving the plane, and whole hoards of people on the ground with radar to direct the planes.

 

\how far apart are the two airports?

I've only used a sat nav once, and I didn't believe a word it said, I still went the way I thought was best.

 

T'other half now has satnav ... and it is completely useless! Even though updated this week, t'other half has gone his own way ... what is the point, I ask? ... and to have to listen to that monotone voice drives me crazy ... (a Patsy Cline song would be better ....) ...

 

I've used 'proper' satnav gadgets that I've borrowed from time to time of friends, and they were awful, but now I use the satnav in my phone and I must admit, it is usually pretty good.

Incidentally, I found an amusing clip about that plane. I heard part of it on the radio earlier but had to dig for it a bit because its not on the BBC. Its the radio chat between the controllers and the pilot.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifesty...cargo-plane-mistakenly-lands-at-tiny-airport/

But anyway, they managed to get away.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/boeing-jumbo-jet-lands-wrong-kansas-airport-20961678

 

You can download and use many different voices (Sound alikes)
Like you can have Mr Spok from Startrek
Marylyn Monroe, Sean Connery, The Simpsons, along with comedy or drama styles

Good luck
Tell T'other half not to get lost :-)


Jack McH

 

They are trying to stop you using a hands free phone whilst driving because its distracting, then everyone seems to have a miniature tv screen stuck to the windscreen?

Me, I just have a map on my lap and glance down when nothing is moving, (most of the time), its sooo much safer.

 

I was once a passenger in a colleagues car when he was doing that. I ended up snatching the map from him, moments after shouting 'STOP MAN! EVERYONE HAS STOPPED'

 

If you were in the car you should have been reading it for him anyway.

 

That's what I said right from the start, but he was one of those stereotypical awkward Yorkshireman sorts that wouldn't have it that he needed assistance with anything.

 

Yorkshireman, huh.

Go easy clue, maybe they didn't notice your post in Yorkshire.
They can be a funny lot.

 

I myself am a Yorkshireman

My little bit of the world was still officially in Yorkshire when I was born. They redefined the boundary when I was 4, but its been put back again since so I'm a Yorky again.

 

And .... we have take off!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25046719