The Qantas Boeing 787 from Sydney ended up landing 33 minutes late. However, despite making two attempts before a successful landing, the Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 arrived at SFO thirteen minutes early.
Was the Emirates A380 too slow to depart?
The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world and requires longer takeoff rolls and specific considerations for wake turbulence. Controllers are trained to anticipate situations and maintain smooth traffic flow, sometimes giving clearances without delay.
According to an ATC recording from liveatc.net, Turkish Airlines received clearance to land on runway 28R shortly after Emirates was asked to line up for departure on runway 28L. At that time, Qantas Boeing 787 was on a seven- mile final and was shortly cleared to land on runway 28L.
After confirming their clearance multiple times due to miscommunication concerns, events unfolded quickly as Turkish Airlines communicated a TCAS Resolution Advisory alert followed by low altitude alerts from SFO Tower.
Shortly after receiving takeoff clearance from ATC amidst these alerts, both Turkish Airlines and Qantas went around due to unstable approaches caused by TCAS RA warnings or other factors such as loss of separation or miscommunication between crews involved in this complex scenario.
Go-arounds are generally initiated by either pilots or controllers who decide to abort landing attempts under certain conditions like unstable approach loss of separation or runway incursions ensuring safety remains paramount during such procedures which typically result in slight delays but ensure all safety factors are maintained during landing approaches
At San Francisco International Airport go-arounds occur between .3% - .4% of arrivals equating roughly two-three times daily slightly above national average according data provided by SFO most common when operating non-standard runway configurations occurring more frequently widebody aircraft
Separation standards set FAA ensure minimum distances maintained between commercial flights depending IFR rules radar employed ensuring miles vicinity beyond arrivals maintaining wake turbulence separation based size ensuring safe distances arriving departing flights
SFO operates hours day week handling approximately flights daily primarily using runways depending wind directions offering variety instrument approaches notably developed CAT III ILS available
All three largest airports Bay Area including San Jose Mineta International Oakland International facing serious ATC staff shortages failing meet staffing goals recent data showing facilities USA falling short targets impacting ability manage complex situations like multiple go-arounds simultaneously
Previous challenges notable incidents include Air Canada flight mistakenly aligning taxiway descending low initiating go-around avoiding potential disaster another Asiana Airlines flight issued prompted dangerously low altitude approach missed instructed crew commenced ensuring safety preserved
A reminder aviation safety events February ultimately had serious ramifications demonstrating established systems procedures effectively working ensuring during ' go-around drama' pilots controllers fault everyone acted best interest roles crucial highlighting importance composure reliance procedures addressing understaffing issues critical infrastructure supporting capable handling complex scenarios preventing harm assuring surprised passengers roles controllers essential maintaining safe reliable travel environment
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