The UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch has made the recommendation in its report on the incident involving a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft, was being wet-leased by Aurigny through Maltese airline Luxwing, on 23 April 2024. The aircraft was returning to the island from Gatwick.
It found that the pilot had delayed in braking after they misjudged the landing at the airport.
In an effort to achieve a gentle touchdown, the pilot did not use reverse propeller pitch, only normal braking, said the report.
‘The application of full braking force was too late to prevent a low-speed departure from the runway,’ it said.
The report said that there was a lack of experience in the cockpit on the flight, referring to both the co-pilot and safety pilot, as well as the ‘seniority gradient’ between them and one of the company’s senior managers.
‘This would have made their ability to both identify and communicate any concerns to the commander challenging,’ it said.
There had been warning signs of issues previously with pilots not used to Guernsey, said the report, with evidence of previous landings beyond the touchdown zone.
As a result, the AAIB said that in future when a wet lease operation was undertaken, Aurigny’s training captains should observe the crew on the flight deck.
An Aurigny spokesman said it was reviewing the AAIB report.
‘All recommendations will be discussed internally and with our regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority,’ he said. ‘Safety remains Aurigny’s top priority at all times.’
In the incident the plane ‘floated’ along the runway for about 10 seconds before it touched down about two-thirds of the way along the available landing distance, causing it to overrun when it finally touched down.
There were no injuries among the five crew and 63 passengers and the aircraft was not damaged.
No technical reason for the aircraft moving to the right during braking could be found by the investigators.
Having overshot the landing zone, they said that the plane should have gone around again.
After the overrun the aircraft remained on the grass with its engines running for more than six minutes, which was criticised by the AAIB, as was the shutting down of the plane being done without following normal or emergency checklists.
That led to its recommendation that the aircraft manufacturer review the location and indexing of these checklists to make them easier to find in emergencies.
The incident happened at about 6.45pm on Tuesday 23 April 2024.
None of the passengers or crew were hurt and the aircraft sustained ‘no significant damage’.
A full emergency was declared but the Town-based services were stood down on their way to the airport, said a Guernsey Ports spokesman, although airport firefighters attended.
Passengers spent an hour stuck on the plane until they were bussed to the arrivals hall. The aircraft was towed to the apron shortly after 8.30, and the airport reopened at 8.55, and most evening flights got in.
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