Air Berlin - Spectacular farewell: AB7001 MIA-DUS steep turn over terminal

Brixerl · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:00 am

Spectacular farewell of Air Berlin flight 7001 MIA-DUS - last flight of AB longhaul operations. Low approach and turn over the terminal in Düsseldorf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N78rajMN0Mo (perplexed viewers in terminal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-bZaghb1CU (tower view)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKfo1We2YHE (apron view plus from tower roof)

Brixerl · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:10 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZDYGsem0JE (view out of passenger cabin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQDLokcTito (moving words by the captain after landing - first in german, then in english)

FoxtrotSierra · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:10 am

WOW!

I swear this is the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen an airplane do! That was incredible! I had to to do a double take when I saw the first video!!!! Oh man that was exciting, and that was just on YT, but damn, never mind how amazing yet bonkers that must’ve looked in real life!

I have no clue who that pilot was but they had balls of steel to fly that insanely low, and I will personally buy them a beverage of their choice for pulling that off! This was the best way to send off AB and I will never forget seeing this!

seahawk · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:23 am

It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

SpaceshipDC10 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:37 am

Cool.

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

You serious? Is this what you call a standard go-around?

VirginFlyer · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:38 am

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:
Cool.

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

You serious? Is this what you call a standard go-around?

Eyeballing it, the angle of bank doesn't appear to exceed 30°, so calling it a steep turn might be excessive. Still looks pretty cool though!

V/F

Aeroflot777 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:48 am

Neat experience for folks on-board and in the terminal. A small gesture, but will be remembered by many.

Off topic a bit... In the second video (the one from the tower), the controller seems to be speaking with an Austrian Airlines plane in the background and speaking in German. Is this normal for an international airport? Shouldn't operations be handled in English, as there are foreign airlines operating there too? Not familiar with these procedures.

Btblue · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:49 am

Reminds me of years ago (2002) and sat on the beach at PMI and an Air Berlin 737 took off and made the most incredible bank left, just like this. All other flights appeared to perform a standard bank angle, this particular Air Berlin flight was aerobatic in comparison, amazing over the beach. Have never seen anything like it since in all the times I've been to PMI. This is a great video, must be an Air Berlin thing.

seahawk · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:53 am

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:
Cool.

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

You serious? Is this what you call a standard go-around?

Within the standard procedure limits on every aspect.

andrej · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:55 am

Amazing videos. Albeit not standard go-around per approach plates, it was far from dangerous. Thanks for sharing!

Aeroflot777 wrote:
Neat experience for folks on-board and in the terminal. A small gesture, but will be remembered by many.

Off topic a bit... In the second video (the one from the tower), the controller seems to be speaking with an Austrian Airlines plane in the background and speaking in German. Is this normal for an international airport? Shouldn't operations be handled in English, as there are foreign airlines operating there too? Not familiar with these procedures.

As far as I am aware, English and other ICAO languages are used for communication with foreign crew, however domestic language may and is used. Look at several videos from France, where in Paris there is a mix of French and English. Or in Madrid, with Spanish and English. In order to avoid any confusion it would be preferable to have only one language on frequency. But such thing is impassable.

Cheers,
Andrej

nipoel123 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:59 am

Aeroflot777 wrote:
Neat experience for folks on-board and in the terminal. A small gesture, but will be remembered by many.

Off topic a bit... In the second video (the one from the tower), the controller seems to be speaking with an Austrian Airlines plane in the background and speaking in German. Is this normal for an international airport? Shouldn't operations be handled in English, as there are foreign airlines operating there too? Not familiar with these procedures.

If I understand correctly, the bit in German is the Austrian crew saying that that was a nice show, with the tower replying that they are impressed as well. The aviation specific parts preceding this were in English.

Furthermore, I believe any language can technically be used, as long as both ATC and flightcrew can understand it. For situational awareness for other crews, English is generally used. Having said that, should a situation arise that is not well covered using standard phraseology, plain language is used, and it might be more important to get the message across in which case it makes sense to use a language both parties are most familiar with.

Aeroflot777 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:00 am

andrej wrote:
\As far as I am aware, English and other ICAO languages are used for communication with foreign crew, however domestic language may and is used. Look at several videos from France, where in Paris there is a mix of French and English. Or in Madrid, with Spanish and English. In order to avoid any confusion it would be preferable to have only one language on frequency.

Thanks!

Can't help but think that this type of operation isn't the best for awareness. Foreign crew receiving instructions and taxiing can't comprehend what is being said to others.

FoxtrotSierra · Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:12 am

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

This is the kind of stuff we screw around with in flight sims to see how low we can fly over the terminal or how close we can buzz the tower. To see an A330, let alone any aircraft of this size do something like that outside of an airshow 300ft AGL is practically unheard of, especially with pax on board. Very impressive at the least.

seahawk · Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:26 am

It was a standard procedure cleared by the air traffic controllers. No low flying, no buzzing of anything.

FoxtrotSierra · Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:57 am

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard procedure cleared by the air traffic controllers. No low flying, no buzzing of anything.

That doesn't make it any less any impressive, but I guess we can agree to disagree

XLA2008 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:06 am

On topic... fantastic farewell flyover, sad day for the crew and employees of Air Berlin but a wonderful sentiment to end an era, and a sad day for aviation.... Goodbye Air Berlin, sad to see you go!

jfklganyc · Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:06 am

Pan Ams final request for a fly by in South America was denied. Never forget that.

Noshow · Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:07 am

Some low approach, gear down and some VFR pattern for a landing. All banking within limits, tower in the loop no problem at all.

HHScot · Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:10 am

Recommend practice is to speak only in English, but not mandatory. I believe I France and Russia there is also lots of comments in the local language. For me it could detract somewhat from the situational awareness of others. But it there are no other active flights around...

More interesting for me is the loud talking and cheering from those watching the A330 while there's an active controller apparently sitting next to them. That would distract me big time!

OA940 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:46 am

I'm gonna cry...

RalXWB · Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:58 am

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:
Cool.

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

You serious? Is this what you call a standard go-around?

If it would be a Boeing, seahawk would be drooling :rotfl:

dodoma · Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:06 pm

German air traffic authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) are already looking into this

http://www.aero.de/news-27712/LBA-untersucht--Air-Berlin-Flugmanoever-in-Duesseldorf.html (in German)

thepinkmachine · Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:14 pm

dodoma wrote:
German air traffic authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) are already looking into this

http://www.aero.de/news-27712/LBA-untersucht--Air-Berlin-Flugmanoever-in-Duesseldorf.html (in German)

Since it was the pilot’s last day at work, what can they do - ground him? Boo-hoo!

B747forever · Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:15 pm

What a neat ending to AB's long haul ops.

KLDC10 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:15 pm

dodoma wrote:
German air traffic authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) are already looking into this

http://www.aero.de/news-27712/LBA-untersucht--Air-Berlin-Flugmanoever-in-Duesseldorf.html (in German)

Of course they are :roll:

It wouldn't do to allow Air Traffic Control and the Pilot's flying to exercise their discretion, experience and good judgement would it?

seahawk · Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:16 pm

RalXWB wrote:
SpaceshipDC10 wrote:
Cool.

seahawk wrote:
It was a standard go-around. Calm down.

You serious? Is this what you call a standard go-around?

If it would be a Boeing, seahawk would be drooling

As if the aircraft type makes a difference. It just does nothing good for the crew or the air traffic controllers to blow this manoeuvre up into something spectacular or dangerous, it was just an unusual use of existing rules. It was not dangerous, there was no buzzing of anything.

atcsundevil · Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:51 pm

The video from the terminal and tower I think make the fly by look a lot closer than it really was. The video from the ramp doesn't look quite as dramatic. Very cool to see, but not something I would consider to be a dangerous maneuver if cleared to do so by ATC. I would be highly skeptical of this being a "standard go around" — usually that would involve runway heading, climbing to an altitude, then a turn or climbing turn. This does not look anything like a standard go around, but as I said, nothing about this appears to be unsafe.

planesarecool · Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:00 pm

It was a standard go-around.

Well no, because a standard go-around on this runway would be straight ahead to two miles and then a right turn. So it wasn't a standard go-around at all.

I don't think anybody suggested it was dangerous.

RetiredNWA · Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:01 pm

Not steep, not dangerous.
A lovely farewell nonetheless.

Auf Wiedersehen, Air Berlin.

zeke · Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:28 pm

dodoma wrote:
German air traffic authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) are already looking into this

http://www.aero.de/news-27712/LBA-untersucht--Air-Berlin-Flugmanoever-in-Duesseldorf.html (in German)

AKA the fun police

WIederling · Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:37 pm

RalXWB wrote:
If it would be a Boeing, seahawk would be drooling

JFK ATC!

OB1504 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:48 pm

They did quite a steep takeoff from MIA, too. I happened to be walking past as it took off and it caught my attention because it was much steeper than normal A330 ops; I didn’t learn it was the last flight until a few hours later.

irelayer · Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:19 pm

I'm sorry, in that first video, the onlookers were justifiably terrified. The idea of a plane veering towards you...I would honestly take off running.

Anyway, this was cool. Hate to see another airline bite the dust.

-IR

ro1960 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:49 pm

Great post, thanks for sharing. Let's not kill the emotion with unnecessary questioning. Everything was planned, under control and safe.

Btblue · Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:51 pm

irelayer wrote:
I'm sorry, in that first video, the onlookers were justifiably terrified. The idea of a plane veering towards you...I would honestly take off running.

Anyway, this was cool. Hate to see another airline bite the dust.

-IR

My German is rusty but one person can be heard saying 'What is he doing?'. I can see how some people would have thought it a tad frightening not knowing.

Just checked and that original video has been removed by user...

F9Animal · Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:00 pm

I define this as a tear jerker for sure. Beautiful fly by, and wonderful speech by the Captain. Us airliner geeks should feel like we lost a member of the family. I hope to God every single employee finds work ASAP.

res77W · Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:20 pm

F9Animal wrote:
I define this as a tear jerker for sure. Beautiful fly by, and wonderful speech by the Captain. Us airliner geeks should feel like we lost a member of the family. I hope to God every single employee finds work ASAP.

Seconded. That speech hit me in the feels. Farewell to Air Berlin!

-Rowen

unimproved · Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:40 pm

Btblue wrote:
irelayer wrote:
I'm sorry, in that first video, the onlookers were justifiably terrified. The idea of a plane veering towards you...I would honestly take off running.

Anyway, this was cool. Hate to see another airline bite the dust.

-IR

My German is rusty but one person can be heard saying 'What is he doing?'. I can see how some people would have thought it a tad frightening not knowing.

Just checked and that original video has been removed by user...

In the tower video you can hear somebody say "He's too high" while approaching the runway.

225623 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:03 pm

unimproved wrote:
In the tower video you can hear somebody say "He's too high" while approaching the runway.

...and everybody laughing. Tongue-in-cheek.

Theseus · Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:12 pm

ei146 wrote:
unimproved wrote:
In the tower video you can hear somebody say "He's too high" while approaching the runway.

...and everybody laughing. Tongue-in-cheek.

Yes, my German is also a bit rusty, but this is definitely spoken in a sarcastic tone.
I second the above comments about the Captain speech. Impressive flight to be on for the passengers!

Whiteguy · Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:50 pm

No such thing as a "standard" missed approach or go around, there is a "published" missed approach procedure for all instrument approaches! ATC can give you whatever missed approach instructions they need to based on their requirements...

seahawk · Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:56 pm

Sightseeing flights like JU-52s or An-2s often fly a similar pattern in VFR at DUS. It is just unusual for a jet to do so.

HHScot · Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:57 pm

zeke wrote:
dodoma wrote:
German air traffic authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) are already looking into this

http://www.aero.de/news-27712/LBA-untersucht--Air-Berlin-Flugmanoever-in-Duesseldorf.html (in German)

AKA the fun police

And if they treat this like any fumes onboard incident they'll soon find nothing worth looking further into! :stirthepot:

Moose135 · Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:37 pm

thepinkmachine wrote:
Since it was the pilot’s last day at work, what can they do - ground him? Boo-hoo!

I can't read the German article, but was it his last day flying - as in he is retiring - or was it his last day with Air Berlin. If he will be looking for a flying job after this, then it does make a difference if they find he violated some regulations. Not saying he did, just from watching the video, but yes they could ground him, then he'd have to find a real job. ;-)

NichCage · Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:56 am

This is actually amazing. Would have loved to be onboard that aircraft.

Sad to see Air Berlin ending all flights, just not long haul

.

ACDC8 · Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:56 am

Moose135 wrote:
thepinkmachine wrote:
Since it was the pilot’s last day at work, what can they do - ground him? Boo-hoo!

I can't read the German article, but was it his last day flying - as in he is retiring - or was it his last day with Air Berlin.

Last long haul flight for the airline.

bwest · Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:05 am

Very nice to see the plane go around the airport and then disappear in that beautiful evening sky. You somehow wish it could just go on...

N14AZ · Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:12 am

German News are now reporting that the cockpit crew has been suspended.

But I am not sure if that is correct. AB will cease operations in some days anhow...

zeke wrote:
dodoma wrote:
German air traffic authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) are already looking into this

http://www.aero.de/news-27712/LBA-untersucht--Air-Berlin-Flugmanoever-in-Duesseldorf.html (in German)

AKA the fun police

Is that how you (pilots) call the German Federal Aviation Office? Just asking...

OlafW · Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:28 am

Brixerl wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQDLokcTito (moving words by the captain after landing - first in german, then in english)

Actually, that speech was not by the captain of that day, but of the flight the day before. He mentions that "tomorrow will be the last day of Air Berlin longhaul flying".

As for the maneuver, it was published somewhere that go-around procedures were talked through between pilot and controller before landing, justified by an announced gear problem. How much of this is truth and how much just a well planned cover-up, we may never know. But since this was no renegade action, all safety procedures were apparently followed and no harm was done, I don't expect to have the LBA impose any sanctions.

airbazar · Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:17 pm

It looks very cool now but I think it was irresponsible to bank towards the terminal while the public was oblivious to what was going on. In this day and age I bet a lot of people were thinking: "this guy is flying the plane into the building". It probably generated quite a good amount of panic for a lot of people.

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