DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
East Timor accident cause is yet to be pinpointed but aircrew lacked weather information and air traffic control
A preliminary report into the 31 January loss of a Euro Asia Aviation Ilyushin Il-76TD freighter in East Timor has been released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which has been asked to investigate the accident. No cause has been determined, but the ATSB recommends development of instrument approach charts for Cakung Airport, Baucau, near East Timor's northern coast, and a review of air traffic services.
The Il-76 (RDPL-34141), carrying 30t of freight from Macau for a telecommunications company, crashed on final approach in fog about 2km (1nm) from the runway threshold during its second attempt to land on runway 14, according to an earlier ATSB bulletin. There was no air traffic control provision at Cakung when the aircraft was making its approach, and there were no aerodrome weather forecasts for the airport. All six crew on board were killed.
The ATSB has recommended to the government of East Timor that instrument approach and aerodrome charts for Baucau be drafted, and that the government "review the provision of air traffic services and facilities to aircraft operations into Baucau".
The board has also called on United Nations Air Operations to help East Timor in developing suitable approved instrument approach procedures and charts.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has signed a memorandum of understanding with the CIS Interstate Aviation Committee to share their expertise and experience in air accident investigation. The investigation into the 31 January accident involving the Euro Asia Aviation Ilyushin Il-76TD freighter at Baucau is the first co-operative task the two agencies have worked on.Source: Flight International
