Easyjet A319 at Prague on Jul 4th 2012, full length takeoff on shortened runway

Last Update: February 14, 2013 / 18:41:59 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 4, 2012

Classification
Report

Airline
Easyjet

Flight number
U2-3066

Departure
Prague, Czech Republic

Destination
London Stansted, United Kingdom

Aircraft Registration
G-EZDN

Aircraft Type
Airbus A319

ICAO Type Designator
A319

The crew of an Easyjet Airbus A319-100, registration G-EZDN performing flight U2-3066 from Prague (Czech Republic) to London Stansted,EN (UK) with 149 passengers and 6 crew, had been preparing for departure for the flight to Prague when the crew got notice of the runway 24 length available being reduced from 3715 to 2500 meters due to work in progress via NOTAMs in their preflight data package. The crew subsequently completed their flight to Prague with a safe landing on runway 30 and began preparation for the return flight. Runway 24 was active for departures, the first officer had forgotten about the reduced runway length at that point and referring to the regular aerodrome charts used the normal takeoff distance available for takeoff performance computations. The captain, cross checking the computations, also did not pick up the wrong takeoff distance available. During line up on runway 24 the crew did not see the workers near the end of the runway, where the works were in progress, and began their takeoff roll. Some time into the takeoff roll the crew realised the works in progress neared rapidly, the crew rotated the aircraft at the computed speeds and the aircraft climbed out safely, the event however together with a frequency change immediately after becoming airborne was such a distraction to the crew, that the crew forgot to select the gear up and did not notice prior to exceeding the landing gear maximum speed, that the gear was still down. The aircraft continued to London for a safe landing.

The United Kingom's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) released their bulletin rating the occurrence a serious incident and reporting, that the crew had completed their their third sector that day and was about to depart for their final sector that day. The ATIS broadcast was in heavily accented English, the crew did not detect any information about reduced runway length. The captain attributed the oversight to reduced crew awareness at the end of a long duty day. Tower or ground signs also did not advise about the reduced runway length. The captain said in post event interviews, that an acquaintence had visited the flight deck during preflight preparations, the distraction arising out the visit may have been a factor into the oversight.

The AAIB mentioned in a foot note, that ATIS actually did broadcast the reduced runway length information and the crew acknowledged the receipt of the ATIS information by confirming the correct letter to tower.

The AAIB mentioned that the works took place at the departure end of runway 24. As the aircraft had landed on runway 30 the crew did not see the works on their arrival, too.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 4, 2012

Classification
Report

Airline
Easyjet

Flight number
U2-3066

Departure
Prague, Czech Republic

Destination
London Stansted, United Kingdom

Aircraft Registration
G-EZDN

Aircraft Type
Airbus A319

ICAO Type Designator
A319

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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