China's row on low-fuel landing reflects growing aviation pains

By ELAINE KURTENBACH

September 2, 2011, 1:55pm

SHANGHAI (AP) – Aviation authorities have ordered stiff punishment for a local airline whose pilot refused to yield to a Qatar Airways jet requesting to land because it was short of fuel, highlighting growing concerns over safety in China's overcrowded skies.

The case was the latest to raise concern about China's increasingly busy airports, as traffic controllers struggle to keep up and airlines scramble for pilots, many of whom lack experience, analysts said.

The China Civil Aviation Administration, or CAAC, deemed the Aug. 13 incident, a "serious violation of regulations.''

In a notice Tuesday, it said it had revoked the license of the pilot of a Juneyao Airlines flight on Aug. 13, who refused six requests from Shanghai air traffic control to give way after the Qatar Airlines jet from Doha issued a "mayday'' call seeking priority in landing because it was running short of fuel.

Reports at the time said the aircraft came dangerously close to collision before both landed safely.

The Qatar jet, among 20 circling over Shanghai's Pudong International Airport due to bad weather, made an urgent request to land at the city's other main airport, Hongqiao International.

But the Juneyao Airlines pilot argued that his aircraft was also low on fuel.

The CAAC said results of its investigation found that the Juneyao jet had enough fuel to stay airborne for 42 more minutes, while the Qatar jet had only enough fuel for 18 more minutes of flight, it said.

Chinese state media reports said both pilots had exaggerated the urgency of their situations, but the question of whether the Qatar aircraft had violated any regulations would be directed to Qatar's air authority, it said.

The problem partly stems from airlines' efforts to minimize the fuel they carry, said Wang Xiaoyan, a transportation analyst at China Minzu Securities, based in Beijing.

"I would say the punishment from CAAC is quite fair, Juneyao should be responsible as it almost caused an accident,'' Wang said.

But congestion in China's skies also is adding to air traffic control problems, forcing detours, delays and raising the risks of collision, the International Air Traffic Association has warned.

Source:  http://www.mb.com.ph