WORLD> America
Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-25 16:59

Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport
A Northwest Airlines jet is prepared for a fligjht at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday, October 23, 2009. [Agencies]

The NTSB recommended a decade ago that airlines be required to have two-hour cockpit voice recorders. The standard has been 15- to 30-minute recorders.

Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a rule requiring airplanes and helicopters seating 10 or more people to have the 2-hour audio recordings, but gave the industry time to comply. Aircraft made after March 2010 must come equipped with longer recorders, though many manufacturers have already been including them. Existing planes have until March 2012 to comply.

Related readings:
Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport US gov't struggles to find answer to pilot fatigue
Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport Indian navy aircraft crashes, pilot killed
Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport NY pilot who radioed warning: Plane like missile
Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport Plane hits control tower at Thai airport, pilot dead

Pilot denies napping after overshooting airport Air France: Flight 447 pilot's body retrieved

The FAA rule doesn't require cockpit video recordings, which the NTSB had also recommended. Pilots opposed the video recordings.

Northwest, which was acquired last year by Delta Air Lines, is also investigating the incident. Cheney and Cole have been suspended. Messages left at Cheney's home were not returned.

The pilots passed breathalyzer tests and were apologetic after the flight, according to a police report released Friday. Cheney and Cole had just started their work week and were coming off a 19-hour layover, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Saturday, citing an internal Northwest document it said was described to the newspaper.

The police report said that the crew indicated they had been having a heated discussion about airline policy.

   Previous page 1 2 Next Page