American Airlines flew wrong plane from Los Angeles to Hawaii

[amaroo]

American Airlines flew wrong plane from Los Angeles to Hawaii

In late August, American Airlines accidentally flew the wrong plane from Los Angeles to Hawaii, a mix-up that violated Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The mistake, first reported by aviation blogger Brian Sumers, occurred on August 31 - just days after the airline began flying Airbus A321 planes on the Los Angeles to Hawaii route (other planes in American Airlines' fleet have long flown this route).


A spokesman for the airline confirmed to The Washington Post that a version of the A321 plane that was not certified to make long flights over water - as on the route between Los Angeles and Hawaii - was accidentally flown that day.


The mistake was caught midway through the flight, Sumers reported, but a decision was made to continue to Hawaii. The airline cancelled the return flight and the empty plane was flown back to Los Angeles.

 

[marki]

instead of taking the Beamer they took the miniMoke.

 

[Boris spatsky]

instead of taking the Beamer they took the miniMoke.

No, they took the silver Beamer and not the dark grey one. Easy mistake to make...

 

[eastwest101]

From the article quoted by the OP:

Twin-engine aircraft operating from the West Coast to Hawaii fly over the Pacific Ocean for nearly the entire flight, and as a result, they are required to carry more safety equipment than other planes, including oxygen tanks and a special fire suppression system in the cargo hold. With the special systems, these aircraft are certified to fly on one engine for as long as three hours. That is enough time to reach an alternate airport. The certification is called ETOPS.

Obtaining ETOPs certification is not difficult but it is a complicated process, and so there's no reason to certify aircraft that won't fly on long routes over water. As a result, American has two types of A321s in its standard first class and coach configuration - the A321H, which can fly to Hawaii, and the A321S, which cannot.

If this article is correct - then its only the upgraded fire surpression system and the larger oxygen tanks that are different between the AA A321H and the AA A321S? Interesting that both versions have the same emergency slide and safety raft setup.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting that both versions have the same emergency slide and safety raft setup.

I think the ETOPS version carries an additional life raft(s) in the ceiling?

 

[eastwest101]

I think the ETOPS version carries an additional life raft(s) in the ceiling?

That's what I would have thought as well, maybe the article is wrong, or the US FAA regulations could be different to Australian rules?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's what I would have thought as well, maybe the article is wrong, or the US FAA regulations could be different to Australian rules?

It's confusing. According to some articles both seem to have the same raft-in-ceiling set-up, but other anecdotal reports state that FA's have mentioned the overhead raft and said they are on a 'Hawaii-plane' (which seems to indicate a difference to non-Hawaii ones).

 

[UP4014]

I think the ETOPS version carries an additional life raft(s) in the ceiling?

Is that the difference, geez, does anyone remember the last time a life raft saved anyone in jet crash?

Matt

 

[marki]

Is that the difference, geez, does anyone remember the last time a life raft saved anyone in jet crash?

Matt

Good Point I don't however will do some research,

Yep here: http://www.hngn.com/articles/99719/20150610/five-survive-bahamas-plane-crash-saved-life-raft.htm

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is that the difference, geez, does anyone remember the last time a life raft saved anyone in jet crash?

Matt

the hudson? Although that was a slide-raft.

The practicalities of getting a ceiling raft out are mind boggling however.

 

[eastwest101]

Is that the difference, geez, does anyone remember the last time a life raft saved anyone in jet crash?

Matt

Pretty rare but has happened (along with the well known Hudson River ditching):

Such as:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_Cathay_Pacific_Douglas_DC-4_shootdown (doesn't fit the definition of jet but irrelevant anyway)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Airlines_Flight_605 (close to shore)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Airlines_Flight_961 (survivors picked up by boats so Life Rafts would have been handy)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't know if ceiling rafts have ever been used in a true jet-age water landing? The procedure looks a little time consuming - you'd have to ask passengers to remain seated, get to the raft (possibly struggling through pax already standing), remove the raft from the ceiling, take the raft to the door, secure the raft to aircraft, then inflate. here's an example: Delta Boeing 757-200 · Allsafetycards

If the plane's sinking, not sure if your passengers are going to calmly sit waiting for all that to happen? or maybe it only takes a couple of seconds to do it... but it doesn't look that easy.

I suppose you could get the pax out first, and if there's time go and retrieve the raft and passengers board from the water. Although that's pretty tiring by all accounts.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Is there room in the ceiling rafts for everyone's carry-on luggage though ??!!

 

[eric2011]

Is there room in the ceiling rafts for everyone's carry-on luggage though ??!!

and the passengers float along side and take turns to hold on

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe one of our esteemed FA experienced members can comment about the practicalities or otherwise of deploying life rafts?

 

[maninblack]

Honolulu is the most isolated major city on the planet. Not Perth as is sometimes strangely claimed.

 

[clazman]

Honolulu is the most isolated major city on the planet. Not Perth as is sometimes strangely claimed.

It depends on the context of the statement, if we are talking about QF international, we win hands down

 

[maninblack]

It depends on the context of the statement, if we are talking about QF international, we win hands down

You are correct of course, context is everything so when it comes to cultural isolation Perth probably wins hands down too!

 

[jb747]

A raft has nothing to do with ETOPS.

 

[Andyzx]

Bloody SAP transport module, garbage in – A321 out…