Cathay Pacific Fires Chief Pilot for Un-filed 77W Low Flyby at Boeing Field w/ photo

[CathayPacific]

Yesterday, Cathay Pacific confirmed that it has fired its Boeing fleet Chief Pilot (i.e. the most senior pilot in CX Group) for performing an unscheduled low flyby over Boeing's field on a VIP flight with the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (the one with Asia's World City) livery. The incident occurred on Jan 30 2008 as Cathay took delivery of the aircraft. As CX celebrated accepting the new Asia's World City aircraft, it invited over 70 dignitaries to board the aircraft at Boeing's field in Seattle to fly back to HongKong. The flight was performed by the Boeing fleet Chief Pilot of Cathay Pacific and another very senior pilot as first officer. On board includes the Chairman and CEO of Cathay Pacific, several other senior management and some senior government officials and members of LEGCO (i.e. the parliament) of HongKong. After taking off, the plane returned to Boeing's air field and performed a low flyby above the runway at the height as low as 30ft with its wheels up. The flyby was not planned and not approved. The passengers on board the flight were unaware of the flyby. Some told reporters that they noticed the plane returned to the airport and flew low, but thought it was probably a planned performance. It was later found that the pilot notified Seattle's control of his plan to do so and has obtained the approval from ATC to do so, but he has never requested that with the airline and thus it was never approved by the airline.

2 weeks later, spotters who cheered the performance at the time and took a video of the flyby posted it on Youtube and the management Cathay Pacific was shock to see what is described as an impulse and reckless action of the Chief Pilot. The Youtube video was subsequently restricted for private viewing. The Chief Pilot was suspended for internal investigation, and was fired yesterday. The co-pilot will be banned from the flight instructor role for 6 months but will continue to fly normal passenger flights. HongKong's CAA has asked for a report from CX about the incident. Cathay Pacifc has called all passengers on board the flight to explain the incident and the action it has taken.

Cathay Pacific has also issued a notice to all of its 2000-plus flight crews stressing that all low flyby performance must be pre-approved for safety and the airline has zero tolerance regarding safety violations. Cathay Pacific has approved low flyby before for air show performance but factors such as weather must be considered in real time.

The photos are from newspaper and captured from the Youtube video before it was made unavailable.


The Chief Pilot celebrates with the VIPs on board for taking delivery of the aircraft


The low flyby photos

Original Chinese text from Appledaily HongKong:

國 泰 機 長 低 飛 演 被 炒
離 地 僅 30 呎 未 放 機 輪 　 罔 顧 機 上 乘 客 安 全

【 本 報 訊 】 荷 李 活 電 影 《 壯 志 凌 雲 》 （ Top Gun ） 中 ， 影 星 湯 告 魯 斯 駕 駛 戰 鬥 機 ， 低 飛 在 同 袍 面 前 認 威 ， 現 實 世 界 的 機 師 卻 容 不 下 逞 強 與 炫 耀 。 一 位 極 資 深 的 國 泰 機 長 ， 上 月 駕 駛 髹 上 全 新 圖 案 的 「 Asia's World City 」 客 機 由 美 國 西 雅 圖 準 備 返 港 時 ， 突 然 興 之 所 致 ， 擅 自 在 跑 道 僅 約 30 呎 之 上 ， 極 低 飛 掠 過 ， 炫 耀 個 人 技 術 。 他 的 衝 動 行 徑 被 視 為 危 害 機 上 貴 賓 包 括 國 泰 主 席 白 紀 圖 、 民 航 處 高 層 及 立 法 會 議 員 的 人 身 安 全 ， 國 泰 高 層 震 怒 ， 數 日 前 將 他 解 僱 ； 另 一 名 機 長 也 要 接 受 紀 律 處 分 ， 半 年 內 不 得 培 訓 新 機 師 。 　 記 者 ： 譚 暉

有 資 深 機 師 表 示 ， 客 機 在 跑 道 上 如 此 低 飛 ， 極 為 危 險 ， 一 陣 無 法 預 測 的 強 風 、 或 一 個 風 切 變 ， 都 足 以 令 客 機 墜 毀 ， 令 機 上 乘 客 喪 生 。 民 航 處 要 求 國 泰 提 交 報 告 。
因 一 時 貪 威 風 表 演 而 丟 掉 飯 碗 的 機 長 Ian Wilkinson ， 英 國 人 ， 是 國 泰 波 音 機 隊 的 總 機 師 （ Chief Pilot ） ， 經 驗 極 豐 富 。 事 發 於 上 月 30 日 ， 國 泰 航 空 大 張 旗 鼓 迎 接 全 新 「 Asia's World City 」 客 機 ， 邀 請 約 70 名 貴 賓 乘 坐 商 務 客 位 ， 由 西 雅 圖 波 音 廠 飛 返 本 港 ， 並 邀 得 民 航 處 處 長 羅 崇 文 、 貿 易 發 展 局 主 席 蘇 澤 光 及 一 眾 嘉 賓 及 傳 媒 出 席 在 本 港 舉 行 的 歡 迎 儀 式 ， 場 面 盛 大 。

片 段 在 YouTube 流 傳
事 隔 兩 周 ， 一 段 相 信 由 在 場 旁 觀 者 拍 得 、 「 Asia's World City 」 客 機 在 西 雅 圖 極 低 飛 的 片 段 在 YouTube 流 傳 。 片 中 可 見 客 機 在 波 音 廠 對 出 跑 道 約 30 呎 的 上 空 掠 過 ， 沒 有 放 下 機 輪 ， 更 一 度 飛 低 過 路 旁 的 燈 柱 ， 恍 如 貼 地 飛 行 。 在 場 人 士 為 這 難 得 一 見 的 「 飛 行 表 演 」 歡 呼 喝 采 。 片 段 點 擊 率 高 ， 但 不 久 就 被 人 設 定 為 私 人 片 段 ， 限 制 觀 看 。
然 而 ， 國 泰 高 層 獲 悉 有 關 片 段 後 極 為 震 怒 ， 調 查 後 發 現 ， 這 次 機 長 並 無 依 程 序 事 前 獲 得 管 理 層 批 准 ， 屬 擅 自 進 行 的 飛 行 表 演 。 據 悉 ， 機 長 當 時 滿 有 信 心 ， 評 估 天 氣 情 況 後 覺 得 沒 有 危 險 ， 遂 來 一 次 低 飛 讓 眾 人 開 開 眼 界 。
雖 然 客 機 安 然 抵 港 ， 管 理 層 卻 認 為 事 態 嚴 重 ， 無 法 容 忍 機 長 不 按 程 序 、 罔 顧 乘 客 安 全 的 個 人 主 義 心 態 ， 於 本 周 勒 令 Ian Wilkinson 停 職 ， 數 日 後 將 他 解 僱 。


機 長 要 依 足 飛 行 程 序
一 名 資 深 機 師 表 示 ， 設 定 飛 行 程 序 就 是 要 防 止 意 外 及 人 命 傷 亡 ， 因 此 最 經 驗 豐 富 、 技 術 超 卓 的 機 師 ， 也 要 依 足 程 序 ， 這 是 由 入 行 初 哥 至 老 行 尊 都 必 須 堅 守 的 紀 律 ， 「 大 家 都 很 尊 敬 Ian ， 但 很 難 想 像 他 這 樣 資 深 ， 卻 這 樣 鹵 莽 ； 沒 有 意 外 ， 是 他 和 機 上 乘 客 的 幸 運 」 ； 「 最 誇 張 是 沒 有 放 下 機 輪 ， 如 有 意 外 ， 客 機 只 能 墜 毀 、 無 法 陸 。 」


另 一 機 長 料 紀 律 處 分
國 泰 發 言 人 表 示 ， 已 就 事 件 進 行 內 部 調 查 ， 收 集 相 關 飛 行 資 料 ， 並 召 見 兩 名 負 責 的 機 長 問 話 ， 完 成 後 會 向 民 航 處 提 交 報 告 。 由 於 事 態 嚴 重 ， 當 時 負 責 駕 駛 的 正 機 長 已 被 撤 職 ； 另 一 名 負 責 培 訓 機 師 的 機 長 將 面 對 紀 律 處 分 ， 據 了 解 ， 他 半 年 內 不 准 培 訓 新 人 。 不 過 ， 兩 人 可 以 上 訴 。 另 外 ， 國 泰 就 事 件 向 約 2,000 名 機 師 發 出 通 告 ， 提 醒 他 們 在 「 飛 越 」 （ flyby ） 時 ， 必 須 依 足 公 司 政 策 。 國 泰 曾 在 安 全 許 可 下 ， 在 航 空 展 上 准 許 飛 機 進 行 飛 越 表 演 。

[AA 1818]

According to the article - the fly-by was done with the gears down. Why don't the pics show that?

And, while I still applaud the pilot for his attempt - I do see where CX is coming from. It is their aircaft, and their as*es on the line. But, I do think that they were a bit harsh with firing him. Maybe a suspension? And, I sonder if there were other things that came together for them to make this desicion. I think that there are more forces at play than we can see right now!

[Will_Power]

Originally Posted by CathayPacific

Yesterday, Cathay Pacific confirmed that it has fired its Boeing fleet Chief Pilot (i.e. the most senior pilot in CX Group) for performing an unscheduled low flyby over Boeing's field on a VIP flight with the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (the one with Asia's World City) livery. The incident occurred on Jan 30 2008 as Cathay took delivery of the aircraft. As CX celebrated accepting the new Asia's World City aircraft, it invited over 70 dignitaries to board the aircraft at Boeing's field in Seattle to fly back to HongKong. The flight was performed by the Boeing fleet Chief Pilot of Cathay Pacific and another very senior pilot as first officer. On board includes the Chairman and CEO of Cathay Pacific, several other senior management and some senior government officials and members of LEGCO (i.e. the parliament) of HongKong. After taking off, the plane returned to Boeing's air field and performed a low flyby above the runway at the height as low as 30ft with its wheels up. The flyby was not planned and not approved. The passengers on board the flight were unaware of the flyby. Some told reporters that they noticed the plane returned to the airport and flew low, but thought it was probably a planned performance. It was later found that the pilot notified Seattle's control of his plan to do so and has obtained the approval from ATC to do so, but he has never requested that with the airline and thus it was never approved by the airline.

It does seem harsh that they would fire him... Especially when he had the most seniority.

[sfoflyer]

I didn;t know that CX had European pilots. I assumed they all came from HKG, which is the main domicile for the airline (last time i went to HKG, there are very very few foreigners that i saw, especially since the Brits pulled out 10 years ago.)

[Foxtrot]

True that the pilot had the highest ranking for the Boeings in CX's fleet, but it appears he went a bit too far as far as CX management is concerned.

There are a number of things that can go wrong during any flyby, approved or unapproved which is why CX probably deemed this a serious safety breach, since he didn't check with CX beforehand. That's what I think anyway.

[CathayPacific]

Originally Posted by sfoflyer

I didn;t know that CX had European pilots. I assumed they all came from HKG, which is the main domicile for the airline (last time i went to HKG, there are very very few foreigners that i saw, especially since the Brits pulled out 10 years ago.)

Actually most (and I mean over 90%) of flight crew are British, Australian and to less extent Canadian. Freighters are mostly piloted by American. There are increasing numbers of local flight crew, but they are still by far a minority. But you are right about the cabin crew (i.e flight attendants), they are mostly from HongKong, some from Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and Japan, and increasingly from China, with the rest from India, Philippines and Thailand.

Originally Posted by Foxtrot

There are a number of things that can go wrong during any flyby, approved or unapproved which is why CX probably deemed this a serious safety breach, since he didn't check with CX beforehand. That's what I think anyway.

I think it's what's in the mind of management. They need to make sure that the message is out there for all flight crews to know there are things that are not tolerated. It is also a positive message to them so they know everyone would be treated the same way if you break safety rules, no matter how senior you are. It would be interesting to see if the union will have anything to say about this, although I don't think there is anything tangible they can do.

[chrisburns]

Most of Cathays pilots are American, Australian, and British, they have a pilot base in San Francisco.

[MaxPower]

Not as thrilling and fun to the CX management, but I bet the flyby looked good in the eyes of viewers/spotters on the ground.

A wake up call to the rest of CX's air crews. Even if you are a Chief Pilot, they can still fire your a*s

[AJ]

There is an interesting parallel between this and the TAP flyby in the A310. Both senior Captains, TAP approved, CX not, yet the CX one appeared graceful and controlled in professional eyes and the TAP not so much.

I'm sure it is easy to become caught up in the excitement of a new aircraft delivery, especially a special aircraft like KPF.

[Will M]

Better pics here

No more flight deck ping pong ball shows for this Captain then

[Brenden S]

Thats awesome

[DAL767-400ER]

Originally Posted by AJ

There is an interesting parallel between this and the TAP flyby in the A310. Both senior Captains, TAP approved, CX not, yet the CX one appeared graceful and controlled in professional eyes and the TAP not so much.

Playing Devil's Advocate, the reason for the difference that the TAP pilot did his stunt with a plane that was about to be retired, whereas the CX pilot did it with a sparkling new 250+ million dollar jet that CX just got that day.

[HalcyonDays]

Originally Posted by DAL767-400ER

Playing Devil's Advocate, the reason for the difference that the TAP pilot did his stunt with a plane that was about to be retired, whereas the CX pilot did it with a sparkling new 250+ million dollar jet that CX just got that day.

....But on the other hand (assuming what we read is correct), the TAP case was at least approved in advance by the airline, while the Cathay case was an impulsive action. I'm sure all the flightcrew involved in these and other incidents (there was a case of a Britannia captain in the UK who did an unplanned low pass in a 757 and was fired) are fine professional folk, but I have my doubts that airliners should be thrown around like fighter jets since these things can sometimes end in disaster : the margins are fine and distractions/mistakes leave no room for error.

[ptbodale]

Originally Posted by chrisburns

Most of Cathays pilots are American, Australian, and British, they have a pilot base in San Francisco.

You seem to have missed the Canadians.....quite a number are Canadian and operate routes to/from ANC.

[TAP-A343]

Originally Posted by AJ

There is an interesting parallel between this and the TAP flyby in the A310. Both senior Captains, TAP approved, CX not, yet the CX one appeared graceful and controlled in professional eyes and the TAP not so much.

I'm sure it is easy to become caught up in the excitement of a new aircraft delivery, especially a special aircraft like KPF.

Let me put this straight.

First, TAP's A310 had no pax onboard, no cabin crew and not even a second pilot. There was only one person onboard: the pilot.

Second, the flyby was performed at an Air Show.

Third, the flyby had been previously approved by TAP's management.

What other similarity is there between CX's flyby and TP's except that both were flybys?

I'll be surprised if this pilot is only fired and not also prossecuted for endangering people's lives especially considering that there were members of the Hong Kong parliament onboard.

[CathayPacific]

Originally Posted by TAP-A343

I'll be surprised if this pilot is only fired and not also prossecuted for endagering people's lives especially considering that there were members of the Hong Kong parliament onboard.

According to today's follow-up on Appledaily newspaper in HongKong, the local CAA (named CAD) is evaluating the case and considering bringing charges to the pilot. The aircraft is registered in HongKong and thus is subject to the law of HongKong even though the incident occured in US. It turns out that the law specifically says any flyby can only be approved by the department head of the CAD (equivalent position to the FAA administrator) or the Chief Executive (equivalent position to the president) of HongKong. The newspaper also quoted other pilots saying "This is an airline, not a flying club".

The newspaper also quoted some other aviation experts saying 30ft is too low so it probably won't be approved anyway if the pilot cared to ask beforehand at all.

original text on newspaper today:

低 飛 炫 耀 國 泰 機 長 或 被 控

【 記 者 譚 暉 報 道 】 亡 命 低 飛 炫 耀 技 術 、 無 視 乘 客 安 危 的 國 泰 英 籍 機 長 Ian Wilkinson ， 不 但 因 而 丟 失 工 作 ， 更 因 為 違 反 法 例 ， 有 機 會 遭 當 局 檢 控 。 據 本 報 了 解 ， 《 民 航 條 例 》 規 定 低 飛 必 須 事 先 獲 得 特 首 或 民 航 處 長 的 批 准 ； 至 於 會 否 起 訴 Ian Wilkinson ， 民 航 處 表 示 會 先 看 國 泰 提 交 的 報 告 ， 再 研 究 下 一 步 行 動 。
《 民 航 條 例 》 中 的 《 1995 年 飛 航 （ 香 港 ） 令 》 規 定 ， 任 何 情 況 都 不 可 低 飛 ， 除 非 獲 得 特 首 或 民 航 處 長 的 批 准 ； 但 低 飛 以 拯 救 生 命 則 可 獲 豁 免 ， 因 此 飛 行 服 務 隊 的 工 作 屬 豁 免 範 圍 。 雖 然 上 月 30 日 國 泰 客 機 低 飛 事 件 在 美 國 西 雅 圖 發 生 ， 但 由 於 國 泰 屬 本 港 註 冊 航 空 公 司 ， 因 此 民 航 處 也 有 權 引 用 本 港 相 關 法 例 。

外 國 傳 媒 關 注 報 道
Ian Wilkinson 逞 強 擅 自 低 飛 ， 雖 然 他 在 眾 人 面 前 成 功 作 出 一 次 「 精 采 表 演 」 ， 贏 得 現 場 旁 觀 者 的 歡 呼 喝 采 ， 然 而 航 空 界 卻 指 事 件 極 為 嚴 重 。 消 息 人 士 指 出 ， 即 使 Ian 依 足 程 序 申 請 ， 但 鑑 於 飛 行 高 度 太 低 （ 僅 30 呎 ） 、 機 上 又 有 約 70 名 貴 賓 ， 低 飛 的 風 險 太 高 ， 民 航 處 也 極 可 能 拒 絕 予 以 批 准 。
國 泰 機 師 違 規 事 件 已 引 起 其 他 國 家 傳 媒 關 注 ， 澳 洲 傳 媒 也 詳 細 報 道 事 件 來 龍 去 脈 。 有 外 籍 機 師 直 指 Ian 的 行 為 愚 蠢 ， 「 This is an Airline, not a flying club （ 這 是 航 空 公 司 ， 不 是 飛 行 會 ） 」 。 香 港 大 學 機 械 工 程 系 授 高 華 文 則 表 示 ， 客 機 如 此 低 飛 極 為 危 險 ， 遇 上 意 外 機 師 或 來 不 及 反 應 而 釀 成 慘 劇 。
低 飛 表 演 常 見 於 航 空 展 ， 雖 然 事 前 經 過 各 部 門 仔 細 風 險 評 估 ， 但 也 曾 發 生 意 外 。 20 年 前 一 架 簇 新 空 中 巴 士 A320 客 機 ， 在 法 國 及 瑞 士 邊 境 舉 行 的 航 空 展 低 飛 示 範 時 墜 毀 ， 造 成 3 死 133 人 受 傷 的 悲 劇 。

[screaming_emu]

Originally Posted by DAL767-400ER

Playing Devil's Advocate, the reason for the difference that the TAP pilot did his stunt with a plane that was about to be retired, whereas the CX pilot did it with a sparkling new 250+ million dollar jet that CX just got that day.

Hardly a stunt

[Vishal Jolapara]

Anonymous said... I am a CX pilot and can tell you all right now that myself and none of the other CX pilots are sorry to see Wilko go.
He was a total prick and anyone would think he owned CX the way he used to carry on.

We have been trying to find a reason to get rid of him for a long time and the youtube video was too good an opportunity to pass up....

Owww dear.................

[turbotraker]

Anonymous said... I am a CX pilot and can tell you all right now that myself and none of the other CX pilots are sorry to see Wilko go.
He was a total prick and anyone would think he owned CX the way he used to carry on.

We have been trying to find a reason to get rid of him for a long time and the youtube video was too good an opportunity to pass up....

The words, knife, back and twist come to mind

[Will M]

I see 99% of the photos have been deleted from the Seattle blog