Comair admitted to federal investigators that its pilots were partly responsible for an airplane crash that killed 49 people, but also says better systems for alerting airlines to taxiway changes might have prevented it.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is trying to determine what caused the Aug. 27 crash, released Wednesday what are essentially final arguments from the major parties in the investigation.
Blue Grass Airport, aircraft manufacturer Bombardier and the air traffic controllers' union pin most of the blame on pilot and co-pilot, who in the predawn hours steered the plane onto an unlit runway too short for a commercial jet to take off. The co-pilot was the only survivor of the crash.
Comair contends there is plenty of blame to go around.
"It would be simple but inaccurate to conclude that the only cause of this tragic accident was a mistake by Comair's well trained and experienced flight crew," the airline wrote in its submission to NTSB.
Besides stressing the company's emphasis on safety, Comair suggests in its argument that the Federal Aviation Administration should revamp the system it uses to alert airlines and their crews of changes to runways.
A week before the crash of Comair 5191, the taxiways at Blue Grass Airport were slightly altered by a runway widening project. The diagrams used by Comair's crew were out of date, but FAA did broadcast a NOTAM, or "notice to airmen," alerting all pilots of the change.
The system, "developed in the era of the teletype," the airline wrote, should be replaced by one that gives pilots information in real time. The airline provided few specifics on the suggestion.
In addition, Comair argued that the FAA needs a better approach to runway surveillance. Only one controller was on duty at the time, and if there had been more, the accident might have been prevented, Comair said.
The documents released Wednesday from NTSB included no new information from the FAA, which has previously acknowledged that separate controllers should have watched the ground and the air during the overnight shift when the crash occurred.
Blue Grass Airport solely blames the pilots for the crash, saying their pre-flight chatter might have distracted them. Comair has acknowledged they violated the FAA's "sterile cockpit" guidelines, which forbid conversation not related to the flight during the most critical parts, such as taxi, takeoff and landing.
"The loss of situational and location awareness was due to the unprofessional manner in which the flight performed their required duties after starting the airplane and during taxi for takeoff," the airport wrote.
The crew committed at least eight errors, the airport said. It also pointed out that in the week leading up to the crash, about 330 similar flights - 48 taking off in the darkness - were able to depart without incident.
In its report, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association cited some of the same issues as the airport. In addition, it said the NTSB should study the fatigue of controllers and use that information to possibly alter the time limits for working shifts.
News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Aircraft Maintenance Technology" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.
