Tenerife Air Crash Case

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Based on the statistic above, for primary cause factors of accidents that happen in worldwide commercial jet fleet, we can see that 80% of the accidents happened was ‘human caused’. The statistic above is not simply created, but it was concluded after years of research by hundreds of investigator. It is also the same as the factors that will be listed as the prime factors that caused a catastrophic disaster at Tenerife airport. 60 investigators were sent down to Tenerife airport to investigate the cause of the accidents. All the possible factors that found to be the cause for the disaster were list down, being research and investigate, and also some investigators do study group to exchanges the information and opinions for the accident. After many years of investigation, they had solved and concluded the case as stated in their reports that being referred to complete this assignment. 1. COMMUNICATION MISUNDERSTANDINGS Immediately after lining up, the KLM captain, the most senior pilot working for KLM, advanced the throttles (a standard procedure known as "spool-up", to verify that the engines are operating properly for takeoff) and the co-pilot, surprised by the maneuver, quickly advised the captain that ATC clearance had not yet been given. Captain Van Zanten responded, "I know that. Go ahead, ask." KLM First Officer Meurs then radioed the tower that they were "ready for takeoff" and "waiting for our ATC clearance". The KLM crew then received instructions which specified the route that the aircraft was to follow after takeoff. The instructions used the word "take-off," but did not include an explicit statement that they were cleared for take-off. First Officer Meurs read the flight clearance back to the controller, com... ... middle of paper ... ...used an accident. Based on the Tenerife airport disaster, there is one major factor that caused the aircraft collision, which is human error. The accident obviously occurred because the captain of KLM took-off without ATC clearance. It happens because of communication misunderstanding between the ATC and the flight crew itself. Therefore, it is important to all aviation authorities to implement the recommendation by the investigators for the safety of operation. It is to ensure the same incident will not happen again in the future. The flight operators should monitor closely all their technical crews and staffs for their behavior and performance. Positive employee will results in positive growth of the company itself thus create a safe-making profit aviation industry. Without positive growth of industry, there will be no positive growth of income for the nation.

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