EvanL
02-15-2004, 01:58 PM
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Greenwood aircrew nearly had to ditch
By Richard Cuthbertson
Seven flight students and 10 instructors flying a Canadian Forces CP-140 Aurora patrol plane were close to ditching two weeks ago, after the plane had propeller problems 80 kilometres north-east of Sable Island.
Lieut. Nicole Meszaros says the pilot — one of the instructors — sent out a mayday around mid-day on Jan. 29 while flying about 1,500 feet above sea level.
The crew “did get ready to bail, and mayday was declared,” said Meszaros, a spokeswoman at 14 Wing Greenwood, the home base for the aircraft. “But they did end up getting control over the engine. It took about 10 minutes.”
During those 10 minutes, the crew donned immersion suits — affectionately nicknamed “poopy suits” by personnel — to ready themselves for the frigid Atlantic waters, said Meszaros.
The problems aboard the Aurora started when a propeller began overspeeding, said Meszaros. It shook the plane violently.
“It caused extreme noise and vibration within the aircraft. This provoked the crew to yell over the radio to hear themselves.”
But sound flight training prevailed, said Meszaros, and the pilot managed to level the plane by decreasing speed, preventing it from plunging into the ocean.
The CP-140 Aurora is the aircraft of choice for the 404 Maritime Patrol Training Squadron that flies out of 14 Wing Greenwood in the Annapolis Valley. Greenwood is the largest military airbase on the East Coast.
CP-140 Auroras were acquired by the Canadian Forces in 1980 and are designed for anti-submarine warfare. Most of the fleet of 18 are stationed at Greenwood and monitor the Canadian coastline, guarding against drug traffickers, and reporting on over-fishing and pollution.
Auroras have recently flown surveillance missions across the Arabian Sea as part of operation Apollo in the US-led war against terrorism.
A safety investigation has been launched to find out what went wrong with the aircraft, and Meszaros said the names of crew members on the flight won’t immediately be released.
The crew “was obviously shaken,” said Meszaros.
“The leadership of the squadron they came from did respond to the emotional need of the people, and they were offered help from critical incidence stress professionals — a combination of medical officers, our social workers and counsellors.”
She says the Aurora has been a reliable aircraft for the Forces, and that the incident is very surprising.
“The thing that was significant about it, from what I understand, I think it was the first time a full-fledged mayday was declared aboard an Aurora.”
The mayday was quickly downgraded once the pilot brought the aircraft under control, said Meszaros. A second Aurora was in the region and escorted the wounded plane towards the nearest airport in Sydney.
Without landing in Sydney, the crew was able fly the plane back to Greenwood by hopscotching across the province, staying near airfields in case of a second emergency.
citydesk@hfxnews.ca
Greenwood aircrew nearly had to ditch
By Richard Cuthbertson
Seven flight students and 10 instructors flying a Canadian Forces CP-140 Aurora patrol plane were close to ditching two weeks ago, after the plane had propeller problems 80 kilometres north-east of Sable Island.
Lieut. Nicole Meszaros says the pilot — one of the instructors — sent out a mayday around mid-day on Jan. 29 while flying about 1,500 feet above sea level.
The crew “did get ready to bail, and mayday was declared,” said Meszaros, a spokeswoman at 14 Wing Greenwood, the home base for the aircraft. “But they did end up getting control over the engine. It took about 10 minutes.”
During those 10 minutes, the crew donned immersion suits — affectionately nicknamed “poopy suits” by personnel — to ready themselves for the frigid Atlantic waters, said Meszaros.
The problems aboard the Aurora started when a propeller began overspeeding, said Meszaros. It shook the plane violently.
“It caused extreme noise and vibration within the aircraft. This provoked the crew to yell over the radio to hear themselves.”
But sound flight training prevailed, said Meszaros, and the pilot managed to level the plane by decreasing speed, preventing it from plunging into the ocean.
The CP-140 Aurora is the aircraft of choice for the 404 Maritime Patrol Training Squadron that flies out of 14 Wing Greenwood in the Annapolis Valley. Greenwood is the largest military airbase on the East Coast.
CP-140 Auroras were acquired by the Canadian Forces in 1980 and are designed for anti-submarine warfare. Most of the fleet of 18 are stationed at Greenwood and monitor the Canadian coastline, guarding against drug traffickers, and reporting on over-fishing and pollution.
Auroras have recently flown surveillance missions across the Arabian Sea as part of operation Apollo in the US-led war against terrorism.
A safety investigation has been launched to find out what went wrong with the aircraft, and Meszaros said the names of crew members on the flight won’t immediately be released.
The crew “was obviously shaken,” said Meszaros.
“The leadership of the squadron they came from did respond to the emotional need of the people, and they were offered help from critical incidence stress professionals — a combination of medical officers, our social workers and counsellors.”
She says the Aurora has been a reliable aircraft for the Forces, and that the incident is very surprising.
“The thing that was significant about it, from what I understand, I think it was the first time a full-fledged mayday was declared aboard an Aurora.”
The mayday was quickly downgraded once the pilot brought the aircraft under control, said Meszaros. A second Aurora was in the region and escorted the wounded plane towards the nearest airport in Sydney.
Without landing in Sydney, the crew was able fly the plane back to Greenwood by hopscotching across the province, staying near airfields in case of a second emergency.
citydesk@hfxnews.ca