Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
From Our Readers
DCA must take immediate steps following recent A380 wake incident
Published:  Apr 25, 2017 8:52 AM
Updated: 12:59 AM

On Jan 7, over the air space of Oman, a Bombardier Challenger 604 private jet flew 1,000 feet beneath in the opposite direction of an Airbus A380 and was reportedly rolled over ‘five times’, both engines flamed out and then it plummeted 10,000 feet as it was caught in the powerful turbulence of the A380.

Although passengers in the private jet sustained serious injuries and the plane was damaged beyond repair, the pilots miraculously recovered the flight in what was likened to the 2009 ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ by aviation authorities.

Not an isolated event, air traffic control around the world have been alerted about the A380 incidents.

According to the Aviation Herald, an authority in aviation safety, this is not the first time such a incident occurred due to wake turbulence generated by an A380 as it crosses above other aircraft. Some of the recorded incidences are as follows:

As such, it was reported that air traffic control all over the world have recently been instructed to exercise particular care with A380 crossing above other aircraft.

According to Aviation Herald, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will be issuing a safety alert on this issue, in particular, precaution about flying near ‘Heavy’ or ‘Super Heavy’ aircraft.

The situation in Malaysia

There are currently many A380s operating in and out of KLIA every day. And heavier airplanes such as the A380 will be more and more prominent.

The current minimum vertical separation distance in our airspace is 1,000 feet. This is the same distance which caused the private jet to roll over in Oman.

Most of the air traffic coming in and going out of KLIA fly below 10,000 feet. If the Oman incident happens, there will not be enough room to recover.

We urge the government, especially the Department of Civil Aviation, to take immediate measure on Heavy and Super Heavy aircraft wake turbulence. The public and the aviation industry should be made aware on such matters.

In the wake of MH370, we have also urged the government to set up an Aviation Security Council under the charge of Parliament. Countries such as Taiwan have such body to deal with aviation safety. Flying is today a regular mode of transport and as such, the government must take a more proactive role in alerting and educating the public on issues surrounding air travel.


JULIAN TAN KOK PING is MP for Stampin and STEVEN SIM CHEE KEONG is MP for Bukit Mertajam.

ADS