FOG RISKS IN AVIATION. CASE STUDY: PLANE CRASH AT SMOLENSK (RUSSIA) ON 10.04.2010

• Main Author: ŞCHIOPU COSMIN-LIVIU
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cluj University Press 2013-03-01
• Series: Aerul şi Apa: Componente ale Mediului
• Subjects: fog; visibility; weather; hazard; forecast; Smolensk.
• Online Access: http://aerapa.conference.ubbcluj.ro/2013/pdf/40%20Schiopu%20309_314.pdf

Fog, irrespective of its forms, has a negative impact on all aviation activities. Fog severely diminishes visibility, sometimes to such an extent that landing may become impossible. Fog is a serious weather threat and hazard in aviation and may produce deadly events. One such unfortunate event took place at Smolensk (Russia), on 10.04.2010, when the presidential aircraft, which was transporting Poland’s President, together with an official delegation, to commemorate 70 years from the Katyn massacre, simply crashed down close to the Smolensk North military aerodrome, at local hour 10:41:07.The present study actually makes an inventory of the extremely hazardous flying conditions, by thoroughly analyzing the weather reports and data, as well as visual and synoptic messages or official elements and information from that very day. All these materials show that the airdrome of destination was under the influence of a very active anti-cyclonic ridge, which accounted for very poor meteorological conditions. On such severe weather, the flight was doomed since greatly reduced visibility due to dense fog made landmarks orientation almost impossible and, furthermore, created false perceptions which led to fatal misjudgements and errors.