Sukhoi Superjet 100 missing

[mikecweb]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/09/world/asia/indonesia-plane/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)​

​

-- Russia's newest civilian airliner disappeared Wednesday from radar screens during a half-hour demonstration flight in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, state-run RIA Novosti news service reported.​

There were 44 passengers on board.​

The plane went missing at about 2 p.m. in the area of Bogor, West Java, Indonesian Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told Metro TV.​

The pilots requested permission to descend from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet, air traffic controllers said. After that, all radio contact was lost.​

The plane began making its descent but vanished from radar screens at 6,200 feet in a mountainous area.​

By the time the plane was due to return it should have burned up its fuel, RIA Novosti said.​

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 airplane arrived in Jakarta as part of a demonstration tour of six Asian countries. It had been to Myanmar, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, and was due to visit Laos and Vietnam after Indonesia, RIA Novosti said.​

Sukhoi manufactures military aircraft and is known especially for its fighter jets. Its civilian aircraft is narrow-bodied with a dual-class cabin that can transport 100 passengers over regional routes. It flew its maiden flight in 2008.​

In March, a Superjet 100 operated by Russia's Aeroflot Airlines was forced to abandon its flight to Astrakhan, Russia, and return to Moscow because of problems with the undercarriage, according to RIA Novosti.​

A similar defect in another Aeroflot-operated Superjet 100 plane had to be fixed in Minsk in December.​

Russia's state-run United Aircraft Corp. said the defect did not affect passenger safety.​

​

 

[Screaming_Emu]

Crap!

 

[Vector4Food]

Jesus...

Seems like what happened is a little too obvious. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, remember this aircraft would have had a very experienced crew, considering it was the companies demonstration flight. There is hopefully more to this than just airplane flown into mountain.

 

[HerrGruyere]

Seems strange that a crew that experienced would fly into a mountain that easily.

But also take into account this very vague comparison: The Tu-144 demonstration flight was probably also performed by experienced crew, and they blew that sucker up by trying too hard to impress everybody.

 

[Champcar]

Not good. Smells like CFIT.

 

[Champcar]

Guess they found the aircraft. Weather in the area is being reported as foggy with heavy rain at the time of disappearance

 

[derg]

I wonder how that is going to affect the orders?

 

[jafra98]

I wonder how that is going to affect the orders?

An Airbus A320 crashed on a demostration flight too, it has been one of the most ordered aircraft in recent years.......

 

[Vector4Food]

I wonder how that is going to affect the orders?

Regardless of what actually happened, some cowboy pilots flew this thing into a mountain will be the official line... no impact on the aircraft itself as a product.

 

[Minuteman]

No new info here, but it looks like Thales is the integrated avionics provider for the jet with Sukhoi-branded software running. (and not implying any malfunction)

Sukhoi Superjet 100

A major aviation milestone was marked when the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet recently made its maiden flight.

The Sukhoi is the first civil aircraft to be designed in Russia for more than 20 years - and Thales has played a major role in this landmark project. As a tier 1 supplier and systems integrator, Thales has provided the Sukhoi with a full avionics suite, including cockpit displays, integrated modular avionics, and communication, navigation and surveillance systems.

A project of such international importance demands world-class expertise, and Thales accordingly drew on its centers of excellence in Canada, France, Russia and elsewhere. On top of offering an innovative solution, this approach also proved an enriching experience for all at Thales, as it helped bring together our diverse cultures and languages.

Close cooperation

Thales has been working in close cooperation with Sukhoi on the design, conception, specification and validation of the SuperJet's flight deck. One of the most significant developments took place in February 2006 with the inauguration of the joint Thales /Sukhoi Civil Aviation Company Software Development Center in Moscow. The center's 60-strong team of engineers is dedicated to designing software for the Superjet's avionics package.

In the long term, Sukhoi is aiming to produce 70 aircrafts a year, with sales targets of between 800 and 1,800 planes. The program leads the resurgence of the Russian aerospace sector - and Thales is proud to be part of such a breakthrough venture. With the project already taking off, we are looking forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration with Sukhoi.

On the Superjet 100, pilots will benefit from a much-simplified working environment, through the high processing capability of integrated modular avionics and an extremely user-friendly cockpit featuring large LCD screens.

 

[TFaudree_ERAU]

I wonder how that is going to affect the orders?

Probably the same as G650 orders

 

[SeanD]

Bummer, this looks like a pretty neat airplane as far as Russian passenger airline designs go.

 

[skypilot6]

RIP for those that lost their lives

 

[Cessnaflyer]

Here is an interesting picture that was taken by someone before this flight. TAWS is faulted, which would be normal on the ground but it is also turned off.

 

[derg]

Regardless of what actually happened, some cowboy pilots flew this thing into a mountain will be the official line... no impact on the aircraft itself as a product.

...to rousing applause I'll bet.

Hey, you working tonight! I'm doing 92!

 

[Beep]

Here is an interesting picture that was taken by someone before this flight. TAWS is faulted, which would be normal on the ground but it is also turned off.

it looks like the airplane in that picture was on ground power. No inverters on, and ships batteries off.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Here is an interesting picture that was taken by someone before this flight. TAWS is faulted, which would be normal on the ground but it is also turned off.

I know nothing about that airplane, but I do know our EGPWS doesn't work until FMC present position is verified.

Very sad loss.


Sent from Seat 3D

 

[///AMG]

it looks like the airplane in that picture was on ground power. No inverters on, and ships batteries off.

Agreed, I don't fly the sukhoi but that jet is not on in the pic. Taws type systems require the nav system to be on and generally receiving gps data. That would not be the case with both gens offline

 

[swisspilot]

A friend of mine flying in Indo posted a picture of this plane on his facebook page before it departed...strange feeling

 

[Blackhawk]

Regardless of what actually happened, some cowboy pilots flew this thing into a mountain will be the official line... no impact on the aircraft itself as a product.

But that is probably what did happen.