THAI Airways Near-Collision Over Korea

[..]

Well, the basic problem is ATC had them at the wrong flight levels AND the captain of the plane at the wrong level did not question the instruction.

 

The Quadrantal Rule states that flight levels are as follows:

* Track 000 to 089° - odd thousands of feet (FL 70, 90, 110 etc)

* Track 090 to 179° - odd thousands + 500 (FL 75, 95, 115 etc)

* Track 180 to 269° - even thousands of feet (FL 80, 100, 120 etc)

* Track 270 to 359° - even thousands + 500 (FL 85, 105, 125 etc)

 

Following that rule, which is in force worldwide, would give a minumum of 500 feet seperation which is plenty (tho' will sound the TCAS alarm).

 

Cheers,

LT -- Flying Tiger

[samak]

that's what TG had to say on their website:

 

THAI Clarifies on News Concerning Flight TG659

 

Today (16 November 2006), in clarification to news that an aircraft of Far Eastern Air Transport from Taiwan avoided an incident with Thai Airways International aircraft, the Corporate Communications Department of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited provides the following clarification.

 

Far Eastern Air Transport of Taiwan, Flight EF 306 routed from Taipei, Taiwan to Jeju, South Korea, at 11.00 hrs. (Korean local time) THAIâ??s pilot-in-command was notified of communication between Far Eastern Air Transport and the air traffic control of South Korea, which advised that Far Eastern Air Transport should descend according to the order given by air traffic control as a sick passenger was on board. According to air traffic control instructions, THAIâ??s aircraft, TG659 routed Seoul â?? Bangkok, was flying in its right position with lateral and vertical navigation at 34,000 feet above South Korean airspace and the air traffic system on board THAIâ??s airplane indicated a warning (TCAS) that another airplane was approaching. THAIâ??s pilot-in-command followed the procedure indicated by TCAS system and operated the flight as usual and landed in Bangkok at 13.40 hrs.

 

In addition, THAIâ??s flight TG659 utilizing Boeing 777-300 routed Seoul â?? Bangkok departed Seoul at 09.50 hrs. (Korean local time) arrived Bangkok at 13.40 hrs. with 356 passengers and 20 aircrews.

[samak]

on the same TG website on the frontpage Bangkok - Seoul is advertised as the deal of the month!

those TG marketing guys are nuts!

[zob65]

Long Taang, Your on the right track but the wrong rules. The figures you quoted are for VFR Visual rules. The aircraft are under Instrument rules.At that level (>FL290) is 360 to 179 odd flight levels with 2000 feet separation i.e. 290,330,370 etc. and evens for the rest

 

If it is a RVSM (reduced vertical separation minimum)area its a 1000 feet separation for approved aircraft. i.e. 290,310, etc.

 

It would most likely be a RVSM area.

 

Re the TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) You can observe other aircraft up to 60 Nm away or more. The TCAS will give a "Traffic" warning then a resolution , i.e. "climb climb" "descend" etc. The normal procedure is to follow the resolution commands which is not a violent maneuver. So I dont know what the Eastern Air pilot was up to, maybe dozing or checking the trolly dollys out and then panicked?

[liquidflux]

Was probably taking a nap with the plane on autopilot, and the TCAS woke him up.

 

 

[cavanami]

Was probably taking a nap with the plane on autopilot, and the TCAS woke him up.

 

...after having a few cocktails

[asiafun]

Korean ATC leaves a great deal to be desired.