Comments on: The ripple effects of our disaster coverage

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:05:35 +0000

e.g. divert to a neighbouring island where condition was suitable for landing as a safety measure?

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:04:23 +0000

5. Did air traffic control made the captain of the Virgin Atlantic aircraft aware of the runway conditions before attempting to land the aircraft? Was a general alert to all air traffic intending to use Hewanorra Airport not made; if not, why not?

6. The captain would have been aware of the adverse weather conditions in the area. If air traffic control did not volounteer information on the runway conditions, did the captain of the Virgin Atlantic airbus seek information pertaining to the condition of the
runway from them in order to decide whether it was safe to land the aircraft or not; or to decide an alternative course of action, e.g. divert to a neighbouring island where condition…

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:02:21 +0000

3. I would imagine that the runway would have been waterlogged but what exactly was the condition at the time of the aircraft landing on it? Was it suitable enough to allow an any aircraft to land on it or take off from it? Why was the decision to close the airport to all air traffic not considered at this time?
4. Did air traffic control at Hewanorra International issue an alert air traffic control in Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Martinique and Antigua of the local airport condition?
5. Did air traffic control made the captain of the Virgin Atlantic aircraft aware of the runway conditions before attempting to land the aircraft? Was a general alert to all air traffic intending to use…

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:00:38 +0000

A Virgin Atlantic wide bodied aircraft sustained damages while attempting to land at Hewanorra International Airport. I am going straight to some questions of my own – perhaps they may feature in current/future inquiries on the matter:
1. Was air traffic control at Hewanorra aware of the condition of the airport runway before granting permission to land the aircraft?
2. Given the fact that much rain had already fallen by then, was the airport runway and surrounding areas inspected to determine what action should be taken in the interest of safety?
*****More questions to follow*****

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:57:52 +0000

No matter how you look at this one, it can at best be described as a “MESS”, at it’s very worse, can be described as a “TOTAL MESS-UP”. While I do not think it is correct to point blame willy-nilly, I think that the airport’s runway should have been closed to all air traffic until the it was thoroughly checked and cleared; given the deluge of rain and the amount of water I know the area would have locked around it. In addition, it would be foolish to assume that the air traffic controllers at Hewanorra and all assisting areas may have been able to warn any air traffic in the area intending to use (land on) the Hewanorra water-logged runway and had not done so. Can anyone confirm that…

By: John

John — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:55:15 +0000

there are some of us now ‘former’ St.lucians who are very very well off from abroad. However, SLU governments of either political parties, continually ignored us inspite of the fact that remittances back to St.lucia are and have always been critical for its economic well being.

No political power for those living and succeeding abroad and no recognition for those who returned in vain attempts to impart international experiences locally. These efforts were usually met with disdain .

The gravy train of international aid and the attendant blatant corruption was expected to continue for ever.

Well…

When some of us consider what positive contributions that ‘Fail Helen’ has…

By: Peter Alcindor

Peter Alcindor — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 19:36:51 +0000

Dear Sir,
Would you know if the government will carry out any inquires over the disaster so that lessons can be learnt.
Peter Alcindor residing in England.