Air Greenland Dash 8 saves 4 on board Cessna

On November 14th, an Air Greenland Dash 8-200, operating from Nuuk to Narsarsuaq as GL-415 was directly responsible for saving 4 people on board a privately owned Cessna. The Cessna was flying from Goose Bay to Narsarsuaq, when they had to shut down an engine due to an oil leak approximately 45 minutes before landing. The Joint Arctic Command dispatched a helicopter and C-130 to the area to be on standby. Meanwhile, GL-415 had entered a holding pattern due to weather at Narsarsuaq.

Approximately 30 minutes after the initial emergency call, the Cessna reported that they were having problems with their navigation system as well. They were in instrument conditions and couldn't see the ground. The crew on GL-415 radioed that it was not advisable to continue to Narsarsuaq due to weather, and the decision was made to route the Cessna to Paamiut instead. The Cessna initially said they were going to have to divert to Sondestrom, an additional 380 nm from Narsarsuaq. Paamiut was only 130 nm, but they didn't know about it. The crew of GL-415 decided to step in, and left their holding pattern, and went to find the Cessna.

Approximately 15 minutes from Paamiut, the crew found the Cessna visually, after finding them on their TCAS screen. Paamiut was having snow, but the airport was remaining open for the two aircraft to land, and was actively keeping the runways clear for them. Another member of the Air Greenland staff came forward and was working the radio with the ground, while the crew concentrated on finding and talking to the Cessna. Originally the Cessna wanted the Dash 8 to land first, but they began having radio problems while approaching Paamiut, so the Dash crew chose to stay in the air, and act as relay to the Cessna, until they landed. Both aircraft landed safely, the Dash 8 took on fuel, and returned to Nuuk, where they made a safe landing.

An Air Greenland de Havilland Dash 8-200, registration OY-GRH performing flight GL-415 from Nuuk to Narsarsuaq (Greenland) with about 27 passengers and crew, was enroute to Narsarsuaq when a private twin Cessna aircraft enroute from Goose Bay,NL (Canada) to Narsarsuaq with 4 people on board declared emergency reporting an engine was losing oil and had to be shut down about 45 minutes prior to estimated arrival in Narsarsuaq. The Joint Arctic Command, responsible for rescue activity, dispatched a helicopter and a Hercules towards the Cessna. Due to weather the Dash 8 entered a hold at Narsarsuaq a couple of minutes later. While the Dash was holding the Cessna, about 30 minutes after the initial emergency call, reported their navigation equipment had failed, too, they were in instrument meteorologic conditions with no sight to ground. The Dash 8 crew chimed in and advised that due to weather in Narsarsuaq it was not prudent to continue to Narsarsuaq, it was decided to reroute the Cessna to Paamiut (Greenland), about half way between Nuuk and Narsarsuaq. The Dash crew informed their passengers about the ongoing rescue activity, left the hold at Narsarsuaq heading west towards the Cessna, found the Cessna and navigated and accompanied the Cessna to Paamiut, where the Cessna was able to land safely about 90 minutes after declaring emergency. The Dash landed in Paamiut as well, refueled, and headed off to return to Nuuk for a safe landing about 4:50 hours after departure from Nuuk and about 1:50 hours after the Cessna made the safe landing in Paamiut.

avherald.com...

DeHavilland Dash-8, cutting edge of arctic aviation technology

a reply to: Zaphod58

Cool! Nice job by all!

originally posted by: ElGoobero
DeHavilland Dash-8, cutting edge of arctic aviation technology

Been flying this little bird for ten year now twice a month to the DeBeers Victor Mine
Had many a few bump in the air and land on a very short runway



DeBeers Victor Mine