Brazil - Brazzil Mag - Brazil TAM Back to Congonhas After Air Tragedy But Only on Sunny Days

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Brazilian authorities reopened the main runway at Brazil's busiest airport on Friday for the first time since a TAM Airbus 320 jetliner crashed there on July 17, killing at least 199 people. A TAM flight was the first to touch down on the 6,362-foot main runway, but the airline has imposed new restrictions since the crash, saying it will only use Congonhas airport, which is close to downtown São Paulo, when it is not raining.

The airport had been restricted to a 4,711-foot backup since the crash while investigators tried to determine if the main runway's condition played a role in the accident. Both runways are relatively short by modern standards.

Flight 3054, an Airbus A320, landed in driving rain and seemed to accelerate rather than slowing on the main runway before crashing into buildings at 109 mph and exploding.

The accident created more chaos in Brazil's air travel industry, led to the ouster of the defense minister and prompted a safety advisory from Airbus, though authorities have not yet publicized what they learned from the plane's data recorders.

Airbus spokeswoman Barbara Kracht would not specify the nature of the information from the data recorder and said that the advisory did not imply any conclusion about the causes of the crash.

On Friday, the newly appointed Defense minister, Nelson Jobim, made a personal inspection of the Congonhas airport and the terminal where the Airbus crashed and exploded. Jobim also met with São Paulo governor José Serra and São Paulo City mayor Gilberto Kassab.

Brazilian press reports indicate that the network of domestic airports is beginning to normalize following the almost six days collapse when Congonhas main runway was closed down causing massive flight delays and cancellations.

Congonhas is the Brazil's busiest international and domestic airport which on rainy days becomes a dangerous trap because of poor drainage.

Brazilian president Lula da Silva promised on national television a new airport and that Congonhas will be limited to regional flights. A new airport, however, would take at least 10 years to be built.

can brasilians think 10 years ahead
written by forrest Brown, July 29, 2007

sinple small planes with reverse thursters land there .
all others at the other airport.

grove runway and improve dranige, extend runway another 2800 feet to make up for landing speeds for new jest and
build a catch pit at end of runway

or spend at least 10 years and billions of dallors trying to build another airport , with money you dont have
and watch how many years and millions over buget it will be

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Observer
written by doggydaddy, July 29, 2007

Forrest, the only problem with extending the runway is that is there is no ground to do it.. it would have to be really like an aircraft carrerr with an elevated extension. Also would have to knock down many to tall buildings that are on the final glide path.

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look google earth
written by forrest Brown, July 29, 2007

there is land just in the hands of others

and as before build road under runway the buildings that would be lost could fill in the hole .

if you look at GH and just move the runway foward you would not have to knock down the out going at the end and the other end is below the runway anyway

just wind would be the factor during rain storm
and build a trap .

look at the SP map and see if you can find another place to stick one that would not spend the next 10 years in court and 10 more to build
and the loss of millions of reals in pocket money for the congress , mayor , govoner, and the list is longer than the runway

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Good thing it was raining
written by Jay Glenn, July 29, 2007

Other wise They would have to Blame it on being Tuesday, ban flights on Tuesdays.

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Forrest
written by João da Silva, July 29, 2007

Do you think that we have to court martial Doggy Daddy and send him before a firing squad? No wories,mate. According to him, he lives closeby.btw, he came out with something interesting about the gliding path.You better listen to him to. Clube Bahamas is located right on the gliding path ,while landing in Congonhas. I will look him up next week and check what else he has to say!

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"though authorities have not yet publicized what they learned from the plane's data recorders. "
written by ch.c., July 29, 2007

GUESS WHY !!!!!!!!

In the previous crash, they were ready after 2 days....to accuse the US pilots...well before the investigations even started and telling the world that their air security was one of the best in the world.

It happens that Air and Aviation Security is not only in the Air, but also at take-off and landing time !!!!!!
Something Pires...did not even know !!!!!
And if he knew, he did not do his job. Simple !

I bet that many things will be kept secret for eternity, so that the Brazilian government wont lose face !!!!!!!

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Betcha they won´t
written by Ric, July 29, 2007

Nothing will be kept secret for eternity.

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A bit late for that...
written by Brazilian Dude, July 29, 2007

NOW the airline decides the runway isn't all that great after all...So how come they (both TAM and GOL)exerted so much pressure on the gvt.o keep Congonhas as the main air-travel hub in Brazil? Ha! now that their profits are threatened, they give us this claptrap about "caring about safety"... I bet the bloody medals the ANAC directors got was for bending over nice and proper so the airlines could ream them deep and hard! The government has been the airline's whore for a long while, and it has forgotten how to do anything but open upwide for those that give it nice campaign contributions. Now that 200 crispy, dismembered dead people and their families helped the country glimpse the insane situation we the public are in, all of a sudden everybody both in the gvt. and in the airline companies is a safety-conscious boy scout.
Yeah, right.
We won't forget.
And hell,no, we won't forgive.

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...
written by João Pinga, July 29, 2007

Other wise They would have to Blame it on being Tuesday, ban flights on Tuesdays.

Dangit Jay Glenn, I damn near laughed myself unconscious after raeding that...

Now that 200 crispy, dismembered dead people and their families helped the country glimpse the insane situation we the public are in

No sir, this "insane situation" was pointed out to you folks 10 months ago by us damn gringos (find the blogs from last year, it´s all digitally preserved forever), but your stubborn anti-american bretheren brushed off these criticisms and hailed and defended Brazilian air space as "the safest and most proffessional in the world".

These 200 deaths could have been avoided if your nation and its people took the last 154 deaths more seriously, and investigated the GOL1907 tragedy more methodically and less emotionally. As much as your government is to blame for this newest tragedy, you Brazilians should shoulder your far share too, because when it was proven that there was a serious crisis (or as you say an "Insane situation") in air travel in Brazil MONTHS AGO, you all prefered to ignore the ugly truth and continue with the convinient lie by scapegoating the Americans.

How soon everyone forgets!

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hay joao
written by forrest Brown, July 29, 2007

there is alawys clube american show just down the street and way out of the glide path and the women are much better looking and free food with your 2 drink minum on friday and saturday plus dam good AC
you should meet the men and have a bottle party there .

it is a jet that has to maintain 172 kts or fall out of the sky so no gliding there
if they close the airport there than all your bars will got the way to the next airport and you will have to drive a long way to see tits

if you just make it a one way in airport than you got it , if not you would have to level many buildings that should have not been built in that place any way so much for brasilians
eurban planning .and planning for the furture groth of the airport .

next time you are out there look at what i am talking about ,
you have a drainage ditch , a large road , and some buildings that would be simple to get rid of , and only land going up hill and take off going down

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to; Joao Pinga
written by Brazilian Dude, July 30, 2007

You're preaching to the choir here, mate.The problem is we who saw through Osama Bin Lula's mask long ago and knew that blaming the american pilots was a crock were literally shouted down as unpatriotic bastards. Most of the country approved of that teflon prick (LULA) and any attempt to show people the rickety condition of our airspace (or anything else, for that matter) was tantamount to high treason.Now, after this other horrific murder (not really an accident, was it? Osama Bin Lula's attitudes crashed tht plane into the building as sure as Bin Laden's did on 09/11) has taken place, even Mr. Bin Lula's "slick as goose crap" act haven't been able to get him out of the line of fire.
Yet.
A large part of the Brazilian public is illiterate and ignorant, and see this whole mess as something the "higher classes" or "elites" deserve.This ind of B.S. is obviously fueled by Bin Lula in his speeches, and guess what? Lots of people listen to it.
We are sooooo screwed.

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...
written by Joõ PInga, July 30, 2007

You're preaching to the choir here, mate.The problem is we who saw through Osama Bin Lula's mask long ago and knew that blaming the american pilots was a crock were literally shouted down as unpatriotic bastards.

It’s good to hear some sanity from within the population, and sorry, but my rants were aimed mostly towards your "brethren", and not specifically towards you, my good man. I do know for a fact that this nation has some outstanding, free thinkers that aren’t side tracked to typical nationalistic chest pounding at the sight of the Brazilian flag or any football match for that matter. It is these folks, which give me hope.

Look to this site and read the rationality from the other Joáo, and it is obvious that this nation produces stellar individuals. Sadly, you, João, and those in my immediately surrounding are in the minority. Although, with the addition of each new voice the choir sings louder.

A large part of the Brazilian public is illiterate and ignorant, and see this whole mess as something the "higher classes" or "elites" deserve.This ind of B.S. is obviously fueled by Bin Lula in his speeches, and guess what? Lots of people listen to it.

Truer words have never been spoken.

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J.Pinga
written by João da Silva, July 30, 2007

Sadly, you, João, and those in my immediately surrounding are in the minority. Although, with the addition of each new voice the choir sings louder.

Thanks for the kind words and allow me to distort your famous quote and say "I believe more in like minded folks getting to gether and building a nation than to kneel down and kiss the arses of the politicians and curry for their favor". The choir is going to get louder,my friend. We need more people like Brazilan Dude, A Brazilian,Magnus,Marcelo, O Velhinho and many others who talk sense to join the choir.

It is also time for our "brethern" to understand that Xenophobia is not going to take us anyware,but serves the idiots in power and keeps us all ignorant and maitains the status quo.

I am glad that the "Brazilian Dude" is more passionate and forceful in putting the thoughts of the "Stellar Brazilians" in Words. I think he is honest in his opinion.

As for the Gringos criticizing the chaotic air travel and other things that can easily be fixed, go ahead.Just make sure you pay all the (exhorbitant) Taxes the government charges! If someone complains, you can always put the blame on your spouses and the children!!

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Forrest
written by João da Silva, July 30, 2007

there is alawys clube american show just down the street and way out of the glide path and the women are much better looking and free food with your 2 drink minum on friday and saturday plus dam good AC
you should meet the men and have a bottle party there .

I dont think that GTY knows this Club and when Clube Bahamas is knocked down, he has a better alternative. I hope he is reading our posts.

if they close the airport there than all your bars will got the way to the next airport and you will have to drive a long way to see tits

Forrest, I dont have to go to Congonhas to see the tits. I can easily walk for about 10 minutes and see all the tits free. Why buy milk when the cow is free smilies/grin.gif

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