DUBAI // Australian transport officials yesterday confirmed that pilot error was responsible for the near crash of an Emirates Airline passenger jet in Melbourne in March and said they had taken measures to prevent any similar mistakes.
Emirates flight EK407 to Dubai International Airport made an emergency landing in Melbourne shortly after take-off on March 20 when the plane's tail scraped the ground. In a preliminary report on April 30, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau determined that the flight crew had "inadvertently" underestimated the weight of the aircraft during pre-flight preparations. The actuall take-off weight of 362.9 tonnes had been mistakenly recorded as 262.9 tonnes, leading to a miscalculation of the speed and engine thrust required to lift the jet.
In following up with a 50-page "interim report" yesterday, the bureau confirmed its previous finding and said it had instituted "procedural, training and technical initiatives" to reduce the risk of recurrence. It said the plane's manufacturer, Airbus, was redesigning software to check the consistency of flight data that crew enter into aircraft computers.
Significantly, the report said the investigation had found "a number of similar take-off performance-related incidents and accidents around the world" and that they would be investigated further.
The crew made an emergency landing minutes after take-off when the aircraft, an Airbus A340-541 carrying 271 people, struggled to gain sufficient altitude. It had struck the runway and objects on the ground during its ascent. The seriousness of the episode was not immediately apparent, with news reports simply noting an emergency landing. Soon after the investigation had begun, however, it became clear that the plane had narrowly averted a crash.
The faulty weight figures, programmed by the first officer, were cross-checked by the captain before take-off, the report said. But the error was not recognised by the flight crew until it was preparing to make the emergency landing.
Emirates, based in Dubai, said in a statement released yesterday that it accepted the content of the report.
The airline also said it had introduced measures to address safety, including training, additional awareness briefings and distraction-management courses. It had also established "working groups to examine aircraft procedures" across the fleet and a second, independent system to calculate the take-off performance by the flight crew. Moreover, it had entered into discussions with Airbus, "to improve the laptop-based electronic flight bag user interface" used by the flight crew.
In an interview with the Melbourne Herald Sun in July, the 42-year-old pilot, quoted anonymously, described the take-off as a miracle.
"I still don't know how we got it off the ground," he said. "I thought we were going to die; it was that close."
The pilot, a European and 22-year veteran, has since left the airline.
The pilot also claimed he had been suffering from exhaustion. According to the ATSB report, he and the first officer had arrived in Melbourne from Dubai at 6.13am the day before the accident. Had he completed the flight to Dubai, about a 14-hour journey, Emirates said, he "would have been within the 100-hour limit for the 28-day period".
"The ATSB's investigation to date is consistent with Emirates' investigation, which shows that the operating crew had a very adequate opportunity for layover rest, of over 38 hours, prior to the flight," the airline said.
The ATSB said the investigation would continue.
hnaylor@thenational.ae
Spider-Man%202
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
Kandahar%20
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Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Race%20card
%3Cp%3E6pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%201%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20%2450%2C000%20(Dirt)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E6.35pm%3A%20Dubai%20Racing%20Club%20Classic%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20%24100%2C000%20(D)%202%2C410m%3Cbr%3E7.10pm%3A%20Dubawi%20Stakes%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24150%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E7.45pm%3A%20Jumeirah%20Classic%20Trial%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20%24150%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E8.20pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%201%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E8.55pm%3A%20Al%20Fahidi%20Fort%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(TB)%20%24180%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Ertijaal%20Dubai%20Dash%20%E2%80%93%20Listed%20(TB)%20%24100%2C000%20(T)%201%2C000m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Movie: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster 3
Producer: JAR Films
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Chitrangda Singh, Kabir Bedi
Rating: 3 star
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding