Blackout threatens hub status of Suvarnabhumi

Thousands of travellers hit, airlines seek payout

Published: 23 Jun 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Bangkok's reputation as a key regional air hub could face a major threat following Thursday's breakdown of an airport control tower which affected nearly 50 flights.

The simultaneous breakdown of both the main and back-up power supplies paralysed the radar system which guides flights through Suvarnabhumi International Airport for an hour.

A total of 49 aircraft were affected - 21 take-offs and 15 landings were delayed, while 13 flights were rerouted or returned to their departure point.

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bkposter
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Discussion 31 : 23 Jun 2012 at 10.4631
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Re: D9 Taz....the airport plans started in the late 60's and because of government infighting never got anywhere until after the 97 financial crisis and the old airport was very much past capacity.. and is now controlled of AOT a public listed company. The airport was never even opened while TS was in power so if it was rushed....who rushed it?
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moruya
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Discussion 30 : 23 Jun 2012 at 10.2430
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Mr Prajak insisted that the company has followed inspection and maintenance guidelines.

"Things happened unexpectedly," he said.

No mate - that is NOT why the aviation industry spends billions of dollars annually on safety. It spends all those dollars so that if one system fails there is a backup system in place that works and is tested regularly.

This is not darkest Africa!!
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dao
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Discussion 29 : 23 Jun 2012 at 10.2329
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Instead of worrying about how tall your tower is which really no one cares .Maybe try to insure good service and not kill anyone with malfunctioning equipment. Maybe finish building the rest of the airport that was downsized due to massive corruption .
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veracity
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Discussion 28 : 23 Jun 2012 at 10.1028
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Call NASA They will fix this correctly !
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aussiedoug
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Discussion 27 : 23 Jun 2012 at 09.1427
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Surely there is someone who can get off his seat and start up the backup generator or maybe order one in from outside without having to call a meeting of the full top brass. Oh wait, it was the same asian chain of command rubbish that stuffed up the Fukushima plant in Japan, so better get used to it happening again.
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arch
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Discussion 26 : 23 Jun 2012 at 09.0426
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Brilliant! Well done guys.
Now bring on the nuclear reactors they are planning to built in this country.
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wangsuda
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Discussion 25 : 23 Jun 2012 at 08.4725
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There was no reputation to taint, unless they are worried about going from bad to worse.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 24 : 23 Jun 2012 at 08.4724
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I can't think of a more silly reply to the question why aircraft approaching Suvarnabhumi were not diverted to Don Mueang: "Mr Prajack said Don Mueang relies on the same radar system Aerothai provides for Suvarnabhumi." I think that these bureaucrats need to be moved to the Ministry of Inactive Posts for a rest. Their work is clearly too taxing for them.
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sirron

Discussion 23 : 23 Jun 2012 at 08.2923
"The radar breakdown may be the longest in the world for 45 years, and airline executives and pilots yesterday called the incident "inexcusable"." Sounds like Thai technology and backup is regressing rather than progressing. I would rather read that, the radar went down and was restored seconds later by multiple backup systems.
from iPhone application.
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lazar
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Discussion 22 : 23 Jun 2012 at 08.2122
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Who pulled the plug out of the wall?
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