Jetstar procedures under investigation after planes took off too heavy

[Robbo]

Jetstar's procedures for calculating the weight of its aircraft are under review by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau after two of its planes took off with more passengers than had been expected by the pilots in October.On October 29, the pilot flying a Jetstar plane from Melbourne to Perth noticed the aircraft was nose-heavy as it was taking off and was forced to pull back on the controls nearly to the limits in order to raise the aircraft's nose.

Once the A321 was airborne, the pilots asked the cabin crew to confirm the passenger numbers and seating locations. The updated information was entered into the computer and the pilots found the aircraft was outside the loading limits for take-off and landing. Passengers were then moved to other seats throughout the cabin to return the aircraft to within the allowable limits for the remainder of the flight and the landing.

 

Just 10 days earlier, an A320 flight from Brisbane to Melbourne took off with 16 more passengers than had been advised to the pilots, with the aircraft about 1328 kilograms heavier than the take-off weight used to calculate take-off and landing data for the flight. The landing data was recalculated prior to the descent in Melbourne.

 

Jetstar reported both incidents to the ATSB, which deemed them "serious" although there were no injuries in either case and the flights landed safely and without incident.

 

The ATSB has begun an investigation that will include interviews with the flight and ground operations crews, a review of Jetstar's internal procedures regarding aircraft loading and a review of preventative and recovery-type risk controls for aircraft loading.

 

The full investigation is not expected to be completed until October 2016, but a Jetstar spokesman said since the incidents occurred, the airline had put in place additional measures to check its flights had been loaded correctly and that aircraft weight and balance was properly accounted for.

 

"We've had no flights operate with this type of error since we introduced these measures," the Jetstar spokesman said.

 

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has begun its own investigation to look at the root cause of the passenger loading errors, the relevant systems and Jetstar's subsequent actions and is understood to have met with the airline again on Thursday to have discussed the issues.

 

"The travelling public can be assured CASA will take all appropriate actions to ensure Jetstar has robust and appropriate systems and processes in place to ensure passenger loading mistakes are not made.," a CASA spokesman said. "CASA is oversighting the changes Jetstar have made in relation to passenger loading and aircraft weight and balance following the October incidents."

 

Calculating the correct weight of an aircraft is a very important safety issue as incorrect inputs can lead to problems in the pilot's ability to control the aircraft.

 

In 2003, an Air Midwest Beechcraft 1900D crashed in the US in part due to higher than expected weight on take-off, although an issue with the plane's control cables was also contributing factor. All 21 passengers and crew on board died in the crash.

 

Last month, the ATSB issued a final report into an incident at Jetstar's parent, Qantas, that also involved an incorrect take-off weight being entered, in that case on a Boeing 737 flying from Sydney to Darwin.

 

Data entry errors by the pilots led to the take-off weight imputed into the computer being 10 tonnes lower than the actual weight. That resulted in the take-off speed and engine thrust settings being too low and the aircraft contacting the runway briefly in a "tail strike" incident.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/jetstar-procedures-under-investigation-after-planes-took-off-too-heavy-20151203-glf6rq.html

 

 

[facthunter]

Not a lot of room for error there. Perhaps a new system entirely with readings from the U/C legs. Nev

 

 

[bexrbetter]

16 people, WTH?

 

Seriously they don't take a final on board head count?

 

Geezus, don't those seat allocation things called "tickets" tell them how many on board?

 

 

[Kiwi303]

Probably tells the checking staff ground side, but that's not usually the plane side staff.

 

Sounds like a miss communication between passing on the passenger manifest to the pilots for calc, and not updating last minute sales, standbys and walk-ins.

 

 

[Robbo]

Some of the guys I have seen doing the weight and balance and loading are preety average with there maths.

 

 

[Happyflyer]

Some people are not good with maths, some not good with spelling. Can't all be perfect. The system and checking should find the faults but as we can see things slip through the cracks.

 

 

[red750]

High checked baggage fees causing passengers to carry overweight hand luggage on cheap airlines like AirAsia doesn't help.

 

 

[bexrbetter]

High checked baggage fees causing passengers to carry overweight hand luggage on cheap airlines like AirAsia doesn't help.

Personally I've had a gutful of Asians and their "7kg" carry ons. You guys should try a Sunday evening flight from a touristy area for a laugh - through gritted and nervous teeth.

 

The issue is partly class sytem, rich Chinese are mostly the most arrogant azzholes your likely to come across (see all the tourist destination and airline issues with Chinese tourists these recent years) and the common worker, such as a Ticket Clerk or Stewardess, hasn't got the guts to take command of a situation.

 

And just as an aside, with what I know about business, manufacturing and a recent report from a major airliner here about seeking engine maintenance (Western), there's no way I am setting foot on the latest COMAC C919 airliner, I'll give up my ticket first.

 

 

[Pearo]

Some of the guys I have seen doing the weight and balance and loading are preety average with there maths.

To be fair, its not exactly rocket science!

 

 

[Robbo]

To be fair, its not exactly rocket science!

Tell them that, some of the confused looks are priceless.

 

 

[kgwilson]

What is the standard passenger weight that airlines use these days? It used to be 77 kg but I think but was increased to 86 kg some time ago. Based on some of the passengers I see when I fly commercially these days I reckon that is a bit on the light side. One woman I sat next to on a 3 hour flight should have been made to buy 2 tickets. The plane was full so I could not even change seats. 1328 kgs is only 9 x 140kg people & there are a lot more of them around these days than there were 10 years ago. I reckon this particular person would have been close to 140kg as she spilled out over the sides quite dramatically. I complained & got an apology of sorts but that was it.

 

 

[dazza 38]

There should be a lard ass tax.

 

 

[Kiwi303]

There should be a lard ass tax.

Or do what one of the pacific island hopper lines does and charge by the Kg.

 

 

[facthunter]

You would probably face some kind of discimination thing here. If you don't watch the MASS you will have a MESS. and use more fuel. Tail heavy is deadly but a bit of it saves fuel. Nose heavy is more stable (to a point) but wastes fuel Nev

 

 

[Kamloops]

I actually refuse to take anyone flying who doesn't tell me their weight.

 

If its obvious they are lying, they don't get on.

 

Had a woman obviously 300 lbs plus, try and tell me she was 180....lol