March 2021 Outlook Newsletter

DerekB29/03/202107/10/2021

The March 2021 edition of Outlook AHSA News has been emailed to members.

A copy can also be downloaded from the Newsletter archive here on the website. Click on the link below to open this edition:

Outlook AHSA Newsletter Volume 37 Number 2 March 2021

1927 de Havilland DH.9C G-AUED operated by QANTAS crashed at Tambo, Queensland on 24 March 1927. The aircraft was on a regular route between Charleville and Mount Isa with Tambo as its secondary destination. It intended landing on the clay-pan that served as Tambo’s airstrip when it was seen to dive suddenly into the ground. Mystery surrounds why the crash occurred but it was determined the aeroplane had landed at a nearby station to undertake repairs. The three men on board were buried at the Tambo cemetery. The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 25th March 1927 reported "After just over six years' operation during which over 450,000 miles have been flown without injury to either personnel or passengers, disaster befell one of the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service aeroplanes at Tambo this morning. The pilot, D. Davidson, of Richmond, and A. W. N. Bell, owner of Belmont Station Winton, who accompanied him as passenger, were killed, while the other passenger, J. Donaldson, manager of Rocklands Station, Camooweal, was so severely injured that he succumbed some hours after the accident. It was the pilot's first trip." Sources: aviation-safety.net website; Monuments Australia

1943 Bell P-39D Airacobra 41-38401 of 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, USAAF crashed at Hovet Field, Mareeba on 24 March 1943. The pilot Paul C. Beaubien died in the crash. Sources: Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research; aviation-safety.net website

1999 Consequent to the El Al airlines Amsterdam disaster, the Damage by Aircraft Bill 1999 was introduced to Parliament and passed on 24 March 1999 to provide for increased compensation. Some Civil Aviation Regulation amendments relating to the privatisation of ATC and fire-fighting services were disallowed in the Senate, as the Opposition foreshadowed. Source: House of Representatives, Debates, 24 March 1999; Senate, Debates, 8 March 1999. via aph.gov.au website

2002 Cessna 210N VH-RRI crashed at Groote Eylandt, Aero., NT on 24 March 2002. The pilot was conducting a charter positioning flight from Groote Eylandt to Numbulwar. Witnesses reported that shortly after the aircraft took off from runway 10, it diverged to the right of the runway heading. The aircraft was reported to maintain level flight, at about 20 ft above ground level, and track towards the operator's ticketing office where a company pilot occupied the office. As the aircraft passed over the office it banked left and adopted a nose-high attitude. The witnesses then saw the aircraft hit a palm tree next to the office, and one saw an object fall from the aircraft. They then saw the aircraft lose altitude and disappear behind buildings. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft was observed on the ground, sliding towards the runway where it came to rest and an intense fire broke out. Although the pilot was able to exit the aircraft unaided, he later died from injuries sustained during the accident. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post-impact fire. The investigation was unable to establish why the aircraft diverged from the runway heading immediately after take-off. Source: ATSB

2018 Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner VH-ZND "Emily Kame Kngwarreye" operating as QF9 departed Perth on 24 March 2018 and flew non-stop to London Heathrow, UK. The aircraft was flown by Captain Lisa Norman, Captain Jeffrey Foote, First Officer David Summergreene and Second Officer Troy Lane. The aircraft carried 229 passengers and crew including Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan and numerous media staff. The aircraft had a take-off weight of 253.5 tonnes (only half a tonne under the Maximum Take-Off Weight limit), and of this, 100.6 tonnes (nearly 40% of the actual take-off weight) was fuel. The entire 14,500 km journey from Perth to London was made in darkness, departing at 7:00pm local time and touching down on Heathrow runway 09R at 5:02am after a flight of 17 hours 2 minutes. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce described the inaugural non-stop fligth as a major milestone for Australia as well as global aviation: “This is a truly historic flight that opens up a new era of travel. For the first time, Australia and Europe have a direct air link. The original Kangaroo Route from Australia to London was named for the seven stops it made over four days back in 1947. Now we can do it in a single leap." Source: Qantas newsroom