Brazil's TAM Admits
Brake Not Working In
Plane Crash
Brazilian airline TAM on
Friday admitted that one
of the thrust reversers
on the Airbus A320 that
crashed at San Paulo was
not operating, but said
that planes in such
condition are considered
safe to fly.
TAM said in a communique
that its Airbus A320's
right braking system was
deactivated in
accordance with the
Airbus manufacturer
specifications approved
by the Brazil's National
Civil Aviation Agency (Anac).
It admitted there were
problems with the brake
some days before the air
disaster.
But the company said
that according to the
technical specifications
offered by plane maker
Airbus, the type of
aircraft involved in
Tuesday's air crash in
Sao Paulo can fly for up
to 10 days with a broken
thrust reverser.
Brazil's Air Force
Accident Investigation
and Prevention chief
Jorge Kersul also said
any aircraft can land
properly without using
the reverse brake.
He said despite being
used in all sorts of
landings, the reverse
brake is only an
additional instrument to
help the plane stop.
Kersul said it is
necessary to determine
if the brake failure
contributed to the
accident.
Other specialists said
that if the airport's
runway is wet, as it was
at the time of the
accident, it is
difficult to land
without using the
reverse brake.
Brazilian officials said
the investigation will
last some ten months.
The TAM airliner Airbus
A320 crashed into a fuel
station and exploded
when landing at the
Congonhas airport,
killing nearly
200people.
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