In a word, no, although the pilot needs to be sharp and have his finger all the way out. The Airlink accident at George is unfortunate, especially for the airline, coming, as it does, after a series of incidents at the carrier. It could also have been much worse.

In July 2007, a TAM Airlines Airbus A320 skidded off the runway while landing in heavy rain in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The aircraft skidded off the runway and crossed a busy highway before crashing into buildings. The aircraft caught fire and 200 people died.

Airlink reported that its aircraft aquaplaned off the end of the runway at George. Theoretically, this could happen any time an aircraft landed on a wet tarmac runway, and there are various notable occurrences of this, such as the TAM Airbus above and a Qantas 747 that aquaplaned off the runway after landing in rain at Bangkok International in 1999.

Aviation website Skylibrary defines aquaplaning as “a condition in which standing water causes the moving wheel of an aircraft to lose contact with the surface on which it is load bearing with the result that braking action on the wheel is not effective in reducing the ground speed of the aircraft”.

That aircraft of all types and sizes routinely and safely operate off and onto wet runways in all kinds of weather every day all over the world suggests that aquaplaning is a pretty rare event.

There are various factors at play every time an aircraft comes in to land, including training, sound cockpit procedures and good judgement. Luck, either good or bad, has little part in it.

The ensuing SACAA investigation will, we trust, get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, don’t panic. After rail – yes, it’s true – flying is the safest way to travel.

PHOTO: THE TIMES/JASON BERRIMAN

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