Pilot describes severity of smoke problem from forest fires in Chiang Mai

[webfact]

Image Courtesy: Captain Faisal

A pilot for Thai Airways International has given his perspective of the severity of the PM2.5 dust and smoke problem in Chiang Mai province.

 

In his “Captain Faisal” Facebook post on Saturday, the pilot wrote that he landed his aircraft at Chiang Mai airport at about 9am and, as soon as the door of the plane was opened, the first thing that struck his nostrils was the smell of smoke.

 

He wrote that visibility was reduced to about two kilometres, he only saw the runway at a height of 200 feet and the Doi Suthep mountain was totally shrouded in smoke.

 

In a second post, in response to several questions about how the smoke will affect flights approaching Chiang Mai airport, Captain Faisal responded by writing that thick smoke reduces visibility and pilots who were not trained in handling such a situation will not be able to land, even though the airport is equipped with a system to guide the pilots in the landing.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-04-08

 

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[thesetat]

Good the pilots are speaking out about the dangers of flying into Chiang Mai. This will surely do the one thing needed to get officials to be serious in combatting this problem. Reduction of flights into the city and dangers entering the city will surely reduce tourism dollars. 

[Darksidedude]

IFR ?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

In a second post, in response to several questions about how the smoke will affect flights approaching Chiang Mai airport, Captain Faisal responded by writing that thick smoke reduces visibility and pilots who were not trained in handling such a situation will not be able to land, even though the airport is equipped with a system to guide the pilots in the landing.

Not an issue for the modern commercial aircraft using the CAT III ILS landing system...

However smaller aircraft on VFR rules could have an issue should the visibility on approach be reduced to the point they cannot configure a safe landing.

[brianthainess]

Can't be very good for these engines sucking in all that crap, and the reduced oxygen IMO could lead to loss of power or even total  malfunction. 

[Naroge]

22 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Can't be very good for these engines sucking in all that crap, and the reduced oxygen IMO could lead to loss of power or even total  malfunction. 

"Reduced oxygen"? Where was this stated? 

[Skipalongcassidy]

The pilot will never be heard from again... the government will see to that.

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

However smaller aircraft on VFR rules could have an issue should the visibility on approach be reduced to the point they cannot configure a safe landing.

At Samui airport, if pilots cannot see the end of the runway from a certain distance out (2 K's?) then they have to 'go round' a few times until they can or they re-route.

This is usually during very heavy rain storms or low cloud.

[newnative]

And not a thing being done about it.  Oh, wait, free face masks.

[keithkarmann]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

Can't be very good for these engines sucking in all that crap, and the reduced oxygen IMO could lead to loss of power or even total  malfunction. 

Put some Hepa filters on the intakes and the engines would act as giant air purifiers.

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, Naroge said:

"Reduced oxygen"? Where was this stated? 

Engines need oxygen to ignite fuel, dust particles would not mix/burn well and do not contain oxygen so therefore reduced oxygen, that is my opinion.

Basic Science 

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Engines need oxygen to ignite fuel, dust particles would not mix/burn well and do not contain oxygen so therefore reduced oxygen, that is my opinion.

Basic Science 

Consider how engines manage the lower levels of O2 when at cruising altitudes of 30,000 feet.

[PumpkinEater]

There are only two airports in Thailand that can accommodate AUTO-Landings. BKK and DMK both have Cat II approaches.

Chiang Mai (CNX) has Category 1 approach ILS which is NOT autoland. The minimums are 233ft where you must SEE the runway required criteria, then you disconnect the auto pilot and land manually.

 

In other words, heavy rain or smog can prevent a landing and go around.

 

Cheers!

[TheFishman1]

Having an IFR is a good thing I’ve been flying for over 25 years

[Shoeless Joe]

On 4/8/2024 at 6:24 AM, Darksidedude said:

IFR ?

WTF?

[mania]

21 minutes ago, Shoeless Joe said:

WTF?

IFR = Instrument flight rules are rules and regulations to govern flight under conditions in which flight by outside visual reference is not safe. IFR flight depends upon flying by reference to instruments in the flight deck, and navigation is accomplished by reference to electronic signals.

[Darksidedude]

19 hours ago, mania said:

IFR = Instrument flight rules are rules and regulations to govern flight under conditions in which flight by outside visual reference is not safe. IFR flight depends upon flying by reference to instruments in the flight deck, and navigation is accomplished by reference to electronic signals.

yep exactly

[ThaiPauly]

On 4/8/2024 at 5:06 PM, PumpkinEater said:

There are only two airports in Thailand that can accommodate AUTO-Landings. BKK and DMK both have Cat II approaches.

Chiang Mai (CNX) has Category 1 approach ILS which is NOT autoland. The minimums are 233ft where you must SEE the runway required criteria, then you disconnect the auto pilot and land manually.

 

In other words, heavy rain or smog can prevent a landing and go around.

 

Cheers!

In previous years when pollution is very very bad planes have been diverted to other airports.

I have not seen any reports of that happening this year