Comair Sues Feds, Kentucky Airport

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/13/national/main2089026.shtml

Comair sued the federal government and the Lexington airport Friday over the deadly crash of a commuter plane that mistakenly took off from a too-short runway. Forty-nine people were killed in the accident Aug. 27.

In a statement, the airline said it intends to reach fair settlements with the victims' families but is suing to ensure other parties that bear responsibility pay their fair share.

A week before the crash, an airport repaving project changed the taxi route leading to the 7,000-foot main runway that Comair Flight 5191 should have used.

The plane mistakenly turned onto a 3,500-foot runway in the dark, struggled to get airborne and crashed in a field.

[wakeme2008]

1. Comair is FUCKED and will try anything to point the blame at anybody

other than their own shitty pilots.

[LisaM]

2. Didn't the FAA give them the wrong maps?

As well as shorted the number of controllers, despite the airport having asked for more?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. even then,

Had the pilots glanced at the compass in the cockpit - they would have known they were lined up on the wrong runway.

[karlrschneider]

7. That's what baffles me. Not JUST the compass, but the HSI/ FD

and DG also! I've made takeoffs in zero-zero and those 'clocks' are the only way you can even
-stay on- the runway. I'd like to see the flight plan they had filed.

[Solo_in_MD]

5. Doesn't matter, the pilot is still responsible

For those here who are unaware of it, the FAA is never liable in aircraft accidents. The rules are written that way. We used to refer to it as committing aviation, because if something bad happened, you the pilot were going to be at fault.

For example: You are in IFR conditions (clouds & fog) and being vectored by an FAA controller. He sends you into a mountain and you crash. Its still your fault since as the pilot you had the option to refuse the command and should have known there was terrain there. I could go on and on with similar examples.

Bottom line: the rules are set up so the Gov is never at fault and they wont be here either.

Finally, the pilot could have and should have also have verified runway heading before applying power. All he had to do was look at his compass. The number is also painted on the ground and clearly visible when taxiing.

[karlrschneider]

6. Maybe better if you qualify that as "legally" responsible.

Suing the government is pretty much of a lost cause whether it's the FAA or any other part of it but
I suspect this is a legal tactic to at least show some of the fault lies with them - not necessarily
for monetary compensation. And you're right in the last part...the crew simply screwed up, there's no
excuse (although there may be some -reasons-) for departing in the wrong direction on the wrong runway.

[ingac70]

9. Only having one airtraffic controler is a violation....

of Federal law.... Comair should not be the only ones stuck with the payout on this...

The airports should have to follow FAA rules, and the Feds shouldn't be lax about inforcement!

[KDLarsen]

3. I just hope that Comair/FAA/whatever...

are treating the victims' families properly. I can still remember the aftermath of Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 which ended with the controller on duty on the night of the crash, being killed by the relative of three of the victims.

[moondust]

8. Is there such a thing as

a compass heading alarm system that would scream and flash at the pilot if not lined up correctly for takeoff? Of course it shouldn't be necessary if the pilot is awake but...