It was something about the control tower saying the specific altitude in meters but the other guy thought it was in feet; Or vise-versa, something like that.
2007-06-18 23:37:28 · 10 answers · asked by Vincent Y 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Sounds like Pilot Error to me....
Here's why - even if the tower tells you something, it's incumbent on the pilot to know what he/she is doing. As an example, I was flying into Savannah, GA, one day. ATC told us to turn to a heading. That heading would have put us straight into a large area of smoke caused by a fire on the ground. The PIC told ATC we could not, and why, and they changed the instructions.
Ultimately, (And most people can't grasp this easily) it is the PILOT in Command who is responsible for the safe operation of the aircraft. From checking fuel, to having all the information needed for a flight, to knowing whether what ATC (or a control tower) is telling you to do is safe. It all comes down to the PILOT.
So, as sad as it may be, this one sounds like Pilot Error.
If you'll post a date, location, type of plane, etc., I can find out more. As one of the others said, it's all available online at www.ntsb.gov. Just a matter of having enough info to find the report.
2007-06-19 04:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by Thom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard of a plane crash because of misunderstandings in metric or English units but there have been a few ATC violations because the pilots mistook the altitude or Flight Level instructions to be in feet instead of meters and vice versa. BTW China also uses the metric system as in some east European countries.
2007-06-21 21:36:01 · answer #2 · answered by HPL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One incident of a crash that was caused by English as a second language, barrier. Not metric.
A Flying Tigers 747 flew into the side of a hill, on approach to Kuala Lumpor in Malaysia.
Tower gave instructions to "Descend Two-six hundred feet" the pilot interpreted this as descend "To 600 feet" and repeated instructions back as same.
Unfortunately there was a hill at 1200' AGL.
2007-06-20 15:25:46 · answer #3 · answered by Dennis F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the official aviation language is English, and measurements are also English (feet not meters), I don't think it was an airplane.
But ... there was the incident just a few years ago where a probe crashed into Mars - because one science group was using feet / miles and the other meters / kilometers.
So ... instead of putting out the brakes in time (so to speak) they ran full speed into Mars.
2007-06-19 17:33:47 · answer #4 · answered by Mountain Top 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know in Russian and some other former soviet union countries they use all metric measurments KM/H Meters etc.. But I never heard of a crash because of this happening.
Now besides for Russia the rest of the world uses Knots/Feet. But it depends on the country and airline on what unit they use for fuel.
2007-06-19 11:55:17 · answer #5 · answered by Steven H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their was a case some time ago where a non-standard part was used in a fuel delivery system. The part was made I believe in standard and the aircraft had a metric dimension for the approved part. The part failed due to over extension (it was just to damn short) and the aircraft lost fuel and almost crashed before the pilots could get it down. Also, some time ago a NASA project was stopped when they discovered a mix of size standards in the buildup. Had to go back to the drawing boards on that one.
2007-06-19 04:35:09 · answer #6 · answered by Joe H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do the OR WHAT element... metric device is extra conceivable and uncomplicated to understand,, even if i became taught universal and that is extra uncomplicated to me I paintings in inches and ft.. i exploit 2x4s my plywood is measured in 4x8 sheets, yet i'm now sposed to take that and make it right into a metric length that in basic terms does no longer look elementary to me.. and that i hate it The temp is 16c in this residing house right now .. I extremely don't have any clue what that temp is.. i imagine it is the equivalent of cave temp.. on the point of 65F...
2016-10-18 23:00:59 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was a Canadian Airlines who had this problem years ago. When they changed to the metric system. anyway the 737 ran out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing. It was known as the biggest glider in the world. There was a movie made of the incident years ago.
2007-06-19 07:33:55 · answer #8 · answered by walt554 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The language of aviation is American english measurements, it is universal.
The FAA would have records of what you speak of if it exist.
2007-06-18 23:43:16 · answer #9 · answered by izzie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try www.ntsb.gov they have detailed information on all crashes.
2007-06-19 01:31:16 · answer #10 · answered by Yes I am here!! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋