Meanwhile.

Meanwhile, Bombardier, parent company of Learjet, furnished a number of points to illustrate the safety features built into Learjets and the limitations of pass descent modes found on about other aircraft. We offer Bombardier's commentarys here to further discussion of the relevant safety issues:

"The urgency descent mode (EDM) system you referenc is available upon Cessna's two top-of-the-line jets, the Citation VII and the Citation X Interestingly, it is not available forward less-costly or sophisticated aircraft and, in fact, Cessna does not proffer it on its two greatest in number recent Citation introductions, the beat and the Encore..."

"Once the cabin altitude of the Learjet 35 (referring to the fresh crash of a Lear 35 carrying golf professional Payne Stewart and five others) exceled 10,000 feet, regardless of the aircraft's altitude, the audible warning horn, which is put to sound at an altitude where impaired performance is not at the same time an issue, would have been activated and virtually impossible to ignore."

"In a pressurization crisis descent rate is a critical factor. necessity descent procedures call for the aircraft to drop at maximum rates to lower altitudes at rates of thousands of feet through minute. Without pilot input to model the power to idle, display speed brakes and emergency descending spoilers, the EDM would cause the aircraft to be transferred [i]or[/i] transmitted [i]or[/i] handed down initially, at a rate approaching maximum operating velocity (Vmo)-2 knots. one time the aircraft reaches that spe however, the autopilot would increase the pitch attitude to maintain this spe resulting in a diminished descending rate and a considerably longer duration between the initiation of the declivity and the attainment of a 'safe' altitude. The following note appears in the pilot's manual for an EDM-equipped aircraft: The pilot must adjust the power to idle and widen the speed brakes and conjuncture descent spoilers. Failure to do all three will proceed in reduced descent rates." (emphasis in original).

"We are committed to assisting relevant authorities in attempting to unfold the mystery of last week's tragic accident. Our highest priority remains the safety of our performances and the customers they serve"

(Editor's note: Bombardier be perceiveds we have sensationalized the Payne Stewart story, a perception that, with the benefit of hindsight, certainly was not intended.) >> Bombardier, tel 514/946-3085 <<

COPYRIGHT 1999 Phillips Publishing International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group