PlasticPilot.net

We all make mistakes, even me. Usually these mistakes are somehow caught and corrected by the system, and everything runs well. This applies not only to flying, but to all human activities. But sometimes… shit happens - there’s simply no other way to say it.

Even the best organization can make mistakes. Last week, the FAA’s NOTAM database crashed. I’m an IT guy, so I know this can happen. That was not an exactly glorious time for FAA, but there’s more to come.

After the crash of the Boeing 747 in Brussels last sunday, the FAA published an information report, because it’s a US-registered plane. Unfortunately, neither the bulletin author nor its reviewer were good at European geography, and locate the crash in Liège… Yes, Liège is in Belgium, but I confirm this crash occurred in Brussels.

Enough finger-pointing towards FAA ? Right. So what about NTSB ? I have high respect for accident investigation teams. They do a tough job, under pressure from various origins, and they carry important responsibilities.

I don’t know if it’s a jet-lag thing, or if all spotters, airport neighbors, were wrong, but all sources mentioned that the plane departed from runway 20. So what does the NTSB mentions in its first information report ? Brussels Airport (well done)… runway 25 Left (oops).

It’s always surprising when governing bodies does such mistakes, but all in all, it demonstrates that they’re human, after all. Oh, and if you want to comment about the post I published by mistake on the 10th, or any other thing… feel free.

A freighter Boeing 747 crashed today on the runway, while taking-off from Brussels airport. The accident took place at 13:30 (local time), as the JumboJet was taking-off from runway 20. Some media reported this runway as “the shorter of the three at Brussels”. It’s technically true, but this runway is nearly 3 kilomters long…

Reports mention four or five crew members, which all survived. The 747 (registered N704CK) was operated by Kalitta Air. Many pictures are available here. Hopefully no fire developed, but firemen “splashed” the aircraft anyway as a preventive measure.

Some debates were already going on about new traffic repartition around Brussels airport. As there are several populated areas around the airport, this will certainly revive the debate. But one more time, the crash occured on the southbound runway.

As always under such circumstances, it’s way too early to draw any conclusion. The investigation team is at work, and any “cause” you could hear now would be speculation only.

Additional Media Coverage:
RTBF (Belgian National TV - in french)

BBC

CNN

I had the opportunity to discover Brussels National airport two years ago, and since then I went through it several times, so I can write a review, as I did for Frankfurt and London City.

Brussels is a very international city, holding the headquarters of the European Commision and NATO, amongst others. This results in large number of international flights, from Europe and the world. Once you will reach the immigration desk, be sure to go in the correct lane.

If you come from European Union or Switzerland you can use the left lane. If not, I suggest you open a hot-dog business in the right lane. The immigration officers do their best with all exotic passports but this sometimes takes ages…

Before reaching immigration, you could get some surprises. I flew there on Brussels Airlines, the company the emerged after Sabena bankrupt and merge with Virgin. Not the national company, but someting like. Even so, we parked at a gate… but instead of accessing the terminal through the jetty, but went downstairs on the tarmac, boarded a bus, and had a 5 minutes bus ride ! Yeeeah.

After immigration things go fast to the taxi station where a spectacular co-ordinator manages the flow of incoming cars and passengers. At peak times, expect up to 30 minutes to get a taxi !

Departing from Brussels is normaly a seamless process. Shopping is good both before and after security, passport check is quick, and safety screening is normally efficient, thanks to sufficient staffing. The gates from which each flight will depart are frequently announced late, but there are enough seats, coffee shops and duty free shops to have a good time. The walking times are more than acceptable.

All in all, travelling throught Brussels is not so bad. Given the historical relations between Belgium and Africa, it is probably the airport of choice for a transit to the black continent.