UAE F-16 overruns runway at Sigonella

Lasse · by **Lasse** » 27 Apr 2011, 13:20

ROME, Apr 27, 2011 (AFP) - A United Arab Emirates F-16 fighter jet taking part in military operations over Libya veered off the runway after landing at an air base in Italy, Italian news agency ANSA reported on Wednesday.

The pilot ejected from the plane when it was already on the ground but no-one was injured in the accident at the Sigonella air base in Sicily which has been temporarily shut down, the report said, citing anonymous sources.

The plane was based at the Decimomannu base in Sardinia as part of a deployment of 12 fighter jets from the United Arab Emirates including six F-16s and six Mirages for the enforcement of a no-fly zone on Libya.

Contacted by AFP, the Italian air force and the main NATO base in Naples in charge of Libya operations were not immediately able to comment on the report.

© Copyright AFP 2011.

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20 ... 1357ZJAX16
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_72911.htm
https://twitter.com/#!/cencio4/status/63212283106562048
http://www.f-16.net/news_article4330.html

:!:

Patriot · by **Patriot** » 27 Apr 2011, 18:10

It's kinda weird that UAEs didn't implemented a drag chute, though they are the heaviest ones in the familly.

abdo_salah999 · by **abdo_salah999** » 27 Apr 2011, 18:24

UAE's official reply: "Because of bad weather the plane veered off course"

And there have been some minor damage in the structure.

discofishing · by **discofishing** » 27 Apr 2011, 19:30

Could this be straight up pilot error? If the plane only has minor damage, then I'm sure UAE has enough money to get it fixed.

mjoelner · by **mjoelner** » 27 Apr 2011, 21:23

The norwegian and dutch airforces use drag chutes on their f-16AM's. I don't know how often they use them though. A danish press officer who watched the incident said that there are arrestor wires at the end of the runway. Just like on an aircraft carrier. Remember the F-16 actually have an arrestor hook! For some reason only one of the UAE jets caught the wire ?
It was rainy weather and the UAE jets were heavily laden.
The danish airforce almost lost a jet at Baghram Afghanistan in a very similar fashion.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/427/0310349ol.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6430/0310330vi.jpg
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/5386/0310326vv.jpg

The pilot also ejected, but he landed in a mine-field! Fortunately nothing happened to the pilot, but the jet had to be airlifted out.

Boman · by **Boman** » 27 Apr 2011, 21:45

Mjolner,
RNoAF use it all the time to shorten the landing run. Specially in winter and on the shorter, smaller airfields this comes in handy.

TC · by TC » 27 Apr 2011, 23:30

Patriot wrote:It's kinda weird that UAEs didn't implemented a drag chute, though they are the heaviest ones in the familly.

The UAE has 12,000 ft+ runways at Al Dhafra. They don't need the chutes for their Vipers.

Davis83 · by **Davis83** » 28 Apr 2011, 00:49

My understanding is that the chutes are on for improved control when landing on runways prone to icing. Always thought this was the reason mostly northern Europeans used them.

faust · by **faust** » 28 Apr 2011, 00:58

in Venezuela there's not icing problem in the runways, and always the vipers deploys the chutes upon landing

geogen · by **geogen** » 28 Apr 2011, 04:50

Respects to the pilot for punching out safely after suffering a threatening landing condition. Hopefully they will figure out what went wrong and make the fix.

And TC beat me to the probable answer with regards to why UAEAF does not usually require a 'drag-chute'.

Furthermore, the UAE desert Viper mod apparently requires only the 'short' rear-end tail fixture (such as found on USAF F-16s), which would otherwise deploy a chute via the clearly extended rear section - as are equipped by other international F-16 variants.

Patriot · by **Patriot** » 28 Apr 2011, 16:40

Seems like the nose section came off.. :roll:

Bjorn · by **Bjorn** » 28 Apr 2011, 17:50

If anyone knows the serial, please let us know.

Greets,

ironmanxxx · by **ironmanxxx** » 28 Apr 2011, 20:34

2 seater. Anyone have any photos of the jet?

energo · by **energo** » 28 Apr 2011, 21:30

Davis83 wrote:My understanding is that the chutes are on for improved control when landing on runways prone to icing. Always thought this was the reason mostly northern Europeans used them.

Factor in wind in addition to a wet or icy runway, and "control" is a challenge in typical arctic conditions much of the year. The chute might try to pull the aircraft in bad conditions. :crazypilot:

B. Bolsøy
Oslo

ironmanxxx · by **ironmanxxx** » 28 Apr 2011, 21:33

Keep in Mind, this is an advanced aircraft for the UAE, and they are also not use to landing in rainy weather due to where they are normally deployed...