Commander used code that means emergency without risk to the lives of passengers; technical problem is the most likely cause
The pilot of the presidential plane carrying the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and his entourage during the visit to Mexico identified a problem with the aircraft as soon as it took off. In a message to the control tower at General Felipe Ángeles International Airport, in Mexico City, the commander used the code “pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan” to the controller, which means there is a problem that requires help on the ground, but which does not pose a risk to the lives of passengers on board.
According to the BGAST (Brazilian Group for Operational Safety of Airport Infrastructure), the expression is used in urgent situations, without imminent danger. From this communication, the plane has tower priority, unless another plane reports the code “mayday, mayday, mayday”, which characterizes an emergency situation, with imminent danger. Read the complete from the BGAST booklet (PDF – 697 kB).
The “pan” code comes from the word breakdown – failure in the functioning of some electrical or hydraulic equipment. Mayday comes from the French “m’aidez”, which means “help me”.
“The pan-pan-pan is an audible warning that the pilot emits saying that he is having a problem, the pan comes from the word breakdown, but there is no imminent danger to the lives on board. Mayday is an emergency declaration that everyone stops and goes to help because there will be victims.”declared to the Power360 the president of Rima Aviação, commander Gilberto Scheffer.
In the audio, the pilot says “pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan” and communicates the need to make a right turn. The tower employee asks the pilot to confirm the code, which the “Aerolula” commander then confirms.
Listen in the video below (1min44s):
Read the audio transcript:
“Pilot: Controle Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01 [código do avião]. I ask to turn right. Pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan. Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01.
“Tower: Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01. Pan-pan, pan?
“Pilot: Pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan. Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01. Turn right immediately. Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01.
“Tower: Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01. Speak your order.
“Pilot: Request to fly to VOR, VOR. Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01.
“Tower: Ok, Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01. Proceed directly to Sierra Lima Mike [aeroporto].
“Pilot: Proceed to Sierra Lima Mike. Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01
“Torre: Did you ask for permission to land again at the airport?
“Pilot: Can’t land now. Request to maintain VOR Sierra Lima Mike, maintain 13 feet. Bravo, Romeo, Sierra, 01.
“Tower: Ok, keep 13,000 over Sierra Lima Mike VOR.”
According to Scheffer, the pilot’s behavior shows that the failure could have been a serious item, as the commander chose not to continue the trip immediately.
In the expert’s opinion, it is possible that the failure also affected the plane’s fuel jettison system and that is why the aircraft had to fly in circles for 5 hours to burn fuel and reduce its weight for a safer landing. Another possibility that forced the plane to perform this maneuver may have been the airport’s inability to provide an area to dump the fuel.
“As a rule, according to the international civil aviation treaty, every airport, especially Mexico City airport, must have a fuel disposal area. This is something that I don’t know how to explain what happened, if the area was disabled or if the plane’s system was out.”Scheffer said.
Scheffer declared that the presidential plane is well equipped and has modern flight software. In the executive’s opinion, it is most likely that there was a defect in this system, but nothing very serious. Scheffer rated the pilot’s voice as “quiet and serene”indicating that the problem identified was not serious. “In the audio, the pilot was very calm, calm. I see that there was a problem, but it didn’t pose a risk.”.
They were on board the Aerolula:
- Lula, president;
- Janja, first lady;
- Cida Gonçalves, Minister of Women;
- Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS), senator;
- Teresa Leitão (PT-PE), senator;
- Andrei Rodriguesdirector general of the Federal Police;
- Gabriel Galípolodirector of Monetary Policy at the Central Bank;
- Audo Faleiroadvisor to the Presidency of the Republic;
- José ChrispinianoPress Secretary of Secom;
- Ricardo StuckertSecretary of Production and Dissemination of Audiovisual Content at Secom;
- José Rezendespecial advisor to Secom;
- Taynara Pretoadvisor to the first lady;
- Sérgio Xavier Ferreiratranslator of Lula.
THE FAB (Brazilian Air Force) said that the technical problem on the VC-1 plane has been resolved “successfully”but without saying what happened. He also declared that the Brazilian delegation will change planes and return to Brasília – Planalto estimates that this can be done this Tuesday (1st.Oct). Read the full statement at the end of the text.
The maneuver of burning fuel before an unexpected landing is common. Normally, the weight of the plane at the time of takeoff is greater than the maximum allowed for landing – landing with a heavy aircraft increases the risk of a collision with the ground.
Read more:
LULA IN MEXICO
The president arrived in the country late Sunday afternoon (September 29). In the country, he participated in a forum with businesspeople organized by ApexBrasil, met with then president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and with president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office this Tuesday (1st.Oct). She is the first female Chief Executive in the country.
During his stay, Lula also met with the nominee to head the Central Bank, Gabriel Galípolo, again criticized Israel’s attacks on the territory of Lebanon, ordered the repatriation of Brazilians in the country and questioned journalists about Venezuela.
After being asked why he did not mention the country governed by Nicolás Maduro in his speech at the UN, the PT member said the following: “Why do I have to talk about Venezuela everywhere? I don’t even talk about Janja everywhere.”.
Find out more about Lula’s trip to Mexico (2min33s):
Read the full FAB note:
“Dear journalist,
“I inform you that the presidential aircraft VC-1, which transports the President of the Republic on the stretch between Mexico and Brazil, presented a technical problem after takeoff from Mexico City Airport, this Tuesday (1/10).
“After successfully carrying out the safety procedures to solve the problem presented, the pilots wait for the necessary fuel consumption to return to the same aerodrome as the takeoff, changing aircraft and returning to Brasília.
“Yours sincerely,
“Lt Brig Air MARCELO KANITZ DAMASCENO
Commander of the Air Force”
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