Bogon07
November 21st, 2013, 02:48 PM
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-22/giant-cargo-plane-in-unexpected-stopover-at-tiny-us-airport/5109806
A giant cargo plane has successfully taken off from a small Kansas airport after accidentally landing there the night before.
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter, on route from New York, mistakenly landed at Colonel James Jabara Airport, about 13 kilometres from its intended destination, McConnell Air Force Base.
The pilot expressed surprised when an air traffic controller told him he had just landed at the wrong airport.
"We don't know why it landed at Jabara airport instead of McConnell," said Wichita Airport Authority spokeswoman, Valerie Wise.
"[The plane] landed safely. There was no damage to the aircraft and no damage to the airport."
There were concerns the two kilometre runway at the airport would not be able to handle the take off of the giant cargo plane.
Atlas Air, which operates the aircraft, brought in a tug to turn the plane around and its engineers ran calculations on whether it could take off again.
"They feel it is perfectly safe to take off from Jabara," Ms Wise said before takeoff.
Their fears proved unfounded the next afternoon, when the aircraft taxied and took off without a hitch in cold, rainy weather.
Once airborne, it was a short flight. The plane landed just minutes later at the correct airport.
How is it possible for a big jet to accidentally land at the wrong airport ? I suppose it it easy to be confused flying at night but aren't there supposed to be flight plans and navigational aids to prevent this happening.
A giant cargo plane has successfully taken off from a small Kansas airport after accidentally landing there the night before.
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter, on route from New York, mistakenly landed at Colonel James Jabara Airport, about 13 kilometres from its intended destination, McConnell Air Force Base.
The pilot expressed surprised when an air traffic controller told him he had just landed at the wrong airport.
"We don't know why it landed at Jabara airport instead of McConnell," said Wichita Airport Authority spokeswoman, Valerie Wise.
"[The plane] landed safely. There was no damage to the aircraft and no damage to the airport."
There were concerns the two kilometre runway at the airport would not be able to handle the take off of the giant cargo plane.
Atlas Air, which operates the aircraft, brought in a tug to turn the plane around and its engineers ran calculations on whether it could take off again.
"They feel it is perfectly safe to take off from Jabara," Ms Wise said before takeoff.
Their fears proved unfounded the next afternoon, when the aircraft taxied and took off without a hitch in cold, rainy weather.
Once airborne, it was a short flight. The plane landed just minutes later at the correct airport.
How is it possible for a big jet to accidentally land at the wrong airport ? I suppose it it easy to be confused flying at night but aren't there supposed to be flight plans and navigational aids to prevent this happening.