Injuries Nil, Damage Minimal, In Dozing Driver Incident
Watching the
choreography of a modern airline ramp, with a constant flow of
aircraft, baggage-handling equipment, fuel trucks, and other ground
servicing equipment, many a child has asked: "how come they don't
bump into each other?"
The primary answer is that the people operating all these moving
parts are skilled professionals who have had extensive training and
follow rigid procedures (one of the most memorable moments in the
first year of the TV Series "Airline" came when a young tug
operator had to push a plane from the most difficult position, by
himself, for the first time. He was as nervous as any first-solo
pilot).
But the secondary answer is that, unfortunately, sometimes they
do.
Tuesday morning, March 15th, at 0616 EST a Continental Express
regional jet and a jet-fuel truck operated by Million Air made
contact on the ramp at Richmond International Airport in Virginia
(ICAO: KRIC).
By all indications, it was a low-speed collision. No one was
injured and damage to the ERJ is described as "minimal," according
to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. But it's the second prang this year
between a Million Air refueler and a jetliner, and it happened as
the jet was being pushed back for departure with 44 passengers and
3 crew on board.
While media reports
indicated that the damage was not serious, the aircraft was taken
out of service for inspection; the passengers disembarked and
Continental Express agents tried to rebook them, ultimately
arranging a new aircraft for Flight 2216. They arrived safely at
Houston's Intercontinental Airport (KIAH), but over four hours
behind schedule.
Contacted by Aero-News, Million Air Richmond's President, Gene
McDonough, explained what caused the accident -- a dozing truck
driver let the fuel truck roll forward in his sleep. "The employee
had a valid driver's license and admitted that he'd dozed off,
albeit in 'drive' while he was awaiting his next flight." Ouch; we
can see the "dozer" jokes coming already.
Continental's online flight- and gate-status system shows the
schedule of the canceled and reconstituted flight. Flight 2116,
scheduled to depart at 0600 and arrive at 0824, instead returned to
the gate at 0613 (to debark the passengers; there's a slight
discrepancy with the reported accident time, probably due to
somebody having a mis-set clock). The subsequent Flight 2116
departed at 0953 and arrived at 1231.
Local TV Station WWBT NBC12 in Richmond showed the nose of the
refueler under the tailcone of the jet. The two made contact at
right angles. It appears that the truck was moving forward and the
airplane was being pushed back by a tug, from the right to the left
of the truck's path.
While the damage to the aircraft does not appear severe, only an
inspection by trained maintenance technicians will be able to tell
for certain. Aero-News reported last year on a loss of cabin
pressure incident caused by structural failure where ground
service equipment had left a barely-noticeable crease
in an Alaska Airlines airliner's skin.
Pressure cycles worked on that stress riser until the skin
failed inflight. Inevitably, in the USA, the incident led to a
lawsuit.
As soon as Tuesday's accident happened, airport and Virginia
State Police started an investigation, which was then taken over by
the Federal Aviation Administration, assisted by the other
agencies, Continental Express, and Million Air.
"The truck went back into service immediately," McDonough tells
us, "and the plane ferried to Knoxville for repair around
noon."
He also wanted to express his, and the company's, gratitude to
the airline and the public for bearing with them. "The airline was
considerably understanding of the issue," according to
McDonough.
His closing words: "Sorry to all!"
Million Air Richmond is a franchise of the national FBO chain.
As well as full services for general aviation, it provides fueling
under contract to several airlines at KRIC, including Continental,
Delta and Northwest.
Continental Express is the name under which ExpressJet Airlines
does business as a Continental feeder. It operates Embraer Regional
Jets exclusively.